12 Companies Leading The Way In Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can cause a huge impact on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other losses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing claim for compensation for the cost of taking care of your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, so you should consult with a legal professional immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to follow a standard when treating pregnant women or their babies. If the actions of a doctor are not in line with this standard and result in an injury or birth defect and/or death, they may be held accountable for the damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defects lawsuits can determine the cause of your child's illness. caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could be liable for an injury to the fetus if they fail to recognize or appropriately respond to distress of the fetus. This can cause many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or birth. Injury can include Erb's Palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another injury is caput succedaneum - an inflammation of the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a no-cost consultation to review your case, and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind the birth injury of a child. While many birth defects are caused by the genetics of a mother's pregnancy, they can also occur because of medications. Certain common medications can have negative effects on foetuses. This is especially applicable in the early months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy medications are among the most common. These medications have been linked to an increase in risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

The duty of a doctor is to take into account the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, they may be held liable for negligence. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers that come with their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in first trimester pregnancies.

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

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities as a result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to discover what caused the birth defect to file a lawsuit against companies that expose mothers to teratogens during the time they are at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects include the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens because they affect the development of a healthy fetus through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or block normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are the aliphatic hydrocarbons like dichloroethane, birth defect attorneys trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against various firms that were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won significant settlements for families whose children were born with serious defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical, they should consult an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed by or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water and some can be harmful when they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, may cause birth defects as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, employed in the manufacturing of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are known to increase the risk of developing birth defects as well.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a myriad of birth defects as a result of the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits usually involve a complicated scientific analysis and experts, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine experts and embryologists.