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 this can have a devastating effect on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing claim for compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects can be a little tangled and birth defect lawsuits therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. Doctors can be held accountable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition could be the result of an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be responsible for an injury to the fetus if they fail in diagnosing or adequately respond to distress of the fetus. This can cause a number of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or during delivery. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is the caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can cause lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to look over your situation and determine the best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may help parents determine the reason behind a child's birth defect. Many birth defects result from genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A number of common medications can have a negative impact on the fetuses. This is especially true in the first three months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications including certain antibiotics, and more. These medications have been proven to increase the risk of limb and brain deformities, heart defects, and craniosynostosis.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to meet the requirements of this standard of care, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers of their medication. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help family members receive compensation for future and current 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, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect law firms defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the cause of birth defects, so that they can bring a suit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or at home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the growth of the fetus causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals can be found in many different situations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include the aliphatic hydrocarbons like dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed suit against a number of companies involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

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

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed by or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the term used to describe these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water and a few could be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects and other health issues. Certain birth defects are also associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, which are used in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are recognized to increase a woman's chances of having birth defects.

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