The Top Reasons People Succeed In The Birth Defect Litigation Industry

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity, it can have a devastating effect on the entire family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects could help to file a claim for compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. Doctors can be held accountable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can help determine the cause of your child's illness. caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and do not respond appropriately. This could lead to a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy, or during delivery. The causes of injuries include ailments like Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that energize and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during birth and the caput succedaneum is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a no-cost consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able help parents determine the root of an infant's birth injury. While many birth defects are due to genetics and other factors that occur during the pregnancy of a mother however, they may also occur because of medications. A variety of common medications can have a significant effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines such as certain antibiotics and many more. These medications have been linked with an increased chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to be aware of these risks when prescribing medicines for pregnant women. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for failing to adequately warn mothers of the risks associated with their products. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect attorney can assist a family to obtain compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This could include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as assistive 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 businesses that expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine what caused the birth defect to sue companies which expose mothers to teratogens while they are at work or in their home.

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. They are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the growth of the fetus creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function, or can cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are used in various settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been shown to cause birth defects, including cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them while in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to make companies accountable for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements for families who had children born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals or chemical substances, they should speak with a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women inhale or absorb contaminants from their environment they could develop serious birth defects. Teratogens is the name given to these substances. Over 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water, and some of them can be harmful when they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For instance, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium from coal that is contaminated can cause numerous birth defects as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are also linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers, which are used in the manufacture of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays, are known to increase a woman's chance of having birth defects.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a wide range of birth defects resulting from unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or in their homes. These lawsuits often involve complex scientific analysis and experts, such as toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.