12 Companies That Are Leading The Way In Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects can help to file a claim for compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complicated and it is essential to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. When a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and result in an injury or birth defect, they can be held liable for the damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor could also be responsible for a birth injury when they fail in diagnosing or adequately respond to distress of the fetus. This can cause various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy, or delivery. Injuries can include ailments like Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that stimulate and control the infant's arms are stretched or torn during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to look over your case and determine the best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents in determining the cause for a child's birth defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and other factors that occur during a mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused as a result of medication. Certain commonly used medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is particularly relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most commonly used. These medications have been proven to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

A doctor's responsibility is to consider the risks when prescribing medications for birth defect lawyers women who are pregnant. When doctors fail to meet the requirements of this standard of care, they could be held accountable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies can be held accountable for not properly warning mothers of the dangers that come with their products. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can assist a family to obtain compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and the quality of life. This can include hospital costs physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses as well assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the cause of the birth defects so that they can file a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are some of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus through creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or cause organs to be malformed. These chemicals are present in a variety locations, such as the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been found to cause birth defects, such as cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them 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 obtained significant settlements for families who had their children born with severe defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child could be the result of medical negligence or 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 contaminants in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or taken in by pregnant women. These substances are known as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our food, air and water Some of them can be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For example, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium in coal that is contaminated can cause a variety of birth defects as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a variety of birth defects as a result of unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits typically involve complicated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, including toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.