Prescription drugs are a multi-billion-dollar industry in the United States, and modern science has given us life-saving medications. However, new drugs that are being researched are often pushed to the market far too quickly or may have known side effects that the manufacturers do not report. Sadly, each year, many Americans are seriously hurt by dangerous medications. When this happens to you, the best way to protect your rights is to work closely with an experienced Little Rock dangerous drugs lawyer who could help to secure the resources needed to recover or compensate for the harm or loss of a loved one you have been put through.
To learn more about your right to be compensated for injuries caused by dangerous drugs, speak with a seasoned personal injury attorney from our firm today.
Examples of Harmful Medications
The most common types of injuries people endure after taking dangerous drugs are long-term health problems. For instance, the following drugs are known to have significant health consequences that could lead to lifelong problems:
- Actos
- Zantac
- Xarelto
- Paraquat
- Depakote
- Some kinds of opioids
- Prevacid, Prilosec, Nexium, and other heartburn medications
Keep in mind this is a short list, and there are many more prescription medications that may not be listed, which could also be considered potentially dangerous. Numerous drugs have been linked to serious side effects and long-term health problems, ranging from permanent hair loss to uncontrolled bleeding or even death.
When coping with negative side effects, seek out an attorney in Little Rock who understands both the federal laws and the local Arkansas laws regarding dangerous drugs.
Reasons Why Some Drugs Are Considered Dangerous
Sometimes, a medication reaches the market without properly passing all its trials. In addition, some manufacturers have previously chosen not to disclose or even falsify their research to rush medications to market. This means a company may be fully aware of the risks but simply decide not to tell the government or the public. These are typically referred to as “failure to warn” cases.
In other situations, however, a company may underreport the incidents of side effects. For instance, a manufacturer may claim that a drug caused hair loss in 1% of patients when it was closer to 20%.
Finally, there are times when a medication could have easily been made safer through some other method of production or through the use of a different compound, but the manufacturers did not go with this option. Perhaps they wanted to cut costs or speed up production. No matter what the contributing factors may be, a Little Rock attorney could help hold the manufacturers of dangerous drugs accountable for their negligence.
How To Determine if a Dangerous Drug caused an Injury
Little Rock harmful drug lawyers tend to use a variety of methods to determine whether a person has directly been injured by a drug company’s careless or intentional actions. Working closely with experienced medical professionals who specialize in pharmaceuticals is important. These experts could review medical records, recommend assessments and testing, and ultimately provide valuable insight into the causes of an injury or condition.
Because many drugs are not manufactured in the state where a patient may live, it is also important to identify the proper location for filing suit. This is known as jurisdiction and venue.
Statute of Limitations
A personal injury lawsuit must be filed within the statute of limitations. Otherwise, the case could be thrown out completely, though some exceptions apply. For example, when the type of injury is one that a person did not or would not reasonably be able to know about, there may be additional time.
Because the deadlines and rules applicable to dangerous drug cases in Arkansas are incredibly fact-specific, it is crucial to discuss your unique situation with a Little Rock attorney as soon as possible to avoid missing these critical deadlines.
Reach Out to a Little Rock Dangerous Drugs Attorney Today
When you or a loved one’s life has been impacted by the unexpected harmful side effects of a medication, you deserve an aggressive advocate. Get connected with a Little Rock dangerous drugs lawyer from our team.
At the Reed Firm, our client-centric advocates put your needs first. Contact us now for a consultation.