9 Signs You're A Birth Defect Legal Expert

Birth Defect Litigation

Parents want perfect children, but some injuries happen out of their control. If injuries that result from these accidents require special care and costly procedures, it could result in huge costs for families.

A New York birth defect attorney can assist parents shocked to file claims to obtain compensation for future expenses. The law has strict deadlines for when claims can be filed.

Statute of Limitations

Modern technology and medical advances have helped reduce the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. However, birth defects and injuries continue to occur. Families need to consider their legal options if they can be prevented.

Many birth defect lawsuits are founded on allegations of medical malpractice. These lawsuits can result from mistakes committed by nurses or doctors staff at any time during pregnancy, labor and birth. Additionally medical professionals may be guilty of medical malpractice following a child's birth when they fail to provide the correct treatment.

Generally speaking, the statute of limitations in these cases is generally 2.5 years from the date of the act of medical negligence. The time limit can be extended for infants. However, it is important to seek legal counsel as soon as you can to ensure that all evidence has been collected and that a timely claim can be filed.

In addition to medical malpractice, a suit may also be filed on behalf of a baby for birth defects caused by improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances that take place during the mother's pregnancy. Specially trained birth defect lawyers can investigate and prosecute these claims on behalf of the family.

When selecting an attorney for a birth injury or defect lawsuit parents should be looking for the following qualities:

Medical Malpractice

Birth defects can cause an array of mental or physical issues. Some may even be fatal. Some of these issues may be genetic and others may be caused by environmental exposures or prescription drugs taken during pregnancy.

A doctor or medical professional could be convicted of malpractice when they cause birth defects due to their actions or inaction. The most common cases involve medical negligence during the birth or labor process. However, they can also be a result of any action or failure to act that falls short of the medical standard of care, for instance, failing to recognize a medical issue or prescribing the wrong medication during pregnancy.

One such case involves the teratogens. These medications can lead to serious birth defects. During pregnancy, doctors typically advise women to not take this medication, which is used to treat seizures. If a woman who is pregnant is exposed to this medication, she must submit a claim.

It is important to select an attorney with experience handling these types of cases. It is best to choose an attorney with expertise in this area and operates on contingency basis, which means you won't be charged nothing until you win. Additionally, you should choose an attorney with excellent communication and negotiation skills. This can help ensure that your claim is filed before the statute of limitations expires.

Prescription Drugs

A variety of birth defects cause mental or physical disabilities that require expensive medical treatment and accommodations for the child. Most often, these disorders are genetic, however some of them are caused by chemical or environmental exposure, or medications that the mother was taking during pregnancy.

Drug makers are required to ensure that their products are tested properly and warn the public of any potential dangers. Sadly many pharmaceutical companies do not keep up with the latest research or anticipate potential side consequences. Moreover, doctors may prescribe dangerous drugs to patients and some women do not receive adequate information on the dangers of taking certain medications during pregnancy. These medications, also known as teratogens may cause birth defects, such as spina-bifida, which is a birth defect in the fe.

Other substances that could cause birth defect law firms defects are chemicals used in manufacturing and agriculture as well as heavy metals like mercury, which are contaminating the groundwater and air. Diane Paolicelli has dedicated her legal career to fighting powerful corporations that expose women chemicals and substances that could cause harm to their reproductive health and cause birth defects.

It is crucial to collect as all evidence you can before making a claim against the responsible parties. This includes blood tests, ultrasound images and medical bills that arose because of the birth defect. This information can help attorneys determine the value of the case.

Product Liability

Pregnancy is among the most exciting, yet anxious experiences of women's lives. It's also a time where medical professionals often make mistakes that can lead to birth defects. A top lawyer can help parents bring a lawsuit against those accountable for their child's handicap and get the proper compensation they're entitled to.

Medical experts aren't always able to determine the specific cause of birth defects, however the majority of them can be due to environmental or chemical exposure. This can be due to exposure by parents to toxic chemicals at work such as glycol ethers and solvents in semiconductor manufacturing, birth defect lawyers as well as agricultural chemicals used for crop spraying and pesticides.

Manufacturers and those who prescribe medications are also required to inform people about the dangers. Yet, a large percentage of these medications are sold off-label for women of childbearing age without adequate warnings about the potential for birth defects. This is particularly applicable to antidepressants, such as Prozac and Zoloft.

Christian Uehlein, a partner at Thornton Law Firm, represents plaintiffs in birth defect lawsuits against pharmaceutical and chemical companies. He focuses his practice on cases where birth defects result from exposure of parents to toxic chemicals, such as those used in semiconductor manufacturing or agricultural. He graduated from the American University in Washington, D.C. and Suffolk University Law School.