Each year over 40,000 American people are killed by dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Furthermore, even with strict standards in place from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CDC estimates that over half of all drugs marketed in American can cause injuries.
If you or a family member are negatively impacted by taking a dangerous drug, an Oak Lawn dangerous drugs lawyer may be able to help you. Once retained, your dedicated personal injury attorney could help you catalog your damages, structure a settlement demand, and pursue compensation in the most efficient manner available based on your circumstances. En Español.
What Drugs are Dangerous?
Before medications are put on the market, manufacturers perform extensive testing to make sure their products are effective and not harmful. This process is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the same entity which also enforces the Kefauver-Harris Amendments of 1962.
These amendments strengthened the rules for drug safety and required manufacturers to prove the effectiveness of their drugs. Even with these regulations, though, some drug manufacturers have cut corners or suppressed bad results of their pharmaceutical testing.
When this happens, unaware patients may suffer serious injuries or even death. Drugs that can cause such injuries are known in legal terms as dangerous drugs. Some of the thousands of dangerous drugs that have been distributed to patients in the United States include:
- Actemra
- Ambien
- Aredia
- Baycol
- Chantix
- Comfrey
- Lexapro
- Fosamax
- Isosorbide
- Lamictal
- Ritalin
- Seroquel
- Serentil
- Plavix
- Reglan
- Raplon
- Zofran
Time-Sensitive Cases
Generally speaking, the law in Illinois gives personal injury plaintiffs two years from the date of the occurrence to file a claim. However, plaintiffs in dangerous drug cases are given two years from the date that their injury was discovered to file a claim against a dangerous drug’s manufacturer. For example, if a patient started taking Zofran in 2010 and learned they were harmed by it in 2012, they would have until that same date in 2014 to file their claim.
When a case is not filed within the legally allowed time frame, it becomes time-barred and the potential plaintiff can no longer seek a legal remedy as per 735 ILCS 5/13-213. Fortunately, a dedicated Oak Lawn dangerous drugs lawyer could be familiar with the legal timeline that needs to be adhered to and could help a plaintiff get their case filed on time.
How an Oak Lawn Dangerous Drugs Attorney Could Help
If you believe you or someone you love suffered injury due to a dangerous drug, contact an Oak Lawn dangerous drugs lawyer today. Every case is different, but regardless of the severity of your injuries, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
A skilled attorney could review your circumstances to determine if you have valid grounds for a dangerous drugs case. If so, they could provide you with the solid and dependable representation that you deserve. Call today to learn more.