Three Greatest Moments In Birth Defect Litigation History

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity this can be devastating for your family and you. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file a claim to recover compensation for the cost of caring for your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous and therefore it is crucial 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 liable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with expertise in lawsuits involving birth defects can help determine if your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail recognize fetal distress and do not respond appropriately. This can result in a variety of serious issues, such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by events during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. Injury can include Erb's Palsy where the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in permanent disability, and continued treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free 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 root of a child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects are caused by birth defects or genetics. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most common. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's job is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for not properly warning mothers of the risks associated with their products. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive compensation for future and current medical expenses that result from the disability or injury and also loss of earnings and the quality of life. This can include hospital costs physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect law firms defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine the reason for birth defects so that they can bring a case against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called teratogens, because they can affect the healthy development a the fetus via chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs, or disrupt normal cell function. These chemicals are found in diverse settings like the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been found to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders in babies born to mothers exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order 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 gotten substantial settlements on behalf families whose children were born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a child may be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens are the name for these substances. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water and a few can be harmful when they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water and cadmium in coal that is contaminated can cause a variety of birth defects, as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a myriad of birth defects due to wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or at home. These lawsuits typically involve an extensive scientific analysis as well as experts as witnesses, like toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine experts and embryologists.