Birth Defect Lawyers

Parents can be overwhelmed with medical bills when their baby is sick at birth. If your child has a birth defect that was caused due to medical negligence or exposure to certain drugs, you may be entitled to compensation.

A Hudson, NY birth defects lawyer can help you seek justice.

Causes of Birth Defects

Some birth defects happen because of changes in genes or chromosomes. These disorders can be passed down from parents who have these issues or could result from new mutations in fertilized eggs. These issues may affect the way the body functions or is formed. These genetic problems can be mild or serious.

Birth problems can be caused by environmental factors during fetal growth. These include toxins and chemicals such as those found in industrial solvents such as benzene and the trichloroethylene (used in dry cleaning), and perchloroethylene (used to strip paint and for painting and degreasing of metals). They can also be exposure to lead, arsenic, mercury and other heavy metals in the production of goods or in power plants. These harmful substances, called teratogens, could cause serious harm to a growing baby.

Medical professionals can cause birth defects through negligence. For example they may not diagnose or treat a mother's illness during pregnancy or even after the baby is born. A doctor may be negligent if prescribes a medication that could cause a birth defect or improperly administers a medication. Medical malpractice claims can be brought against the physician responsible for the error. A birth injury lawsuit could also be filed against an employer if they expose pregnant employees to harmful substances.

Medical Malpractice

Birth defects are structural changes to the body that can negatively affect its appearance or function. These conditions range in severity and can affect any area of the body, according to the CDC.

When a child is born with a birth defect, parents usually want to know what caused the condition. Medical negligence or exposures to teratogen chemicals are the most commonly cited causes. A seasoned birth defect lawyer can help families discover the causes of birth defects and bring a lawsuit against the parties accountable.

Medical malpractice cases involving birth injuries typically have a statute of limitations that is only one year. Parents must take action quickly when they find an anomaly in the birth, and link it to the injury. This means gathering bills, receipts, credit card transactions and other evidence to support the claim for compensation.

It would be beneficial to have more time to process the terrifying event of discovering the child has an injury or defect that is a result of birth, but this is not an option when it comes to filing an legal claim. It is crucial to partner with an experienced birth defect lawyer and a birth injury lawyer who is able to handle the preceding steps quickly.

Product Liability

Modern technology and medical advancements have greatly reduced the risk associated with childbirth. Birth defects and injuries remain possible. If you believe that medical professionals were negligent or careless during the delivery, pregnancy or labor, your child could have suffered injuries. You could be entitled to compensation for your losses.

Levy Konigsberg's birth defect lawyers can assist you in determining whether you are entitled to sue the doctor, hospital, and other parties involved. Our team has the experience and resources necessary to protect your rights, including the assistance of specially trained medical and scientific experts to discover and connect your child's condition with exposure to chemicals or other environmental factors.

Birth defects can vary in severity, and can impact the appearance of a child, their quality of life, as well as their expected life expectancy. If your child's illness was caused by medical malpractice or exposure to prescription medications, toxic chemicals, or environmental factors, our firm will provide you with expert insight and advice on the merits of a claim. Contact us now to begin the process of obtaining compensation for your damages. We will review your case at no charge or obligation. We only receive a fee if we win or settle your case.

Toxic Exposure

Many people are exposed to chemicals and toxins on a regular basis due to their jobs or in their surroundings. Unfortunately some of these chemicals are known to cause birth defects (teratogens) and can cause harm to babies. Parents who believe that their child has an abnormal birth result due to chemical exposure may be qualified for compensation.

Exposure to chemicals during pregnancy is among the most significant causes of birth defects. Certain substances such as toxic solvents that are used in the industry of manufacturing semiconductors have been proven to cause a range of birth defects in babies. Our firm has handled a number of cases against the largest corporations worldwide in these cases, and has won billions in settlement agreements.

In utero exposure to organic solvents such as toluene and trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), along with benzene as well as vinyl chloride at Camp Lejeune, are known to increase the risk of developing childhood birth defects and hematopoietic cancers. SSRIs as well as other prescription medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have also been linked to various birth defects.

Victoria Phillips is a partner at Phillips & Paolicelli, focusing on the complex litigation involving product liability and birth defect lawsuits against corporate defendants who cause the suffering and suffering of families who's lives have been ruined due to their negligence. She graduated from Williams College and Columbia Law School, and is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.