11 "Faux Pas" That Are Actually Okay To Create With Your Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can be devastating for you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects can help to file a claim for compensation for the cost of taking care of your disabled children. Legal claims for birth defects are complicated and it is essential to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a certain standard 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 will help you determine if your child's condition could be the result of a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth defect lawsuits birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This can cause a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

birth defect lawsuit injuries differ from birth defects in that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, birth, or labor. The causes of injuries include issues like Erb's syndrome that occurs when the nerves which energize and control an infant's arms are stretched or damaged during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and continued treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may provide a free consultation to look over your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may help parents determine the cause for the birth injury of a child. Many birth defects result from genes or other factors that occur during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of common medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is especially relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy drugs are among the most popular. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities, and craniosynostois.

The duty of a doctor is to consider these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to the standards of care required, they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies can also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medications. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been demonstrated to significantly increase the risk of major congenital defects in the first trimester of a pregnancy.

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

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may file a lawsuit on behalf of parents of children with congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women to chemicals and medications that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the reason for birth defects so they can bring a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

Metals, fungicides herbicides and pesticides are some of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called teratogens because they affect the healthy development of the fetus making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or lead to organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are used in a variety of locations, such as metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defect lawsuits defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers exposed while they were in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to hold companies accountable for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements for families who had children born with severe birth defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects could be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family is concerned that the birth defect in their child could be due to medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should consult a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

If pregnant women inhale or absorb contaminants from their environment They could cause serious birth defects. Teratogens are the name for these substances. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and a few could be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, may cause birth defects and other health issues. Certain birth defects are also associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

The experienced birth defect attorneys at LK have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a variety of birth defects as a result of wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and birth defect lawsuits epidemiologists.