Why Nobody Cares About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

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

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file a claim to recover compensation for the expenses of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defect attorneys defects can be complicated, so you should seek legal counsel as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. If a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and result in birth defects or injuries, they can be held liable for the injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can determine if your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to diagnose fetal distress or fail to respond appropriately. This could lead to numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something that happens during pregnancy, labor, or during delivery. Injuries can include conditions such as Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that energize and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is a swelling of the scalp. Both can lead to a lifelong 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 best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind a child's birth defect. While many birth defects are the result of 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 especially evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications such as certain antibiotics and more. These medications have been linked to a higher risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, attorneys brain defects and craniosynostois.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to be aware of the risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they may be held liable for negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses resulting from the disability or injury in addition to loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital fees, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities as a result due to the negligence of corporations exposing pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine the root of birth defects so they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. They are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the development of the fetus through creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or cause organs to be malformed. These chemicals are used in various settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies who were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects due to the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

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

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed by or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals could be dangerous to pregnant women.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects can also be linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, which are utilized in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and attorneys video displays are known to increase the risk of birth defects.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a myriad of birth defects as a result of the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits usually involve a complicated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, including toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, embryologists and occupational medicine experts.