Dozens of new prescription medications are approved by the FDA every year. Unfortunately, not all approved drugs are safe. Thanks to a flawed approval process and money-hungry pharmaceutical companies, the risks associated with prescription drugs can be incredibly high. Dangerous and/or unknown side effects can pose a serious threat to your safety.
If you have been injured or harmed because of a prescription drug you need to understand your legal rights and options. You may be entitled to compensation from the company who is responsible for designing, manufacturing, and/or selling the dangerous drug. At Citywide Law Group, our personal injury lawyers can help you maximize your financial award. Call us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
Drug Recalls in Los Angeles
Prescription medications must be thoroughly tested and proven to be safe before they can be approved by the FDA. In most cases, pharmaceutical companies must have evidence from clinical testing and procedures to show the drug is effective and that benefits outweigh the risks. However, it’s not uncommon for drugs to get approval even when they pose a threat to the consumer. Sometimes pharmaceutical companies can get approval for a new drug if the FDA has already approved a similar product. As a result, consumers end up using risky and untested drugs with the mistaken belief that they are safe.
The FDA keeps a watchful eye out for potential issues with drugs that have been approved for use. When a health or safety issue arises, the agency will investigate and issue a recall for that particular drug. The recall may be for the drug in its entirety or limited to a particular batch of the medication.
Drug recalls may be issued if:
- There are reports of previously unidentified or undisclosed side effects
- The package is mislabeled
- The package is damaged damaged
- The drug is contaminated
- Potency, quality or purity are off, or
- Extensive use reveals new risks associated with the drug.
Pharmaceutical companies also have the ability to recall a drug when potential health and/or safety issues are identified.
Drug Recalls Don’t Shield Companies From Liability
Drug recalls help to protect consumers from possible risks and dangers associated with a specific drug. Simply issuing a recall will not shield a pharmaceutical company from liability for harm caused by its dangerous drug. You can still file a personal injury lawsuit against that company to recover compensation for harm caused by their product. At the same time, a drug recall doesn’t automatically mean that the company is admitting fault or negligence.
In California, companies that design, manufacture, and/or sell a product can be strictly liable for injuries caused by that product. This includes the pharmaceutical company that is responsible for getting that dangerous drug in your hands. In many cases, can recover compensation if you can prove:
- The drug’s design was defective
- The drug was defective because of how it was manufactured, or
- The company failed to warn about potential risks or side effects.
If you have been injured because of dangerous or defective drug it’s important to get help. Contact our Los Angeles drug recall injury attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.
Threats Posed by Recalled and Dangerous Drugs in Los Angeles
Federal law requires prescription drugs to go through a rigorous testing process before they can be approved for use by consumers. This testing process is not only intended to make sure that the drug is effective, but also to identify any potential risks and side effects. When companies rush drugs through the testing process, they risk not identifying serious issues that could harm consumers.
Potential risks of dangerous and/or untested drugs can include:
- Infection
- Neurological problems
- Psychological problems
- Stroke
- Allergic reactions
- Cardiac issues
- Birth defects
- Organ failure (i.e. kidney, liver, heart)
- Overdose
- Coma
- Paralysis, or
- Death.
It is important to seek medical help immediately if you begin to experience unexpected side effects when you are taking medication.
Class Action Drug Recall Lawsuits
Since prescription medications are so widely used, it’s possible for many people to sustain injuries for the same reason. Rather than filing hundreds (or thousands) of individuals lawsuits, victims may have the opportunity to join a class action lawsuit. A class action suit essentially allows cases with the same fact pattern to merge. Instead of pursuing compensation for each individual victim, the lawsuit seeks compensation for the group as a whole. Each victim then receives a share of the award.
Class action lawsuits can be very helpful. Pharmaceutical companies tend to be represented by highly-skilled attorneys and backed by medical professionals. They are incredibly prepared to defend themselves if they are ever sued. It can be difficult for victims to match the manpower (and resources) when they pursue cases individually. Class actions can allow victims to pool resources and make more noise.
Should you join a class action lawsuit? Or, should you try to fight for compensation on your own? It’s important to consider both options before making up your mind. Our attorneys can review your specific case and help you identify your best legal option. Call us today to learn more.
Drug Recall Cases We Handle
At Citywide Law Group, our attorneys understand that the harm caused by a dangerous drug can be devastating. Injuries can happen quickly or issues can build up over time. Either way, the physical, emotional, and financial costs can be overwhelming. We are prepared to help you fight for compensation if you have been injured because of a dangerous and/or recalled drug.
We handle cases for all drugs including, but not limited to:
- Abilify
- Accutane
- Actemra
- Byetta/Januvia
- Celebrex
- Cymbalta
- GranuFlo
- Lamictal
- Lyrica
- Pradaxa
- Risperdal
- Xarelto
- Yaz
- Zofran, and
- Zyprexa.
Call our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys today if you or someone you love has been injured because of a dangerous drug. We can help you fight for the money you deserve.
How Our Drug Recall Lawyers Can Help You
Hiring an attorney is the best thing you can do if you want to recover compensation for a dangerous drug injury. Here’s how our Los Angeles drug recall attorneys will help you with your personal injury case.
Identify Cause and Liability. We will need hard evidence to show that a dangerous drug was a substantial cause of your injury. This will require a meticulous investigation into your case. Our attorneys will review medical documents, speak with medical professionals, and research possible causes of your injury. When we identify the specific cause of your injury, we can then determine who is responsible. Taking these steps will help to support your case and increase settlement offers.
Value Your Case Properly. How much is your case worth? This question can only be answered after a thorough review of your medical records, assessments, and injury. Pharmaceutical companies aren’t the only ones to have experts on their side. Our attorneys have established relationships with some of the most respected medical and scientific professionals in Los Angeles. When we handle a drug recall injury case, we work closely with these experts to make sure that your case is valued properly.
Protect Your Interests. Pharmaceutical companies, and/or their insurers, will do everything they can to limit the amount of money you receive. Some may be stubborn and deny any responsibility for your injury. Others may extend a lowball settlement offer to make your case go away. Our attorneys are committed to protecting your interests and will not let you be pushed around by these large companies. We will handle your case with the care it needs and gather evidence to support your demand for money. Our goal is to hold negligent or reckless companies responsible for harm they cause to you and the public.
Call Our Los Angeles Drug Recall Attorneys Today
The FDA recalls more than 1,000 prescription medications every year. Recalling a drug can protect future victims, but it does little to address harm that has already been inflicted. If you have been hurt by a dangerous drug in Los Angeles you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys to find out how we can help you make the most of your personal injury case. We are here to help you get the money you deserve. Call today to schedule your free case assessment.