Drugs are supposed to provide relief to those suffering from painful and debilitating medical conditions. However, manufacturers release medications onto the market before adequately ensuring their safety. When someone suffers harm as a result, pharmaceutical companies need to be held accountable.
A Trinity dangerous drugs lawyer may be able to help you obtain compensation if you suffered illness or injury due to a defective medication. A seasoned personal injury lawyer who understands pharmaceutical product liability could review your case and explain your options for recovery.
Parties Who May Be Held Liable
The reasons a medication caused harm can indicate the parties who may be held liable for the results. A Trinity dangerous drugs lawyer could investigate to determine what caused the harm to a patient and who may share in the liability.
Drugs could prove dangerous to individuals because they were:
- Improperly tested or not tested
- Dispensed in the wrong packaging
- Provided without adequate product warnings about interactions or side effects
- Provided in the wrong dosage
- Prescribed in error
Sometimes, a company is aware of dangerous side-effects but deliberately withholds that information from the public so they can continue to market the medications profitably for as long as possible. Patients should stand up against this unethical and dangerous behavior when it causes harm to their health. Potentially liable parties include manufacturers, testing facilities, pharmacies, and medical providers that prescribed or dispensed the medication.
Recoverable Damages in a Pharmaceutical Product Liability Case
Taking dangerous drugs can lead to many unwelcome consequences. The harm often results in the need for additional medical care, with more doctor’s bills and possible long-term effects.
Those injured by dangerous drugs may be entitled to receive damages for effects such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. In addition, compensation could also be provided for lost income due to time missed from work, reduced future earning capacity, and past and future medical costs.
A Trinity pharmaceutical product liability attorney could ascertain the value for each applicable effect based on prior case law. These amounts then provide a basis to evaluate the fairness of settlement offers.
Time Limit to File a Claim
Those injured by dangerous medications have a limited time to file a claim for compensation. The limit varies depending on whether the claim is filed under a theory of product liability or medical malpractice. Also, if the administration of a dangerous drug results in death, that could also affect the time limit for filing a claim.
These limits are referred to as the statutes of limitation. The applicable limit could be four years or two, depending on the situation. If it was not possible to detect the harm for some time, the limitation period could be extended in certain cases. An experienced lawyer could determine the applicable statute of limitations and work to ensure that claims are prepared and filed by the deadline.
Contact a Trinity Dangerous Drugs Attorney
Individuals take medications to improve their health and wellbeing. When drugs that are supposed to help have just the opposite effect, the results can be devastating.
If you or a loved one suffered due to a hazardous medication, it is wise to learn as much as possible about your rights and how to enforce them. A Trinity dangerous drugs lawyer could review your case, help you evaluate your options, and fight for a fair recovery to help you move forward. To learn more about the advantages of working with an attorney, call today.