Defective Prescription and Over the Counter Drugs

Any medication can be involved in litigation over defective drugs. Successful lawsuits have been led against both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, resulting in significant compensation to the affected parties. Taking into account the many drugs that are produced each year, undisclosed side effects are more common than you might think.

Some of the most noteworthy litigation against drug companies that have been the center of controversy lately include:

  • Zantac
  • Elmiron
  • Ranitidine
  • Injectafer
  • Pradaxa
  • Losartan
  • Belviq

The manufacturers of these drugs have been embroiled in public debate and ongoing litigation, as the medications have caused users serious health issues such as increased cancer risk, Parkinson’s disease, uncontrolled bleeding, and more. If you suspect that you have had adverse unlisted side effects from any drug, an Alexandria defective drugs lawyer is here to help.

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Defective Drug Symptoms You Should Look For

Sometimes, it can be difficult to know whether or not you have been affected by a defective drug. Most drugs do carry some mild side effects, but this doesn’t make them defective. For your own health and safety, whenever you begin taking any new drugs, you should look out for:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Seizures
  • Skin lumps
  • Infections
  • Rashes
  • Blurry vision
  • Stroke
  • Breathing issues

We recommend seeking medical help if you experience any of these symptoms. Even if the symptoms do not significantly affect your quality of life, you should still get the opinion of a licensed practitioner.

Holding Pharmaceutical Companies Accountable for Their Drugs

Pharmaceutical companies are bound by product liability laws stating that they are responsible for ensuring their drugs are safe. Each company that makes, markets, and sells medicines must be held liable for any wrongdoing. If a drug is not safe, it could have issues such as design defects, manufacturing defects, or inaccurate labeling.

When manufacturing a drug, the company responsible must carry out safety tests and other trials for them to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The labeling must also be sufficient to prevent any harm to the individual taking the medication. This is the information the FDA needs to either approve or disapprove a drug.

To expedite approval, pharmaceutical companies sometimes provide false information to the FDA or fail to disclose some of the dangers the drug may pose to the consumer. In some cases, the FDA will pressure pharmaceutical companies to discontinue their defective drugs to prevent any harm to the consumer.

Which Parties are Held Liable for Defective Drugs?

Approval of the drug does not relieve the pharmaceutical companies of their duties to ensure safety. The drug must be marketed correctly, and the doctors must only prescribe the drugs for the intended treatment.

When drugs are faulty, several parties could be held liable, from the manufacturers to the distributors to the prescribers. If one of these parties neglected their due diligence resulting in injury, these parties are liable to the victims for damages caused by the drug.

An Alexandria defective drug lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury lawyers can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. We can advocate for you, fight for your rights, help you recover any losses incurred, and hold all the parties involved accountable for your injuries.

Compensation for Defective Drug Cases

When it comes to compensation, your Alexandria defective drugs lawyer can help you seek a settlement to cover your losses. If you have been injured or made sick by defective drugs, you could pursue compensation for current and projected future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. If your injuries will keep you out of work for an extended period, you could receive lost future wages.

If the defective drug caused the death of a loved one, you could seek damages for funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, and more. In addition, punitive damages could also be handed down to the pharmaceutical companies responsible.

Find out more about your options in this situation with an Alexandria wrongful death lawyer.

Statute of Limitations for a Defective Drug Suit in Louisiana

Each state has a statute of limitations (the time frame required) to file a suit. The statute of limitations for filing a defective drugs lawsuit in Louisiana is generally two years from the date of harm.

Your Alexandria defective drugs lawyer can determine how long you have and help you file on time.

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Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today

Reach out to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for help. We have the resources and manpower to help you gather evidence, negotiate on your behalf, and help prove your case in court. We can do everything in our power to prove that the defective drug should not have been approved or on the market for consumers. If you or a loved one has been a victim of defective drugs, the dedicated team at Laborde Earles Injury lawyers are here to help. Don’t wait. Reach out today.

Contact Laborde Earles Injury lawyers today to schedule your free consultation. We can fight for you every step of the way and help you seek the compensation you deserve.

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