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

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect lawsuit deformity this can be devastating for you and your entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing claim for compensation for the cost of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defect law firms defects may be complicated, which is why you should consult a lawyer immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor can be held liable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's condition may be due to an error in medical care during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can result in many serious problems like 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 due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another injury is caput succedaneum which is a swelling on the scalp. Both of these conditions can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to examine your situation and determine the best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the reason for a child's birth injury, or defect. Many birth defects result from genes or other factors that occur during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications have a significant effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications including certain antibiotics, and more. These medications have been linked with an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostois.

It is a doctor's professional duty to be aware of the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they could be held liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies could also be held accountable for not adequately inform mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea in 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 resulting from the injury or disability, and also loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include hospital fees medical expenses, doctor's fees and pharmaceutical costs and other expenses as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine what caused the birth defect so that they can sue companies that expose mothers to teratogens while they work or in their home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are known as Teratogens because they affect the development of a healthy embryo through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals are found in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

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

Parents have filed suit against a number of firms that were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have gotten substantial settlements on behalf families whose children were born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical or chemical substances, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

If pregnant women ingest or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment and then develop birth defects. Teratogens is the name given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or birth defect lawyer cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, used in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are recognized to increase a woman's risk of birth defects.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a variety of birth defects due to unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits typically require sophisticated scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.