It s The Birth Defect Litigation Case Study You ll Never Forget

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

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

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing a claim to recover compensation for the costs of taking care of your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, Birth Defect Lawyer and you should seek legal counsel immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor can be held accountable for any damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This could lead to a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, birth, or labor. Injuries can include conditions like Erb's Palsy which develops when the nerves which energize and control the arms of an infant are stretched or torn during the birth process and the caput succedaneum is a swelling of the scalp. Both of these conditions can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to look over your situation and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to help parents determine the reason for the birth injury or birth Defect Lawyer defect. While many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the pregnancy of a mother however, they can also be caused as a result of medication. Many commonly used medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is especially true in the first three months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications as well as certain antibiotics, and many more. These medications have been linked to an increased risk of limb defects and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to consider the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care they may be liable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers of the risks associated with their drugs. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of major congenital defects in first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist a family receive compensation for current and future medical expenses that result from the disability or injury, in addition to loss of earnings and quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital or pharmaceutical costs, as well as aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to identify what caused the birth defect to file a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens as they are at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects include the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the normal development of a embryo through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs, or disrupt normal cell function. These chemicals are found in a variety of settings including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been found to cause birth defects, such as cardiac defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them while 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 the birth defect lawyers have obtained significant settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects could be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects that the birth defect in their child could be a result of medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should speak with a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

If pregnant women inhale or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment, they can cause serious birth defects. These substances are known as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Some of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause various birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, which are utilized in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are well-known to increase the chance of having birth defects too.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a variety of birth defects as a result of improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complicated scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.