Guide To Birth Defect Litigation: The Intermediate Guide The Steps To Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could 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 lawyer that specializes in birth defects may be able to help you claim compensation to cover the costs of caring for your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, which is why you should seek legal counsel immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor can be held responsible for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits involving birth defects can determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be the cause of birth injuries if they fail to recognize or adequately respond to distress of the fetus. This can result in a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery or labor. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum - swelling of the scalp. Both can result in a 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 case and determine the most appropriate option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the reason for the birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are due to the genetics of the mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused due to medications. Certain common medications can have a negative impact on fetuses. This is especially applicable in the early months of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines including certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of limb and brain defects, heart defects, and craniosynostois.

A doctor's duty is to take into account the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to meet the standards of care required, they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers of the dangers associated with their products. 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 the first trimester of pregnancy.

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

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of the birth defects so that they can bring a suit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at 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 because they affect the development of the fetus by creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in a variety of settings, including semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defect lawsuits defects include aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order 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 secured significant settlements for families who have children who were born with severe defects resulting from 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 a child's birth defects may be the result of 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 inhale or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment, they can cause serious birth defects. These chemicals are called Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals could be dangerous to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from coal that has been contaminated can trigger a variety of birth defects, as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are also associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for birth defect plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a wide range of birth defects due to the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.