Check Out: How Birth Defect Litigation Is Taking Over And What To Do About It

Why You Should Hire a birth defect lawyer (mouse click the next article)

If your child is born with a birth deformity it can cause a lot of grief for birth defect lawyer your family and you. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing claim for compensation for the cost of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor could be held liable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuits can help determine whether your child's health issue was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor could also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This can cause a number of serious issues, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy, or delivery. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is called caput succedaneum. It's swelling of the scalp. Both of these can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to review your case and determine the best option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to help parents identify the root of the child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects are caused by birth defects or genetics. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of common medications can have a significant effect on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy medications are among the most common. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

A doctor's duty is to take into account these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors do not meet this standard of care, they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for failing to adequately warn mothers of the dangers that come with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can help families get compensation for current and future medical expenses resulting from the disability or injury, as well as loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital fees medical expenses, doctor's fees and pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well assistive devices and therapy.

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 businesses that expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the root of the birth defects so that they can bring a case against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects include the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens, because they can interfere with the normal development of a embryo through chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals are present in a variety situations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to hold companies accountable for the families of soldiers who live at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have secured 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

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family is concerned that the birth defect of their child may result from medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the name for these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and some can be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from coal that is contaminated may cause numerous birth defects and health issues. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a range of birth defects due to improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.