Whether consumers are taking prescription drugs or over the counter drugs, they expect to be able to do so safely. However, this does not always happen. Whether the drug manufacturer made a mistake in the testing process, failed to list all the side effects and negative drug reactions, or something similar, it could be liable for your injuries suffered after taking the drug.
Drugmakers must put the well-being of their customers above everything else. When they do not and you suffer an injury or unnecessary illness, consider hiring a Los Angeles defective drug lawyer. We will defend your right to receive compensation from the drug maker or its insurance company.
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has repeatedly seen just how these types of cases can devastate a family. Whether you have suffered long-term injuries or a significant reduction in your quality of life, we are ready to help. Contact us today at (800) 794-0444 for a free review of your case.
How Does a Drug Manufacturer Make a Mistake?
Due to the extensive testing that new pharmaceutical drugs undergo before the public can begin using them, it may seem hard to believe that the pharmaceutical company could make an error. Yet, it still happens.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), drugs must go through three phases of clinical studies and trials, where the drug maker gives some volunteers the drug and others a placebo, allowing the drugmaker to determine the drug’s effectiveness and to find any potential side effects.
However, if the drugmaker does not precisely follow testing procedures or makes an error in tracking the side effects or efficacy of the drug, it could lead to a labeling error, leaving the FDA and consumer unaware of potentially dangerous conditions the drug could cause.
Tracking Drug Recalls
The surest way to identify a dangerous drug is through the FDA’s Drug Recall website. Here, the FDA identifies the type of mistake the drug manufacturer made, including giving the dangerous drug a classification based on its overall health risk. Those classifications include:
- Class I: where the drug could cause major health problems or a fatality for the consumer.
- Class II: where the drug may cause temporary health problems, but it could lead to long-term health problems.
- Class III: where the drug may not cause any significant health problems, but the drugmaker did not follow all rules and laws regarding the making or marketing of the drug.
Protecting Your Right to Receive Compensation
If the drug manufacturer should have known about a problem with its medication that could cause a significant illness or injury to patients, the manufacturer could be found liable in a personal injury lawsuit.
A Los Angeles defective drug lawyer knows how to study the facts in your case, ensuring that the insurance company for the drug maker treats you as fairly as possible. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for a free case review.
What Constitutes a Dangerous Drug?
If you are wondering whether you have a case against the manufacturer of a dangerous drug, there are a few situations that can show the manufacturer acted in a negligent or reckless manner regarding the drug’s release and testing.
These situations can apply to either a prescription drug or an over the counter medication or supplement.
Hidden Ingredients
Drug manufacturers must reveal all components used in the manufacturing of a particular drug. If the FDA finds that a hidden ingredient is part of the drug, it could issue a recall, and the manufacturer could be found to be making a dangerous drug.
Interactions
Sometimes, a drug will seem safe during testing. Once the drug is in the public, though, it becomes clear the new drug has adverse interactions with other drugs someone may be taking, as explained by Johns Hopkins Medicine. These drug interactions are not always easy for the manufacturer to anticipate or find, but it is important that they discover and publicize them as early as possible.
If the drug maker failed to publicize a dangerous drug interaction quickly enough, it could be liable for injuries you may have suffered.
Regulation
If the drug manufacturer did not follow FDA guidelines regarding the regulation of the prescription drug or the over the counter drug, it could be found liable. This can include using unverified ingredients in the making of the drug or mislabeling its intended use.
Due to supplements not subject to FDA regulation, it is a little tougher to prove that they are dangerous. However, if the supplement manufacturer uses harmful ingredients, it could be found liable in a personal injury lawsuit.
Side Effects
During the testing of a drug, the manufacturer must create a list of side effects that the drug causes in test subjects. If the manufacturer attempts to hide a particular side effect or does not do extensive enough testing to find all of the side effects before releasing the drug to the public, it could be liable in a lawsuit.
Some side effects can be extremely serious to the health of people using the drug. The most serious side effects, also called adverse events, may include:
- Changes to heart rhythms
- Changes to mental health, including suicidal thoughts
- Damage to internal organs
- Headaches and other body pains
- Increased fall risk because of dizziness or lightheadedness
- Sudden weight gain or weight loss
For a free legal consultation with a Defective Drug Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our team has your best interests in mind. We will work to help you receive the fairest possible settlement from the drug company.
Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you will not pay anything up front if you choose to hire us. Our fee comes from the settlement at the end of the case.
The main focus of a Los Angeles defective drug lawyer is to protect your rights all the way through a trial, if necessary. When you did nothing wrong, you should not have to bear the brunt of your medical bills on your own. Call us at (800) 794-0444 today.
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