Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity this can have a devastating effect on your family and you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defect law firm defects can help you seek compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complex, so you should consult with a legal professional as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their babies. When a doctor's actions fall below this standard and cause oakland park birth defect law firm defects or injuries, they can be held accountable for the damage suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's condition could be due to an error in medical care during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to identify fetal distress, or do not respond appropriately. This can cause a number of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup, while injuries are caused by an event that occurs during pregnancy, labor, or birth. Injuries can include conditions such as Erb's palsy that occurs when the nerves that power and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or birth defects damaged during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these conditions can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a no-cost consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may help parents determine the cause for the birth injury of a child. While many birth defects are due to genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused because of medications. Many common medications have a significant effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of a pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines as well as certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been linked to an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's responsibility is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to meet this standard of care they may be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

An attorney for birth defects birth defects can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of life. This could include hospital costs as well as doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses that 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 file a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home.

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the development of the fetus through causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals can be found in various settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to hold companies accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have obtained significant settlements on behalf of 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 an unintended medical error and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. These chemicals are called Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals are harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that has been contaminated can trigger a variety of birth defects and other health problems. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors, silicon chip displays and video displays.

The experienced birth defect attorneys at LK have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a wide range of birth defects resulting from unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.