Birth Defect Lawsuits

Parents want their children to be perfect, but in some cases that's impossible. When that happens it is crucial that parents who are in shock seek the assistance of experienced birth defect lawyers.

Medical negligence, dangerous drugs and environmental exposure can cause serious birth defects and injuries. A New York birth defect law firm can provide answers.

Medical Malpractice

If a doctor does not adhere to the accepted standards of practice in their area, it is considered medical malpractice. This might involve failing to conduct routine prenatal testing or prescribing medications that increase the likelihood of a birth defect or making a mistake during the labor and delivery.

Birth birth defects and birth injuries are usually caused by genetic and environmental factors, but sometimes they are caused by an error or negligence of a physician. If a physician fails to detect congenital disabilities during pregnancy, and then fails not to inform parents of the problem that their child is disabled, parents may be able to file a claim for compensation due to a birth defect for all the costs that are associated with their disabled child.

A successful medical malpractice claim in birth defect cases demands that the doctor has a responsibility to the patient of care, that the physician violated this duty, the doctor's negligence or failure to act caused injuries and damages, and that the victim suffered economic and non-economic damages due to his or her injuries. These damages could include costs of medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

Prenatal visits are necessary to ensure that pregnant women receive the proper tests and monitoring. If you believe that your child's birth defect is due to medical malpractice, speak to an experienced medical malpractice and birth injury lawyer right away.

Toxic Chemicals

Every year, thousands of children are born with some type of birth defect in the United States. These defects can vary in severity and impact way a child looks, behaves and performs in life. Some are minor, but others can cause serious problems and even lead to death.

The reasons for a child's birth defects can stem from genetic disorders or a range of environmental and chemical factors. Exposure to harmful chemicals, for instance could cause serious problems in a newborn. Our firm is determined to hold employers accountable for the exposure of pregnant women and unborn babies to harmful substances or medications.

In scientific research, it is known that certain chemicals and toxins can traverse the placenta to affect the unborn child. These chemicals are teratogenic. These teratogenic chemicals could cause birth defects like cleft lips, palates and spina bifida.

Many mothers are exposed to many harmful chemicals when they are at work. These chemicals can be ingested or inhaled, or absorbed by the body's skin. These chemicals include industrial solvents such as EGE, ethylene glycol ethers (EGE) employed in the production of semiconductors. These toxins can also be ingested by parents who take certain prescription and over-thecounter medicines. This is due to the fact that many drugs are not adequately tested on pregnant women and have been found to cause birth defect lawsuit defects.

Environmental Exposure

While genetic disorders are one of the most frequently cited causes of birth defects, exposure to environmental factors can also play a role. The presence of many different toxins and chemical compounds in the home, at work and in food can increase the risk of birth defects. These include fungicides, pesticides, lead, heavy metals, certain paints and various chemical substances. Exposure to these toxic substances is usually unavoidable. If employers fail to protect their pregnant employees, this is negligence and they can be held accountable.

Researchers are still unable to pinpoint the specific cause of a birth defect. It is possible that a mix of factors may cause the condition. The next step is to evaluate the interactions in real-time. The National Children's Study is important because it is now underway in several states. The NCS will enroll 100 women from the representative population and follow them and their children over the course of time. This study will provide the most complete data to date on how different environmental factors influence fetal and child health.

Many parents who are suffering from a birth defect in their child feel guilty that they may have contributed to the problem, but it is the norm that these kinds of problems are unavoidable. Our birth defect attorneys are aware of this and are committed to helping families whose children are born with birth defects.

Product Liability

Many birth defects result from a variety of factors ranging from drug and alcohol consumption during pregnancy to genetics. Fortunately, many of these causes can be prevented. If your child was diagnosed with a medical condition that could have been avoided it is possible to recover damages in an action for birth defects.

A New York birth defect lawyer can assist you determine whether your child's condition was caused by chemical exposure, a medication or another environmental trigger that is eligible for compensation. The legal team of your lawyer can estimate the total cost of medical bills associated with your child's condition based on the severity.

Although the vast majority of birth injuries are not caused due to medical negligence however, there have been instances where a doctor has been negligent during or before labor and birth. A doctor could incorrectly prescribe a medicine that hurts the baby before it's born, or they may make a mistake during surgery.

Our birth defect lawyers have successfully brought cases against drug companies in cases where a mother's health healthcare provider has been exposed to prescription medications or toxic chemicals that increase the chance of her having a child born with birth defect. We have also filed birth defect lawsuits against semiconductor manufacturers and paint factories that expose their workers to harmful chemicals in the workplace.