A Birth Defect Lawyer Can Help Families With Medical Bills
A birth defect lawyer can assist families with the medical hospital, pharmaceutical, and costs that are associated with their child's health condition. Costs of treatment and specialized services can be very high.
Birth injuries and birth defects that are the result of medical negligence can be devastating to the family. However compensation from a medical malpractice lawsuit can ease some of the burdens.
Causes
Certain birth defects may be caused by infections that pregnant mothers suffer from, or by a lack of oxygen in the womb. For instance, rubella and German measles can lead to congenital rubella syndrome which may cause blindness, deafness and heart issues in the baby. Other birth defects could be caused by mothers taking certain medications or toxins that affect the development of a embryo.
These chemical agents can be found in medicines that are not prescribed by a doctor and chemicals used in factories such as perchloroethylene, benzene, or trichloroethylene or toxic substances found in the environment, like coal ash which contains heavy metals and silicon chips or video display manufacturing facilities in which workers are exposed to gaseous vapors from glycol-ethers and solvents. The defect can be genetic, resulting from mutations within the fetus's genes.
No matter what the cause, birth defects can be a serious issue and even life-threatening. Some are minor and require treatment, whereas others could affect the ability of the child to communicate or care for himself. Some may cause intellectual and developmental disabilities which are a group of disorders that affect the ability to learn, communicate or get along with others.
Medical science has identified the causes for around 30% of birth defects. However, as much as 70 percent of birth defects don't have a clear reason. Women of all ages and races/ethnicities, as well as women with different levels of education, are at risk of having a baby with a birth defect. One way to prevent them is to be aware of your family's health history and consult a genetic counselor. Use the March of Dimes Family Health History Form for recording and sharing this information.
Symptoms
Birth defects are medical conditions that may affect an infant's limbs or brain, or their general body function. They can also lead to a shorter life time. These conditions are caused by genetic abnormalities such as extra or missing chromosomes, or structural issues like a hole in diaphragm.
Most common birth defects include Down syndrome, trisomy 21, and an extra copy chromosome 18 referred to as Turner's syndrome. Genetic abnormalities can lead to physical and developmental limitations, and require care for the rest of your life.
Other chromosomal birth defects are spina bifida, where the neural tube that creates the fetus's spine doesn't close completely, and could harm the spinal cord and nerves; and anencephaly, where the skull and brain don't develop. Genetic issues can cause cognitive impairment and a range of health problems including issues with digestion as well as hearing loss and vision impairment.
Structural birth defects may include cleft lips and palates and clubfoot, in which the feet rotate inward. These can lead to difficulty with feeding, speech hearing, ear infections, dental and hearing issues. Treatments for cleft palates and lips include surgery and speech therapy; and treatment for clubfoot involves braces and physical therapy or surgery to straighten joints.
Birth injuries can occur in many ways, such as through the mother's diet, medications, and environmental contaminants. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications can be found in medicines. Alcohol and some illegal drugs can also pose a risk of birth defects. Exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy like metals and pesticides, can increase your chance of developing birth defects. A physician's negligent use of instruments during labor or the failure to monitor an infant's vital signs could result in birth injuries or defects.
Diagnosis
Birth defects are structural changes that affect the body's appearance, function, or both. Some birth defects are small and not noticeable, whereas others can be more serious. Accident Injury Lawyers Claims are detectable in the early stages during pregnancy, by screening and genetic tests. This includes ultrasound imaging and amniocentesis.
If doctors do not do these tests correctly or misinterpret their results, they could result in a child being disabled for the rest of their lives. You should seek legal advice from a licensed lawyer as early as you can determine if medical malpractice or negligence caused the birth defect of your child.
Birth defects can also be caused by medication that a doctor prescribes the mother during her time pregnant or through exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace. Chemical substances, also known as teratogens, alter the DNA of a child and cause different types of birth defects. LK lawyers can investigate birth defects and file a lawsuit against the companies responsible for introducing these hazardous chemicals into our environment.
Medical negligence during pregnancy, labor and delivery may result in birth injuries such as a broken clavicle or spinal cord injury. These injuries are often caused by negligence or malpractice on the part of doctors, obstetricians and nurses and can lead to permanent physical and mental disabilities for the infant. To find out more about filing a birth injury negligence claim make contact with a knowledgeable New Jersey birth defect attorney immediately. In some states the statute of limitation for pursuing legal action is just one year. It is therefore important to act swiftly.
Treatment
A knowledgeable lawyer for birth defects can assist you in recovering damages that include the cost of medical care and treatment for your child. This can include hospitalizations surgeries, medications, equipment, therapy, and ongoing treatment. It is also possible to get compensation for any other expenses relating to your child's birth defect, including travel expenses and loss of income if your child requires you to leave work to care for them.
A birth defect is a devastation, particularly when the injury or death was avoidable. While certain birth defects are a result of genetics or exposure to environmental factors but other birth injuries and defects could be caused by medical negligence during pregnancy, labor and birth. Medical malpractice claims can be extremely complex. It is essential to have an experienced and compassionate birth injury lawyer on your side to safeguard your rights.
The most frequent types of birth defects are chromosomal and structural. Chromosome disorders can result in additional, missing, or changed chromosomes. They can lead to health problems such as lip and palate clefts or heart defects. Structural birth defects can affect the bones or other organs in the body, like ventricular septal defect, which is when the wall between the lower chambers of the heart does not form properly and opens up, which could hinder blood flow to the lung. Other birth defects are more severe. For instance, anencephaly is a fatal disorder that is caused when the parts of a child's brain as well as skull are not developing. Also, Tay-Sachs, which affects the nerves that run through the brain or spinal cord is extremely serious. The best birth defect lawyer should have a lot of experience handling medical malpractice cases, a solid track record of winning compensation for victims and a team of medical professionals or nurses who can assist you in proving your case.
Compensation
If your child has suffered a birth injury or birth defect because due to the negligence or carelessness of medical professionals, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit in order to recover compensation for damages. A skilled birth injury lawyer will help you through the legal system and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.
A good lawyer will have great negotiation skills and experience handling birth injury cases. They will ensure that all evidence is properly collected and presented in support of your case. This is crucial, because the opposing party has lawyers who are attempting to sabotage your case and decrease the amount you get.
A birth defect lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation for all the medical expenses your child has incurred or is likely to incur due to the birth defect, including hospitalizations and surgeries or procedures, medications, and treatments. They can also help to claim compensation for any other expenses you have incurred because of the condition of your child for example, special equipment, therapy, and home modifications.
You may be entitled to compensation if you can prove that the defect or injury caused physical and/or emotional suffering. A good birth defect lawyer will be able gather evidence and present it to prove that the defects or injuries were caused by the negligence of medical professionals.
The speed at which you can is crucial because many states have a statute-of-limitations, which means you only have a short time to bring a lawsuit. This is especially applicable in the event of a negligence, so it is crucial to find a good lawyer as soon as possible.