If you have been injured by a dangerous or defective drug, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses through a product liability claim. The product liability lawyers at Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. have extensive experience handling product liability cases, including injuries caused by defective prescription drugs. To discuss the specific circumstances of your case, contact us today at (205) 933-1500 to schedule a free consultation.
Nearly 60 percent of Americans rely on an array of prescription drugs to treat a variety of conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure, depression, and diabetes. While most people expect the medication they take to help, not harm, them, a recently published study revealed that nearly one-third of the 200 drugs cleared by the FDA between 2001 to 2010 posed safety risks. Dangerous drugs have the potential to cause significant harm and it is important to be aware of which pharmaceutical products pose the biggest threat to consumers.
Prescription Drug Recalls
Prescription drug manufacturers or distributors are obligated to remove dangerous pharmaceutical products from the market and notify consumers by way of recalls. The FDA is responsible for overseeing prescription drug recalls, which are classified based on the probability and severity of harm. Recalls are classified according to the following:
- Class I – There is a reasonable probability that the prescription drug will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
- Class II – The prescription drug may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
- Class III – The prescription drug is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences.
- Market Withdrawal – Minor defect or violation that would not subject the product to FDA legal action. The manufacturer or distributor pulls the product to correct the issue.
- Medical Device Safety Alert – Medical device presents an unreasonable risk of substantial harm.
More than half of all prescription drugs lead to serious or potentially fatal side effects that are not discovered until after they have been approved by the FDA. While recalls are intended to inform the public about defective or dangerous drugs, that information rarely makes its way to patients. According to data from Harvard University, newly approved prescription drugs cause 1.9 million hospitalizations each year.
Dangerous Prescription Drugs
Prescription drugs are intended to be therapeutic, meaning that they help treat or cure a medical disease or illness. When prescription drugs have safety defects, or result in side effects that outweigh the benefits, they can actually exacerbate existing health problems or lead to new injuries. Below is a list of prescription drugs that are known to have dangerous side effects or defects:
- Vioxx
- Bextra
- Actos
- Accutane
- Chantix
- Fentanyl
- Methotrexate
- Yasmin
- Invokana
- Abilify
- Xarelto
How Our Alabama Dangerous Drug Lawyers Can Help
At Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C., our product liability attorneys have the experience, skills, and resources to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for injuries caused by dangerous or defective prescription drugs. With the help of one of our talented dangerous drug lawyers, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical costs
- Loss of earning capacity
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
Contact our Alabama dangerous drug lawyers today at (205) 933-1500 to discuss your legal options and learn how we can help. With offices in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery, our attorneys help you obtain compensation for your damages at a location more convenient to you.
