Pittsburgh Dangerous Drug Lawyer
There are literally millions of people a day who are advised to take prescription and over-the-counter drugs here in the United States. Unfortunately, some of these medications assigned to people affect them in ways they never thought possible. At Dallas W. Hartman, P.C., our dangerous drug attorneys have been helping victims who have suffered from the ill effects of faulty medications for more than a quarter-century.
Why Choose Us?
- We have won several multimillion-dollar outcomes for our clients. We never recommend that our clients accept settlements that are less than what they deserve.
- Our dangerous drug attorneys have years of experience. We understand this practice area, how the legal process works, and how to obtain the best possible results for each client.
- During dangerous and defective drug lawsuits, our lawyers in Pittsburgh operate on a contingency fee basis. If we don’t win, you won’t pay—guaranteed.
Drugs that can harm you and the people you love
Drugs such as Invokana, Taxotere, Xeralto, Risperdal, Januvia, Byetta, Lipitor, and Victoza have either been recalled or have presented serious issues regarding their side effects. Dangerous drugs such as these, and many others, can cause memory loss, vomiting, hypertension, and insomnia in what drug conglomerates consider “less serious” instances. They can also cause birth defects, heart attacks, strokes, and a number of other life-threatening conditions.
It is essential that anyone who takes a prescription or over-the-counter drug reads the drug’s label and knows the given side effects before they ingest the medication. However, detrimental side effects are often not all listed, due to negligent pharmaceutical companies pushing drugs into the market prior to the completion of all possible testing. Whereas some of these medications are recalled—usually after someone has been injured or died—there are others still in use. This is because the FDA determines that these drugs are still operative enough to help people, as long as new labels are written to warn of the newfound side effects.
Medications can be recalled in several different ways, but generally, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the drug will voluntarily pull the product from the market and issue warnings for those who still have the drug, or the FDA can use their federal powers to attempt to recall the medication. The FDA consults studies, patient and doctor complaints, and clinical trials to decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Unfortunately, however, most of the information the FDA is initially privy to about a new drug is based solely on what the manufacturer tells them. This can cause obvious problems and there have been several past instances where pharmaceutical companies hide information or neglect to tell full truths. These lies have led to terrible injuries and the deaths of many people.
How Dangerous Drugs Get on the Market
Many patients and consumers make the mistake of assuming the drugs they are prescribed are reasonably safe and have been rigorously tested by the drug manufacturing company before they are released to the public. Although these are reasonable assumptions, they are not always accurate.
Although the FDA has to approve any new medication before it goes on the market, there is always the risk of issues occurring during manufacturing, testing, research and marketing that can lead to dangerous drugs infiltrating peoples’ homes. For example, dangerous drugs can get on the market due to the negligence or intentional misconduct of the drug manufacturing company.
In civil law, a person or party is negligent if their carelessness causes harm to someone else. Drug manufacturing companies may be negligent by being too lax in their procedures and protocols, resulting in drugs that are unsafe for consumers, contain manufacturing defects, or have not been properly tested.
Manufacturing companies also have an incentive to intentionally release dangerous drugs, despite knowing their potential risks to consumers: to make money. If the manufacturing company does not recognize the risks of a drug until after it has been released, it may intentionally withhold this information to protect its profits and reputation. Manufacturing companies can accomplish this by picking and choosing what information to give to the FDA, so that a drug still makes it to market despite known dangers.
Famous Defective Drugs
Defective and dangerous drugs are not new. Sadly, consumers have been exposed to serious health hazards due to dangerous prescription and over-the-counter medications for many years. Some of the most infamous examples of defective drugs are:
- Accutane
- Bextra
- Complete
- Invokana
- Meridia
- Nexium
- Prilosec
- Risperdal
- Taxotere
- Truvada
- Xarelto
- Zantac
These drugs were prescribed to millions of patients for a variety of conditions, including heartburn, diabetes, chemotherapy and blood clots. After recognizing the serious side effects, injuries and illnesses connected to these defective drugs, many patients filed product liability lawsuits, class actions and mass torts in pursuit of justice.
What Should I Do If a Drug I Used Was Recalled?
Drug manufacturing companies have a responsibility to contact known buyers of defective and dangerous drugs when they announce a recall. They often send letters through the mail or emails to known consumers. Manufacturing companies and regulatory authorities such as the FDA will also post notices about their recalls in public spaces, including online.
If you find out that a drug you used was recalled for a potential defect or health hazard, consult with your doctor immediately. Do not discontinue the use of the drug until checking with your doctor to make sure it is safe to do so. Then, read the recall carefully and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
It is a good idea to start collecting information and evidence to support a potentially dangerous drug lawsuit. Keep the box the medication came in and start a journal to document the illness or symptoms you experience that is related to the defective drug. Finally, get the legal support you need by consulting with an attorney as soon as possible. A dangerous drug lawyer in Pittsburgh can take over your claim, protect your legal rights and fight for maximum financial compensation on your behalf.
Contact a Pittsburgh dangerous drug lawyer for a free consultation
At Dallas W. Hartman, P.C., we pride ourselves on helping people. Our defective drug lawyers familiarize themselves with all the latest dangerous medications. If you or a loved one has been injured, or if you have lost some to whom you are close due to a defective medication, then call our Pittsburgh personal injury lawyer at Dallas W. Hartman, P.C. today and consult one of our top dangerous drug attorneys. We always offer a free preliminary discussion about your pending case and everything we speak about is entirely confidential. Call (toll-free) 800-777-4081 or contact us online, and begin the process of allowing Dallas W. Hartman, P.C. to fight for the compensation you deserve.