20 Trailblazers Lead The Way In Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity it could be devastating for your family as well as you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing an action to collect reimbursement for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor could be held accountable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits for birth defects can help you determine if your child's health condition may be the result of an error in medical care during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor could also be accountable for a birth injury when they fail to recognize or properly respond to distress of the fetus. This can cause numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and hypoxic encephalopathy such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by events during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. Injuries can result from issues like Erb's syndrome which develops when the nerves which energize and control an infant's arms are stretched or torn during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is a swelling of the scalp. Both of them can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to review your case and determine the most appropriate option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to help parents determine the reason for a child's birth injury, or defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur because of medications. A variety of common medications can have a profound effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of a pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs, certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been linked with an increased risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is the duty of a doctor to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to meet this standard of care they could be held accountable for medical negligence. Pharma companies can also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancy.

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

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may sue families of children who have congenital disabilities as a result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the root of the birth defect so that they can bring a lawsuit against the companies which 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 are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus by producing chemical changes that block normal cell function, or birth defect attorneys can cause malformed organs. These chemicals can be found in a variety of settings including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include hydrocarbons that are aliphatic, such as trichloroethylene perchloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers exposed to them in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies who were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defect law firms defects may be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family believes that their child's birth defect may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are known as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals could be dangerous to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water and cadmium in contaminated coal can cause numerous birth defects and health problems. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, toluene, and Birth Defect Attorneys benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a variety of birth defects due to improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.