Thousands of drugs are recalled every year. Defective drugs may cause unsuspecting users substantial harm. Adverse effects from defective drugs may cause death or have a lasting impact on the body. Many people injured by defective drugs are never able to return to their original condition. If you or a loved one have suffered from a defective drug, contact a Birmingham defective drugs lawyer right away to take legal action and seek restitution.
A Birmingham prescription medication injury lawyer from Riley & Jackson, P.C. provides unwavering support when you are suffering lasting adverse effects from defective drugs. We are an ally and a champion in the effort to get justice and restitution for you. We are committed to securing you the compensation you need to receive proper treatment and care as you move forward to recover your health.
Defective Drugs Defined
Drugs are defective when they cause adverse effects that are not associated with the drug’s normal level of efficacy, safety, or listed side effects. These flaws can cause serious reactions and damage to the person who has taken the faulty medication. Many of these drugs can be fatal or cause permanent harm. Other defective drugs may not result in irreversible harm, but they are dangerous nonetheless and can still disrupt the user’s health and life.
What to do if You Have Suffered Adverse Effects from a Faulty Drug
If you have suffered adverse effects from a defective drug, you should seek medical attention for the negative effects and talk to your doctor to confirm that your reaction was outside the scope of the drug’s normal potential side effects. If your reaction was unusual or was not included on the medication label’s warnings, you may have the grounds to file a defective drug claim. In that case, it is essential to hire our knowledgeable lawyers to help you navigate the legal process.
When you have an adverse event from a medication that is not listed on the drug’s label, it is also important to report the issue to the FDA. The FDA provides the option for you to fill out a form online yourself, or with the help of your physician. Your physician can provide specific information about the drug that affected you to better support your report.
Birmingham Defective Drugs Lawyers Thoroughly Prepare Your Case to Get Results
Taking a defective drug can cause a whole host of health problems, and individuals who have suffered adverse effects may have the right in certain circumstances to take legal action against manufacturers for their negligence. Users harmed by a defective drug may also have the right to file a claim against a physician if they prescribed a defective drug with awareness that it was unreasonably dangerous to the patient.
Our Birmingham defective drugs lawyers are valuable assets that allow you to get justice for the harm you have sustained. We provide vital representation when going up against the big firm legal teams who work for drug manufacturers and health care providers. Our team of attorneys and staff protects your rights so you are not taken advantage of, and we work to ensure you do not receive a settlement below the value of your losses.
Significant evidence is required to establish the faultiness of a drug and who is liable for your injuries. We gather all applicable records, documents, visual evidence, and expert opinions to establish how the defective drug harmed you. We also develop sound and effective legal strategies applicable to your situation when building your case.
Damages You Can Recover in a Defective Drug Claim
While money cannot undo the impacts of a defective drug, it can ensure you receive the treatment needed to reduce and reverse if possible the symptoms that the drug caused. Additional medical care can be costly, and those expenses can be daunting. Damages can provide a source of financial relief from these unexpected costs and can offset the following losses:
- Medical expenses related to the effects of the faulty drug
- Ongoing treatments required to combat the adverse effects
- Reduced or lost earning from being unable to work
- Pain and suffering
- Decreased quality of life
- Reduced enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
- Mental and emotional distress
It is important to fully disclose your symptoms, the effects on your health, and the expenses you have incurred when talking to us. This allows us to better calculate the full extent of your losses to negotiate a fair settlement or prepare a strong argument for trial. We will discuss your options with you and provide clarity on the types of compensation you are entitled to claim.
Factors that Contribute to Defective Drugs and Recalls
According to Harvard Medical School, drugs can be defective for many reasons. In some instances, errors can occur during the manufacturing process. Drugs can be contaminated, be designed with the wrong ingredients, or not stored or labeled properly. It is also possible that test subjects may not accurately reflect some variables occurring in the general population. Manufacturers may also act in bad faith when producing drugs.
Drugs must pass FDA inspection before they go to market, and facilities are regularly reviewed by them every few years. They are responsible for ensuring drug safety prior to releasing the medication to the market at large. While drugs may undergo rigorous clinical trials and testing before FDA inspection, errors can still happen at various levels of the pre-market process.
When it is discovered that drugs are defective, recalls are typically issued to take the drug off the market. During the last decade, more than 14,000 drugs were recalled for safety issues.
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), there have been more than 5,000 recalled drugs over the past four years alone. The majority of these were Class II recalls, which means that individuals were likely to recover from the harm. However, 399 recalls received a Class I ranking, which is the most severe and denotes death or strong adverse effects.
Pay Nothing Unless We Win Your Case
Legal services can feel inaccessible to many based on the cost alone. To circumvent this concern, Riley & Jackson, P.C. offers a contingency fee approach so clients do not have to pay anything unless we win their case. Clients pay nothing out of pocket and can be confident that their best interests are our top priority.
Receive the Support You Need When You Hire Riley & Jackson, PC
When you or a loved one have been affected by a defective drug, Riley & Jackson, PC ensures you receive the support you need to be taken seriously and have your voice heard. Our firm is committed to securing your results so you do not have to bear the financial burden alone while you heal. Schedule a free consultation with our firm today or call us at (205) 879-5000 to pursue legal action against the party who hurt you.