Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect it could have a devastating effect on your family and you. Therapy costs, medical bills and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file an appeal to receive compensation for the costs of taking care of your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, so you should consult with a legal professional immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women or their infants. A doctor could be held liable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits for birth defects will help you determine if your child's condition may have been caused by a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be responsible for a birth injury when they fail to diagnose or respond adequately to fetal distress. This can cause a number of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or birth. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - a swelling on the scalp. Both can result in permanent disability and ongoing treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to look over your case and determine the best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to help parents identify the cause of the birth injury or defect. Many birth defects are caused by birth defects or genetics. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of commonly used medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is especially relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most popular. These medications have been linked to an increase in risk of limb deformities and birth defect lawyer brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

It is a doctor's professional duty to be aware of these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers of their medication. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major birth defect lawyer defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help families receive reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses associated with the injury or disability, in addition to loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may sue families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women and drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to find out what caused the birth defect, so they can sue companies which expose mothers to teratogens when they are at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as Teratogens since they affect the healthy development a embryo through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals can be used in a variety of locations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to hold companies accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have obtained substantial settlements on behalf families who had their children born with severe birth defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family believes their child's birth defect may result from medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

If pregnant women ingest or absorb contaminants from their environment They could cause serious birth defects. Teratogens are the name for these chemicals. Over 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water, and some of them could be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects and other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a myriad of birth defects caused by unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.