10 Life Lessons We Can Take From Birth Defect Case
Birth Defect Lawyers
Parents may be overwhelmed by medical bills when their baby is ill at birth. If your child is suffering from an anomaly in the birth that was caused by medical malpractice or by exposure to certain drugs, you may be eligible for compensation.
A Hudson, NY birth defects lawyer can assist you in pursuing justice.
The causes of birth defects
Some birth defects happen because of genetic changes or chromosomes. These issues can be passed down through parents with these abnormalities or result from a new mutation in the fertilized ovum. These issues can alter the way that the body functions or is formed. These genetic issues could be serious or minor.
Birth defects can also be caused by environmental factors during the fetal growth. Chemicals and toxins, including those found in industrial solvents (such as benzene) or trichloroethylene, which is used in dry cleaning, and perchloroethylene (used in degreasing metals and painting) can cause birth defects. These can include exposure to heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic and lead that are used in power and manufacturing plants. These harmful substances are referred as teratogens and can cause serious harm to the growing baby.
A medical professional can cause a birth defect due to incompetence, for example, not diagnosing or treating the mother's health issue during pregnancy or after the child is born. A doctor can be negligent in prescribing medication that can cause birth defects or administer medication incorrectly. Medical malpractice claims can be filed against the doctor who was responsible for the error. A birth injury lawsuit could be filed against a company that puts a pregnant worker in a situation that exposes them to a harmful substance.
Medical Malpractice
Birth defects are changes in the structure of the body that can have negative consequences on its appearance or function. The severity of these conditions varies and can affect any part of the body according to the CDC.
If a child is born with a birth defect parents usually want to know why the condition developed. The most commonly cited causes of these problems are medical negligence or exposure to teratogen chemical. A birth defect lawyer with years of experience can assist families to determine the causes of birth defects, and then file a suit against the responsible parties.
In the majority of cases, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases involving birth injury is just one year. This means that parents need to act quickly once they have identified an anomaly in the birth and determining the underlying cause of the injury. Gathering bills, receipts and credit card payments along with other evidence, will help you support your claim for compensation.
While it's ideal to have more time dealing with the shock of discovering that a child is born with an injury or defect that was caused by birth but this isn't an option in a legal claim. It is essential to work with an experienced birth defect and birth injury lawyer who can take care of all of the steps before in a timely manner.
Product Liability
Modern medical technology and medicine have significantly reduced the risks of childbirth. However, birth injuries and defects remain possible. If your child sustained an injury due to the negligence or carelessness of a medical professional during labor, pregnancy or delivery, you may be legally entitled to financial compensation to cover your expenses.
A birth defect lawyer from Levy Konigsberg LLP will assist you in determining whether or not you have grounds to file a lawsuit against the doctor, hospital, and other parties responsible. Our team has the experience and resources required to protect your rights, which includes the services of specialized medical and scientific experts to discover and link your child's condition with chemical exposure or other environmental factors.
Birth defects can be severe or mild, and affect the lifespan of a child, appearance, and quality of life. If your child's illness was a result of medical negligence, or by exposure to prescription drugs chemical substances, toxic chemicals, or environmental factors, our firm can provide you with professional advice and guidance on the merits of a claim. Contact us now to begin the process of getting compensation for your damages. We will review your case at no cost or obligation. We only earn money if we win your case or settle it.
Toxic Exposure
Many people are exposed chemicals and toxins on a regular basis due to their jobs or environments. Unfortunately some of these chemicals have been proven to cause birth defects (teratogens) and can cause harm to babies. Parents who believe that their child's birth defect is due to exposure to chemicals could be eligible for compensation.
Pregnancy-related exposure to chemicals is one of the leading causes of birth defects. Certain substances which include toxic solvents that are utilized in the semiconductor manufacturing industry have been proven to cause a variety of birth defects in children who are not yet born. Our firm has successfully dealt with numerous cases against the biggest companies worldwide in these cases, and has won billions in settlement agreements.
It is well known that in utero exposures to organic solvents such as trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene and toluene (TCE) and benzene as well as Vinyl Chloride at Camp Lejeune can increase the risk of childhood cancers, including hematopoietic, as well as birth defects. SSRIs and other prescription drugs including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have also been linked to a variety of birth defects.
Victoria Phillips is a partner at Phillips & Paolicelli, focusing on the complex litigation involving product liability and birth defect lawsuits against corporations who cause the pain and suffering of families who have suffered through their negligence. She graduated with a magna cumlaude from Williams College and Columbia Law School and is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey.