Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity, it can have a devastating effect on the entire family. Therapy costs, medical bills and other expenses can quickly mount up.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defect law firm defects could help you seek reimbursement for the expenses of taking care of your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, and you should consult a lawyer whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. When a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and result in a birth defect or injury, they can be held liable for the harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in lawsuits involving birth defects will help you determine if your child's health condition may be the result of an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to identify fetal distress, or don't respond appropriately. This can result in a variety of serious issues, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to assist parents identify the root of a child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects are caused by genes or other factors that occur during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a profound effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most common. These medications have been linked to an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medicines for pregnant women. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held accountable for not adequately inform mothers of the risks associated with their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of serious congenital defects during the first trimester of a pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and the quality of life. This could include hospital costs, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses along with assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could bring a lawsuit for families of children who have congenital disabilities because of the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women and other drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to discover the root of the birth defect in order to 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 are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens since they influence the healthy development of a fetus through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs, or disrupt normal cell function. These chemicals can be used in a variety of locations, such as the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have obtained significant settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical and/or environmental factors, they should talk to an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. These substances are known as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.

For example, arsenic in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from contaminated coal can cause numerous birth defects and health issues. 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 likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defects caused by unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits usually involve a complicated scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, embryologists and occupational medicine experts.