Looking for Dangerous Drug Attorneys? Keep This in Mind
People all over the world use over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications for different medical conditions and to stay healthy. But these medications may sometimes have potential dangers and side effects. Drug manufacturers are obliged to inform consumers about them to avoid personal injury. Failing to do so puts people’s lives at stake and may result in legal action against them.
If you or a loved one experienced a severe reaction to an unsafe drug, you should consult dangerous drug attorneys who can help you receive compensation. This will help you pay for treatments and other medical expenses that arise from ingesting unsafe medications.
In this piece, we discuss dangerous drugs and how you can seek appropriate redress through an experienced dangerous drug attorney.
What Constitutes a Dangerous Drug?
A prescription or OTC drug becomes dangerous when it causes serious injuries or medical complications. Even drugs that are generally safe may be harmful in certain cases. Here are a few examples of when a drug is deemed dangerous:
- Defective or contaminated drugs
- Inadequately tested drugs
- Prescription errors like prescribing medication that a patient is allergic to or one that negatively interacts with another drug that the patient is taking
- Mistakes by a pharmacy, including giving faulty medication or an incorrect dose that’s different from the doctor’s prescription
- The development of serious, sometimes irreversible or lethal side effects that are not mentioned in a drug’s label and instructions
Hospitals, doctors, and pharmacies may sometimes be at fault due to prescription or dosage errors. But there are also several dangerous drug lawsuits where drug manufacturers (commonly and collectively called “big pharma”) are the ones to blame.
How Do Unsafe Medications Lead to Lawsuits?
Dangerous drugs may cause adverse health effects, injuries, and health conditions immediately and even after years of use. A few common conditions associated with the unsafe use of drugs that may lead to lawsuits include:
- Cardiac arrest
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Liver failure
- Kidney failure
- Pancreatitis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Cancer
- Birth defects
- Suicidal thoughts and ideation
Note that these aren’t the only medical conditions that consumers can seek justice for.
Types of Dangerous Drugs Lawsuits
Dangerous drugs may lead to various types of lawsuits:
- Personal injury lawsuits
- Class action lawsuits, including product liability
- Wrongful death claims
If you or a loved one suffered grave drug-related side effects, you can file a lawsuit and get compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost income
- The wrongful death of a family member
If the lawsuit arises due to a defective drug, the onus may fall entirely on the manufacturer. As a plaintiff, you may not have to prove the manufacturer’s liability or negligence in formulating the dangerous drug before receiving compensation. It’s also worth noting that pursuing legal action against a manufacturer could entitle you to compensation for all the losses you suffered due to the dangerous drug.
Dangerous drug lawsuits can also involve hundreds or thousands of affected consumers. They may combine their various personal injury cases into a single lawsuit called a class action. In this type of lawsuit, all the plaintiffs give up control over their individual cases and opt to join other plaintiffs who experienced similar injuries.
What To Do if You Experienced an Adverse Reaction to a Dangerous Drug
If you suffered a serious side effect from a harmful medication, take the following steps:
- Get medical aid immediately.
- Discontinue using the medication that caused harm.
- Record all the side effects of the medication and the treatments you had to get as a result.
- Keep the dangerous drug with you as evidence.
- Inform the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the incident. They maintain a database of drug-related side effects.
- Consult a dangerous drug attorney as quickly as possible. Your attorney will help you determine if you have a case and can claim damages.
Rules on strict liability may prevent you from having to prove a drug manufacturer’s negligence in a defective drug lawsuit. But you must still offer evidence that the medication caused harm. Usually, manufacturers refute claims about links between their medications and patients’ health problems. Rebutting such arguments may require medical records, expert testimony, results of medical research, as well as FDA warnings and recalls.
Importance of Dangerous Drug Lawyers
Working with an experienced dangerous drug attorney who has handled different types of unsafe medication cases will help you navigate the complexities of your case.
Sometimes, it may be challenging to prove the liability of big pharmaceutical companies producing these medications and claim damages. Dangerous drug attorneys with specialized knowledge and a successful track record in similar cases will gather evidence, consult experts, and build a strong legal argument to support your case.
Taking early action against the party at fault with the help of a lawyer will also help you preserve crucial evidence.
In addition, a skilled and patient lawyer will always be ready to answer your questions and address your concerns. They will ensure clear and transparent communication regarding the progress of your case. They will also approach your case with full knowledge of the law and compassion, making the entire process easier and more manageable for you.
Moreover, they will help you file your case promptly. Legal professionals are fully aware that the statute of limitations for filing personal injury and product liability claims is one year after the cause of action. They will fight for you and represent you in court even if you or someone you love struggles with the drug’s side effects.
So, if you have been harmed by a dangerous drug, seek legal representation promptly to get the justice you deserve.
Conclusion
Claiming damages for a dangerous drug can be time-consuming and complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger has an excellent team of knowledgeable attorneys who are experienced in handling dangerous drug cases. They are uniquely positioned to help you with your lawsuit so you can receive appropriate compensation.
Our assistance extends to assessing if you have a valid case, conducting necessary investigations, helping you prove your claims, and negotiating settlement. Along the way, we will also help you understand your rights and the legal processes involved.
Our trained attorneys are ready to listen to you. We want you to feel comfortable sharing the details of your case with us. We will also formulate strong legal arguments to help you achieve the best legal outcomes.
We offer free consultations so you can understand your legal options as we help you build your case. To schedule a free session, send us a message. You can also visit our website to learn more.
