10 Things Your Competitors Help You Learn About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity it can have a devastating effect on your family as well as you. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects can help you file for reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your disabled children. Legal claims for birth defects can be a little tangled and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. If the actions of a doctor are in violation of this standard and cause birth defect or injury the doctor could be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition could be the result of an error in medical care during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor could be liable for birth injuries if they fail in diagnosing or appropriately respond to distress in the fetus. This can cause various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are triggered by something occurring during labor, pregnancy or birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum - a swelling on the scalp. Both of these can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to look over your case and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able help parents determine the root cause of an infant's birth injury. Many birth defects result from genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. A number of common medications can have a negative impact on fetuses. This is especially relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs such as certain antibiotics and more. These medications have been linked with an increased risk of limb defects and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, they could be held accountable for birth defect lawsuits negligence. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the risks that come with their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been demonstrated to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help a family receive compensation for current and future medical expenses associated with the disability or injury in addition to loss of earnings 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 could bring a lawsuit for families of children with congenital disabilities because due to the negligence of corporations that expose pregnant women to chemicals and other drugs that cause birth deformities. They are trained to determine the reason for the birth defect law firms defect so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies who expose mothers to teratogens while they work or at their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the growth of the fetus making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or birth defect lawsuits create organs to be malformed. These chemicals are used in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defect law firm defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers who were exposed during their time in the womb.

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

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family is concerned that the birth defect in their child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

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

For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from coal that has been contaminated can trigger numerous birth defects and other health problems. Certain birth defects are also related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed many lawsuits in the name of children who suffered from various birth defects as a result of accidental exposure to toxic chemicals or chemicals at their workplace or home. These lawsuits involve complicated scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.