Philadelphia Dangerous Drugs Lawyer
Prescription and non-prescription drugs are used to treat a variety of medical conditions, from high blood pressure to cancer to diabetes.
However, medications can pose certain risks to the patients taking them. It is up to drug manufacturers and health care providers to understand and be aware of these risks and to pass this information along to patients before it is too late.
If you or someone you love has been injured by a dangerous drug, you should immediately contact a Philadelphia dangerous drugs lawyer, as you may be entitled to legal compensation. Dangerous and defective drugs can cause all sorts of injuries, and in the worst cases, can lead to a patient’s untimely death.
A qualified personal injury attorney could explain what constitutes a dangerous drug case in Philadelphia and outline some of the damages that are available to injured patients.
Dangerous Drugs
Dangerous drug cases usually come about when drugs (prescription drugs and non-prescription, over-the-counter drugs) are inadequately tested or hastily approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
As a result of improper testing or approval, drugs may cause serious (and sometimes previously unknown) side effects or may bring about adverse reactions when taken with other medications. Unfortunately, the results are often catastrophic, and the dangerous drugs end up being recalled by the drug manufacturer.
Drug Defects
The most common types of drug defects include manufacturing defects, design defects, and warning defects.
Manufacturing defects are when drugs are improperly manufactured, are contaminated during production or distribution or are packaged poorly. Design defects are when drugs are not properly designed or tested prior to being made available to the general public.
Warning defects are when drugs are mislabeled or are not accompanied by the proper precautions or warning information, such as information about side effects and harmful reactions that may occur when certain drugs are taken together.
When these defects result in injury or death, a patient may be entitled to legal compensation with the help of a Philadelphia dangerous drugs attorney.
Recalled Drugs
Some examples of recently recalled drugs include the following:
- Xarelto
- Abilify
- Lipitor
- Talcum Powder
- Paxil
- Accutane
- Zofran
- Viagra
- Fosamax
- Hernia Mesh
- Transvaginal Mesh
Methods of Recovery
The theory of recovery usually falls under the umbrella of products liability when dangerous drugs cause catastrophic injuries. The typical defendant in dangerous drug cases is the drug manufacturer.
However, in some cases, pharmacists, doctors, and other healthcare providers may be potential defendants when they fail to recognize side effects or harmful interactions associated with certain drugs, prior to prescribing or dispensing them to patients.
Damages
Available damages in Philadelphia defective drug cases include compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Past, present, and future pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of earning capacity
Moreover, if a loved one has died as a result of a defective or dangerous drug, a skilled Philadelphia dangerous drugs lawyer could help surviving family members may bring a wrongful death action on behalf of the decedent, against a drug manufacturer or other defendant(s), such as a healthcare provider. In addition to the above-referenced damages, the family members bringing the wrongful death lawsuit may also recover funeral expenses and loss of financial support of a loved one.
Contacting a Philadelphia Dangerous Drugs Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured by a dangerous drug, you may be entitled to compensation under Pennsylvania law. For an initial consultation with an experienced Philadelphia dangerous drugs lawyer, feel free to contact us via telephone or email at any time.
