Category: Drug Recalls

How to Stay Safe and Informed During an FDA Recall of Your Medication

Our chapter on drug recalls within Your Complete Guide to Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer outlines just how frighteningly common FDA recall actions on pharmaceutical products are in the United States today. In that chapter, we also touched on some of the things you should do to protect yourself when your medication or other medical devices you rely on are discovered to be defective and officially recalled. 

Due to the recent—and still developing—Zantac recall, we are delving a little deeper into FDA recalls of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines in today’s post. 

If you’re afraid you’ve been injured or have gotten sick from taking any recalled drug, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today. In the meantime, learn more about what to do when the FDA announces a drug recall for any medication you or your loved ones currently take or have used at any time in the past. 

Continue reading “How to Stay Safe and Informed During an FDA Recall of Your Medication”

How to Hire a Drug Recall or Defective Drug Lawyer for Your Case

To pharmaceutical companies, you are just a faceless number purchasing their products and stuffing their pockets with cold, hard cash. That’s why when you have a drug recall or defective drug case, you need a drug recall lawyer who recognizes that you are more than a number. You are a person who has been wronged and needs recourse.

Each day, thousands of medications and medical devices are prescribed by doctors across the country. At the same time, people grab over-the-counter medications to treat various everyday maladies on their regular trips to the grocery store. What you may not know is that there are new drug recalls each week, and those recall lists may contain defective medications you assumed were harmless. Manufacturers must sometimes issue a recall for their products because they violate manufacturing or labeling laws and are endangering lives.

Westmoreland Injury Lawyers are experienced personal injury lawyers who care about you. We know how challenging dealing with a personal injury can be, especially for medication-related damages. We want to work with you to get the justice you deserve and give you peace of mind.

Why Do You Need a Drug Recall Lawyer for A Defective Drug Case?

Choosing a personal injury lawyer on your side is an essential step in the process toward receiving the maximum compensation possible for your injury. You need a lawyer on a drug recall or defective drug case to ensure you can heal and get the recourse you deserve during this difficult time.

Drug recall lawyers are well-versed in the laws surrounding this type of personal injury. When you have a personal injury of any kind, you must speak with a lawyer to gauge whether you have a case. You can work together to determine if your circumstances match up with that lawyer’s experience and decide if they are a good fit to represent you.

How Do I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for a Drug Recall or Defective Drug Case?

Hiring a personal injury lawyer might feel like a daunting task when dealing with a defective medication encounter. When choosing the right drug recall lawyer for your case, consider these three factors.

1. Experience. You want to look for a firm with plenty of experience dealing with your specific type of case.
2. Focus. Work with dedicated personal injury lawyers for the best results in your case.
3. Proven Results. Consider your potential lawyer’s typical clients. What are their outcomes when working with this lawyer? Your drug recall lawyer should have a history of winning for their clients.

Remember to ask any potential personal injury lawyers questions centered on these three topics. You want to be sure they are the right firm to handle your case. There is a common misconception that you will only have success with big-city law firms—no need to look further than right here in your neighborhood of Greensburg, PA.

Westmoreland Injury Lawyers have the experience, focus, and proven results you can trust. Schedule a free legal evaluation with our team, and rest assured, knowing we will work hard for you on your recalled drugs or defective drug case.

What Are the Different Classes of Recalled Drugs?

We’ve previously discussed what you should know about drug recalls at length in the sixth chapter of our complete guide to hiring a personal injury lawyer. There are three main recall classes outlined by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that you should be aware of when dealing with drug recalls: for prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications.

• Class I: This recall class includes products that could “cause serious health problems or death,” according to the FDA. This category is the most dangerous drug classification.
• Class II: Products in a Class II recall are those that may cause a temporary health issue or may pose a potentially serious threat.
• Class III: If a product violates FDA labeling or manufacturing laws but is unlikely to cause any harm to your health or any other adverse reaction, it will fall under the Class III recall classification.

Unfortunately, the class rankings are not a perfect system. For example, with further investigations, a drug that may have fallen initially under a Class II recall might be reclassified as a Class I or vice versa. That may mean you have a case where previously you might not have for the same product.

As recalls are ranked lower in their severity, they are less likely to be publicized. Class I recalls are typically the only ones you will hear about on television or the radio. Products that fall in the other classifications can be found on the FDA website but are not widely advertised.

You may need to actively seek out the information to see what applies to you if you are concerned about drug recalls. Keep an eye on the FDA’s weekly enforcement reports to stay updated with the current product recalls that might affect you.

What if I Found Out about My Defective Medication a Year Later?

If you suspect you may have taken a drug that was previously recalled, but you didn’t know about it, you may still have a case, even if some time has passed. This time-lapse is something you can address during your free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers.

What Do I Do if My Medication Has Been Recalled?

Suppose you discover your medication has been recalled. In that case, your first step should be speaking with your doctor about alternatives for that treatment. You should never stop taking a prescription without guidance from a medical professional. Once you have determined an alternate course of treatment, reach out to our team at Westmoreland Injury Lawyers to schedule a free legal evaluation and decide whether legal action is necessary.

Ready To Talk to An Experienced Drug Recall Lawyer?

We know how overwhelming it can feel to try and sort out legal action when trying to heal from a personal injury. Finding the right personal injury lawyer for your case doesn’t have to be complicated. Let Westmoreland Injury Lawyers take the frustration and confusion out of your drug recall or defective drug case. We don’t get paid if we don’t get you the compensation you deserve for your injury. Schedule a free legal evaluation with us today

Things You Should Know About a Drug Recall

Your Complete Guide to Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer – CHAPTER 6

Personal injury lawyers dedicate a great deal of their time to counseling clients through the often painful aftermath of medical malpractice experiences. But what about situations in which medical personnel did not act negligently, yet a healthcare matter still caused suffering when medicine or a medical device was discovered to be defective?

Often, patients don’t realize that their recalled medication—and even over-the-counter remedies—may be to blame for seemingly unrelated injuries and illnesses. This is why it’s imperative for anyone who has been exposed to a defective drug or device that is currently—or has ever been—under recall to seek experienced legal help about the issue.

Today’s blog post, which is the final chapter in our recent series guiding you through when and how to hire a personal injury lawyer, provides a closer look at what consumers need to know about drug recalls, which are frighteningly common today. Compassionate personal injury lawyers are on your side to hold Big Pharma accountable, and we want our friends and neighbors to know how we can help you protect yourself and your loved ones.

Continue reading “Things You Should Know About a Drug Recall”

Valsartan Drug Recall: What You Need to Know Now

Do you or a loved one take medication for high blood pressure or a heart condition that contains valsartan? Or have you taken valsartan-containing medicine in the past? You could be at risk for certain cancers due to “unexpected impurities” discovered in some of these drugs.

Now the subject of an expanding recall and FDA investigation, valsartan is a generic ingredient contained in medications produced by a long list of drug manufacturers. And, while not all valsartan is being recalled, that originating from Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals (Huahai) in China, has been found to be contaminated by probable carcinogens.

This means that long-term use of medications made with the tainted valsartan may cause cancer, particularly of the liver or colorectal systems, according to medical professionals and researchers. Continue reading “Valsartan Drug Recall: What You Need to Know Now”