Just one small pill and your health is changed forever. It is supposed to make you better, not worse.
But what do you do if you’ve taken a harmful pill and it has caused more severe injury? The consequences can be life-altering, leading to unnecessary medical bills, lost wages, and long-term or permanent health concerns. If this has happened to you or a loved one due to a dangerous drug, there may be more you can do. Van Law Firm specializes in helping people who have been injured by pharmaceutical negligence. It takes an attorney who specializes in this area to navigate the system and to seek out the compensation you need and are owed.
Recognizing the Impact of Harmful Drugs
The fear and anger set in when you realize you’ve taken a prescribed medication to treat a condition, and instead of making you better, has caused more harm than good. Unwanted side-effects that you weren’t made aware of, that are now part of your daily living routine. Everything from unnaturally enhancing your perception of GI (gastrointestinal) issues, to life-threatening cases of cancer. These are inevitable consequences that can happen to anyone–or so you thought. There are thousands of other Americans who can find themselves in a similar situation and don’t know that the consequences are not the end of the story.
Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for making sure their products deliver the promised results safely. If they do not, a mass tort action may be the only way to hold the drug company accountable.
How to Know If You Have a Claim
Not everyone who suffers from the side effects of a medication will be part of a lawsuit. Unfortunately, in virtually all areas of litigation, only the victims of pharmaceutical company wrongdoing who are able to retain legal representation can expect to see a financial recovery.
A few key signs you may have a claim:
- The drug was recalled or linked to serious health risks.
- You suffered harm that wasn’t disclosed in the warnings.
- There’s evidence of manufacturing defects or misleading marketing.
Having an attorney with experience on your side enables your legal team to analyze your medical history, the history of the drug in question, and the obligations of the manufacturer. The sooner this can happen, the easier it is to get you the compensation you need.
What Compensation Can Cover
Compensatory damages can help by paying for treatments or deep emotional distress, the compensation can include many different kinds of damages:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost income due to missed work
- Pain and suffering
- Long-term disability or rehabilitation costs
- Wrongful death damages (for families who lost a loved one)
Each pharmaceutical liability action has its own complexities, but working with a lawyer will help ensure that you get everything you deserve.
The Legal Process: What to Expect
It may feel intimidating to file a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company, but it can be worth it to overcome the financial burden so you can move past it. The options are not so scary. The process to file the lawsuit with the help of an attorney includes:
- Consultation: An attorney evaluates your case, reviewing medical records and drug history.
- Case Evaluation: Begin by speaking with a pharmaceutical injury attorney to get your case evaluated. A lawyer will investigate the circumstances that caused your injury, weigh the amount of your pharmaceutical liability damages, and develop the most effective strategy for seeking the most.
- Information Gathering: Lawyers gather vital evidence to support a case to present a case including FDA warnings, manufacturer data that was available, and expert testimony from leading professionals who can help underscore the role played by the drug company. This is going to be impossible to do by oneself.
- Negotiation or Trial: Our team will usually negotiate compensation for our clients, but if the liable companies or opponents refuse to pay a fair amount, a trial is likely.
This process can take several months or longer, but justice has a way of prevailing, and you can receive well-deserved settlements or verdicts.
Why Legal Representation Matters
For Big Pharma, defending dangerous drugs is just another day at the office. These companies have almost limitless resources, and a small army of lawyers is usually guarding their gates.
That’s why you need the Van Law Firm on your side. In large tort litigation matters, we do not back down until we obtain the best result possible under the circumstances.
Taking the First Step Toward Justice
Your health should never be impaired because of a corporation’s decision to sell a harmful drug. When you are struggling after a dangerous drug, don’t suffer in silence. If you believe a dangerous drug has hurt you, take action to learn about the state and federal legal time limits (statutes of limitations) that apply to your claim. Taking prompt, aggressive steps before time limits can make a significant difference in your case!
