Guide To Birth Defect Litigation: The Intermediate Guide For Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a birth defect law firms Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect, it can have a devastating effect on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects could assist you claim compensation for the costs of caring for your children with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and it is essential to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a set of standards when treating pregnant women or their infants. A doctor can be held liable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine if your child's condition may be the result of a medical error during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor could also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to diagnose fetal distress or fail to respond appropriately. This can result in a variety of serious issues, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are triggered by something occurring during labor, pregnancy or birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another injury is the caput succedaneum, an inflammation of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability and ongoing treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can offer a free consultation in order to review your case, and determine the most appropriate course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents identify the root of a child's birth injury, or defect. While many birth defects are due to genetics and factors during the pregnancy of a mother but they can also happen as a result of medications. Many common medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is particularly evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These medications have been proven to increase the risk of developing limb and heart defects, brain deformities, and craniosynostois.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of these risks when prescribing medicines for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they may be held liable for negligence. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for failing to adequately warn mothers of the dangers associated with their medicines. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can help a family receive compensation for current and future medical expenses that result from the injury or disability, and also loss of earnings and the quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could sue families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities because of the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the reason for the birth defects so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens, because they can influence the healthy development of a foetus by causing chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or block normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits 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 secured substantial settlements for families who had children born with severe defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by an unintended medical error as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals such as benzene, they should seek out a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens are the term used to describe these substances. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium in contaminated coal, for example, can cause birth defects and birth defect other health problems. Certain birth defects are caused by industrial solvents such as benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers, which are used in the manufacture of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are well-known to increase the risk of developing birth defects as well.

LK's experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a variety of birth defects due to accidental exposure to toxic chemicals or chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.