Prescription Drug Injury FAQs

Why does the FDA allow dangerous drugs on the market?

I have been taking a certain drug for years and I just found out that the drug has potential for serious side effects. Should I stop taking the medication?

What if the injury I have sustained from a prescription drug was due to a mistake in the factory? Can the manufacturer be held responsible?

My doctor prescribed the wrong medication and I became ill. Is there anything I can do about it?

Will I need an expert witness to prove that I was injured by a prescription drug?

I have been injured or my spouse has been injured due to a prescription drug. What should we do?

What type of settlement can I expect if I have been a victim of a prescription drug side effect or medication error?

Why does the FDA allow dangerous drugs on the market?
The federal Food and Drug Administration has a rigorous screening process for all new drugs. The agency weighs each new medicine’s benefits and the potential harm it may cause. Some medicines, even those known to have severe side effects, have benefits which outweigh the potential for harm and are approved despite well-documented risks. The FDA also depends on the information from clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies. Most companies are conscientious about the scientific integrity of their studies, but there have been instances where companies withheld information about a drug’s dangers or made claims about the product that later proved to be untrue. There have also been many instances where a drug’s dangers surfaced only after going into wide use among the general public. As a result, the FDA has required some drug makers to pull their products off the market even though they had previously been approved.

I have been taking a certain drug for years and I just found out that the drug has potential for serious side effects. Should I stop taking the medication?
If you have been taking a medicine for a serious condition, such as heart disease, talk to your doctor before making a change. Some of the medicines can have even worse effects if stopped suddenly.  There are also cases where certain medicines may be the only one of their type to help with your condition. By stopping your regimen, you put yourself in danger from the disease or malady that has been kept under control. Contact your doctor to discuss your options for alternative treatment.

If you have been harmed by taking this medication, you should also contact an experienced pharmaceutical injury lawyer. Contact a qualified prescription drug injury attorney.  In many cases, an attorney can help you win compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages if you have been injured by a dangerous prescription drug.

What if the injury I have sustained from a prescription drug was due to a mistake in the factory? Can the manufacturer be held responsible?
Yes. A company is responsible for the quality control of their product. If a batch of medicine is shipped that contains too much or too little of a product, or contains a completely different product, the people who depend on the drug may be injured or killed. Contact a pharmaceutical injury attorney to discuss your specific case.

My doctor prescribed the wrong medication and I became ill. Is there anything I can do about it?
Yes. If the doctor has been negligent in their prescription, they can be charged with medical malpractice. Medical malpractice can be a very hard claim to prove. Hiring a qualified attorney quickly can help to ensure that you have a solid case.

Will I need an expert witness to prove that I was injured by a prescription drug?
The answer is probably yes. In order for your pharmaceutical injury attorney to prove your claim, it will be necessary to prove what the standard of care is for handling a similar matter. In order to determine what should or should not have been done in your particular case, someone with the requisite education and experience is needed to establish what the standard is. An expert may also be needed who is familiar with products liability issues. For more information, contact a prescription drug injury lawyer to discuss your case.

I have been injured or my spouse has been injured due to a prescription drug. What should we do?
If you or someone you love has been injured by a prescription drug due to negligence on the part of a company or doctor, than you have the right to sue for fair compensation. A competent pharmaceutical injury lawyer can help you win compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, and past, current and future medical bills. Also, by bringing these charges to light, you may help someone else avoid the suffering you have gone through.

What type of settlement can I expect if I have been a victim of a prescription drug side effect or medication error?
The damages, both medical and financial, suffered by the victim vary from individual to individual. Additionally, there may be state laws that cap or limit total compensation amounts, depending on the injury. Compensation may cover medical bills, pain & suffering, lost wages, lost earning potential in the case of permanent disability or wrongful death, lifetime care benefits, and other “expenses” that result due to the prescription drug or medication error. To discuss your particular case, contact a pharmaceutical injury lawyer today.