New Castle, PA Dangerous Drugs Attorney
As a patient and consumer, you trust the drugs that are prescribed to you to be reasonably safe and suited for their intended purposes. Unfortunately, not all drug manufacturers can be trusted to create safe products. Dangerous and defective drugs can harm more than they help. A defective drug can cause serious injuries, illnesses and patient death.
If you or a loved one has been negatively affected by a defective drug, contact the New Castle, Pennsylvania dangerous drug attorneys at Dallas W. Hartman P.C., Attorneys at Law. Our initial consultations are free.
What Is a Dangerous Drug?
A dangerous drug is a prescription or over-the-counter medication that contains a defect that makes it unreasonably dangerous for consumers to use. It is a drug with a design, manufacturing, or marketing flaw that puts consumers at undue risk of bodily injury or illness.
A design flaw is an issue with the ingredients or makeup of a drug that makes it inherently dangerous by nature. A manufacturing defect means the drug would have been safe, but an error during its manufacture or assembly made it unsafe. A marketing flaw is an issue with how the company advertised the drug, such as the concealment of known side effects or violated FDA labeling laws.
Common Examples of Recalled Drugs
Over the years, dozens of dangerous and defective drugs have been recalled. A drug recall means that the company or a public safety organization discovered an issue with the medication that could put consumers at risk, and that it is announcing a recall to warn purchasers of the potential hazard. Examples of recalled dangerous drugs include:
- Accutane
- Darvocet
- Invokana
- Meridia
- Nexium
- Raptiva
- Taxotere
- Vioxx
- Xarelto
- Zantac
These drugs have led to terrible injuries and illnesses for unsuspecting patients. A dangerous drug could cause internal bleeding, organ damage, infections, adverse drug interactions, allergic reactions or wrongful death. The potential danger of the drug is described by the class of the recall. A class I recall is the most serious type – a drug that could cause serious health problems or death. A class III recall is the least serious, meaning it is unlikely to cause adverse health reactions.
Who Is Liable in a Dangerous Drug Lawsuit?
Pharmaceutical companies have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their drugs. Although this does not mean the company must ensure that no one ever experiences adverse effects, it does mean the manufacturer has an obligation to create and distribute reasonably safe products. This obligation comes with responsibilities such as conducting studies and trials, safety testing a new drug, and putting warning labels on drugs with known hazards or side effects.
Unfortunately, many pharmaceutical companies are negligent and do not fulfill their legal obligations toward patients and customers. Negligence in civil law refers to the failure to meet the accepted duties of care, resulting in harm or injury to another party. A pharmaceutical company may be unintentionally careless, or knowingly put patients at risk by concealing hazards to save money. A drug company may also put consumers at risk by rushing to debut a new drug and intentionally skipping safety tests.
Contact a New Castle, PA Dangerous Drugs Attorney Today
You may be eligible for financial compensation from a pharmaceutical company or another party if a dangerous drug injured you or a loved one. You could recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. The right attorney can help you fight for maximum financial compensation from an insurance company.
Contact the New Castle personal injury attorneys at Dallas W. Hartman P.C., Attorneys at Law to discuss your case in more detail. We can offer information and advice that is customized to your unique case. Call (800) 777-4081 or contact us online to request a free consultation today.