Many medications that are marketed to cure illness or control symptoms turn out to have potentially devastating side effects. The Food and Drug Administration can remove dangerous drugs from the market, but by the time that happens, a person might have been taking the medication for years. Sometimes drugs continue to be sold despite known dangers.
The powerful companies that make huge profits from these drugs have a responsibility to compensate you when their product does harm. You could receive reimbursement for your losses plus compensation for your suffering, diminished quality of life, and other impacts of the drug.
When taking a medication causes you serious health consequences, consult a Mesa dangerous drugs lawyer. Our team could help you get compensation from the drug manufacturers who profit from these hazardous products. Call today to begin reviewing the details of your claim with a trusted personal injury attorney.
Approved Drugs Can Cause Dangerous Side Effects
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve a prescription drug before it goes on the market, but approval does not mean the medication is safe. The FDA can approve a drug that causes severe side effects when the manufacturer’s data suggests that its usefulness outweighs the risk for patients suffering from specific conditions.
Sometimes side effects do not become apparent until the drug has been in use for several years or even longer. For example, recently the FDA requested manufacturers remove the popular heartburn drug Zantac and related medications due to the presence of a probable carcinogen. The weight loss drug Belviq was also removed from the market because users showed an increased incidence of cancer.
Additionally, widely used prescription drugs have been associated with increased risks of diseases other than cancer. Some drugs have been associated with the development of diabetes, high blood pressure, blindness, heart problems, ulcers, and severe mental illness, among other conditions. Anyone who develops a serious health concern after taking a prescription drug should consult a Mesa injury attorney immediately.
Swift Action is Critical
Arizona Revised Statutes 12-542 says a consumer who sustains injuries from a dangerous drug has two years from the date of injury to bring a lawsuit seeking compensation. The two-year time limit begins on the last date the consumer took the medication.
However, it may be several years before the severe side effects of a drug become apparent. In that case, the two-year period begins on the date the consumer knew or should have known that the drug caused an injury.
Pharmaceutical companies often raise a statute of limitations defense in these cases, claiming that a consumer waited too long to investigate their symptoms and the cause. Anyone who receives a diagnosis should discuss the cause of their condition with their doctor. If a drug they took could have contributed to the condition, they should contact a Mesa attorney as quickly as possible.
Holding a Drug Manufacturer Accountable
Bringing a lawsuit against a drug manufacturer is a complex undertaking. Compiling the necessary evidence usually requires obtaining expert reports from doctors, biochemical engineers, researchers, and others. The drug company often has teams of lawyers on its defense, and it can take years for a case to move through the system.
When a widely used product impacts many people, the courts might consolidate cases for efficiency. These consolidated actions are called multi-district litigation (MDL) or mass torts. The court designates one or more cases to be bellwether cases in which the injured parties prove that the manufacturer is responsible for their injuries. All the attorneys representing injured consumers pool their resources to ensure the bellwether cases are as strong as possible.
If the bellwether cases are successful, the manufacturer typically settles with all the consumers alleging injuries. Participating in a mass tort often leads to a faster outcome with less expense for an injured consumer. Someone suffering from severe drug side effects should speak with a Mesa attorney about whether a mass tort action is an option in their case.
Consult a Mesa Attorney When a Medication Causes You Harm
Unsafe medications can cause disabling conditions that ruin your quality of life and shorten your life span. The pharmaceutical company that produces the dangerous drug must pay for the damage it causes.
When you learn that a drug you took has caused serious harm, contact a Mesa dangerous drugs lawyer. The local legal professionals at the Phillips Law Group have the skills and confidence to take on the big drug companies and win. Schedule an appointment today.
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