Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity, it can be devastating for your family as well as you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing a claim to recover compensation for the cost of taking care of your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. When a doctor's actions are in violation of this standard and result in birth defects or injuries and/or death, they may be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine whether your child's health condition may have been caused by a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail recognize fetal distress and are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can cause a number of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in the sense that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery or labor. The causes of injuries include conditions such as Erb's palsy which develops when the nerves which energize and control an infant's arms are stretched or torn during the birth process as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to look over your case and determine the best method of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to help parents determine the root of an infant's cypress birth defect attorney injury. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of common medications can have a significant effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These medications have been linked to a higher risk of limb deformities and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

It is a doctor's professional duty to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the risks of their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been proven to significantly increase the risk of congenital defects that are major in first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist a family receive compensation for the future and present medical expenses associated with the injury or disability, and also loss of earnings and the quality of life. This can include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the root of the birth defects so that they can bring a case against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens as they interfere with the development of the fetus through making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function, or can cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in a variety of settings including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene perchloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to hold companies accountable for the families of soldiers who live at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with serious defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals such as benzene, they should seek out a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women consume or absorb contaminants from their environment, they can cause serious birth defects. Teratogens are the name for these substances. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water and some can be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers, which are used in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are known to increase a woman's chances of having birth defects as well.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of virginia Birth defect law firm defects caused by the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits typically require complex scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, embryologists and occupational medicine experts.