Maintaining good health and well-being often requires the use of prescription medication. Unfortunately, some medications have been found to cause serious complications and devastating side effects that their manufacturers failed to disclose as potential risks. If you or a loved one have experienced problems with your prescription medication, you may be entitled to compensation that a personal injury attorney could help you pursue.
Drug manufacturers are required to engage in extensive market testing before releasing their products to the market. When manufacturers suppress negative test results or other unintended side effects, they may bear civil liability for any injuries that result. Seek out the assistance of a DuPage County dangerous drugs lawyer if you or a loved one were hurt by undisclosed side effects from your prescription drug use.
Drugs with Unintended Consequences
Throughout recent history, there are many examples of prescription drugs that have produced unintended and undisclosed health effects in consumers. Some of these drugs include:
- Chantix – a drug meant to assist with quitting smoking but which also increased suicide rates in some users
- Hydroxycut – a supplement that is often used to assist with weight loss but has also contributed to liver failure in some of its users
- Fosamax – an osteoporosis drug that has sometimes led to bone death in the user’s jaw
- Levaquin – an antibiotic known to cause tendon ruptures in some elderly users
It is important to take medication as prescribed by a physician. However, when a medication causes unintended side effects or damage to a patient’s health that they were not warned about, that patient may have grounds to file a civil injury claim.
The unintended side effects of a prescription medication can result in many potentially life-altering difficulties. The ensuing medical bills can be staggering, and the loss of future wages can wreak havoc on someone’s financial future.
Additionally, the psychological and emotional trauma stemming from usage of dangerous prescription or over-the-counter drugs, as well as the loss of enjoyment in certain activities, can all have debilitating effects on a victim’s life and lifestyle. A dangerous drug lawyer in DuPage County could help during the process of filing an injury claim to seek recovery for all these damages and potentially more.
Filing a Negligence Claim
735 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/13-118 establishes the statute of limitations for medical malpractice as two years from the date of injury or of when the plaintiff discovered their injury. While the State of Illinois recognizes that the damaging side effects of prescription drug use may not be immediately recognized, it is essential that dangerous drug suits are filed in a timely manner so the necessary litigation can occur prior to the statute of limitations expiring.
The process of pursuing damages a dangerous drug causes can be complex, and plaintiffs often must navigate an arduous path of legalities and filings to ultimately recover damages. Seasoned can help in this process to ensure that all damages possible under the law are granted to the plaintiff.
Let a DuPage County Dangerous Drug Attorney Assist You
The unintended side effects of prescription medication can be catastrophic and last a lifetime. If you or a loved one have undergone such an experience, a DuPage County dangerous drugs lawyer could guide you through the necessary legal processes to potentially recover financially from the liable manufacturer, seller, or prescriber.
With proper representation, you may be entitled to compensation for the negative effects on your life the use of an unreasonably dangerous prescription or over-the-counter medication caused. Call today to see what may be possible in your case.