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Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth, it can be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file a claim to recover reimbursement for the costs of taking care of your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are complicated and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a set of standards when treating pregnant women or their infants. A doctor can be held responsible for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defects lawsuits can determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be the cause of an injury to the fetus if they fail to identify or adequately respond to distress of the fetus. This can cause many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy, or birth. The causes of injuries include conditions such as Erb's palsy that occurs when the nerves that stimulate and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or ruptured during birth, and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability and ongoing treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to review your case and determine the most appropriate method of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to help parents identify the cause of the birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the mother's pregnancy, they can also occur as a result of medications. A number of commonly used medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is especially applicable in the early months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs, certain antibiotics, and more. These medications have been linked with an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis.

It is a doctor's professional duty to take into consideration the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medications. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been demonstrated to significantly increase the risk of serious congenital defects during the first trimester of pregnancy.

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

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may 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 determine the root of the birth defect so that they can file a lawsuit against companies that expose mothers to teratogens during the time they are working or in their homes.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. They are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the development of the fetus by causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function, or can cause malformed organs. These chemicals are used in a variety of settings including manufacturing of semiconductors, 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 shown to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies that were involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have won significant settlements for families who had their children born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

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

If pregnant women consume or absorb pollutants from the environment they could develop serious birth defects. These substances are referred to as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals are harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water and cadmium from coal that has been contaminated can trigger a variety of birth defects as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers that are used in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are well-known to increase the risk of developing birth defects.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defect lawsuits defects caused by improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits typically require complicated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.