What You Can Do To Get More Out Of Your Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it can be devastating for the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing a claim to recover compensation for the expenses of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complicated and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor could be held responsible for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits involving birth defects can help you determine if your child's health condition may be due to an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor could be liable for a birth injury when they fail to diagnose or respond adequately to distress of the fetus. This can result in a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery or labor. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another injury is the caput succedaneum, birth defect attorneys an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a no-cost consultation to analyze your case and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents identify the root of a child's birth injury, or defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy but they can also happen due to medications. Certain commonly used medications can have a negative impact on fetuses. This is particularly evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines including certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been linked to a higher risk of limb defects and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostois.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, then they may be held liable for negligence. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for failing to adequately warn mothers of the dangers that come with their products. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive compensation for current and future medical expenses resulting from the disability or injury, and also loss of income and quality of life. This could include doctor's, hospital pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could bring a lawsuit for families of children who have congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women and drugs that can cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the cause of birth defects so that they can file a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at 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 called teratogens because they affect the healthy development of the fetus through causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or lead to malformed organs. These chemicals are found in many different settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors and birth defect attorneys cleaning of metals.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against several companies involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have gotten substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

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

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

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium in contaminated coal for instance, can cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defects caused by unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.