Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect it could have a devastating effect on the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file an appeal to receive compensation for the costs of taking care of your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor could be held responsible for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits for birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's condition may be the result of an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor could also be responsible for an injury that occurs during birth if they fail in diagnosing or properly respond to distress in the fetus. This can cause many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and hypoxic encephalopathy such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are triggered due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. The causes of injuries include conditions like Erb's Palsy that occurs when the nerves that stimulate and control an infant's arms are stretched or damaged during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result 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 course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind an infant's birth injury. Many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Certain common medications have a profound effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs as well as certain antibiotics, and more. These medications have been proven to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects, and craniosynostois.

A doctor's job is to take into account these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they may be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancies.

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

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth deformities. They are trained to identify what caused the birth defect to sue companies that expose mothers to teratogens during the time they are working or in their homes.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause maple valley birth defect Lawyer defects. These chemicals are known as teratogens due to their impact on the healthy development of the fetus through causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function, or can cause malformed organs. These chemicals are present in a variety of settings including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. 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 lawsuits against various companies involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have gotten substantial settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

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

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the name for these substances. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food 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 can cause a variety of birth defects and health problems. Certain birth defects are linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, which are utilized in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are well-known to increase the risk of developing birth defects as well.

The experienced lawyers at LK for birth defects have filed a variety of lawsuits in the name of children who suffered from a variety of birth defects as a result of accidental exposure to toxic chemicals or chemicals at their workplace or home. These lawsuits usually involve a an extensive scientific analysis as well as expert witnesses, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, embryologists and occupational medicine experts.