How Do I Find the Best Lawyer for the Job?
Finding the best lawyer for the job involves narrowing your search window and focusing your criteria. Choosing an attorney to represent your case is a very personal decision. When you are hurt, you need a dangerous drug lawyer you can trust and who has the skill and experience to take on large pharmaceutical companies.
A good approach to finding the best lawyer for your needs involves the following steps:
- Schedule initial consultations:
- Most personal injury law firms offer a free initial consultation. While using the contact form on their site may be tempting, calling the firm to set up your case evaluation can provide some important answers about their service.
- Speaking to a member of the team over the phone and setting up your consultation can give you an idea of the responsiveness of the attorneys, organizational skills, and how they would treat you if you become a client.
- Evaluate each using a prepared set of questions:
- There are plenty of attorney interview questionnaires online. Whether you use an example or come up with your own, be sure to ask your potential personal injury attorney questions that are important to your type of claim.
Finding the best dangerous drug attorney will require some self-education and research. Take advantage of your consultations and make sure you have a full understanding of how the firm would handle your case.
What is the Difference Between Class Action and Mass Tort Lawsuits for Dangerous Drugs?
The difference between a class action and mass tort lawsuits for dangerous drugs depends on whether the plaintiffs will be treated individually or as a group:
- Mass torts: While mass torts can involve a large number of plaintiffs, each person or entity is treated separately. Mass torts usually result as a need to streamline the litigation process when several similar personal injury claims are filed at once.
- Class actions: Class actions are generally much smaller than mass torts. One key difference is that members of a class-action lawsuit do not have a say in how the claim moves forward. Instead, there is a lead plaintiff who will represent the interests of all those involved.
For example, numerous municipalities and city governments have been filing lawsuits against opioid manufacturers in response to the nationwide opioid crisis. Now, thousands of cases are being grouped together under a mass tort.
For instance, Osborne & Francis is currently handling Zantac drug litigation. Zantac is typically prescribed to those suffering from heartburn and indigestion. However, in April 2020, the FDA recalled the dangerous drug due to the carcinogenic NDMA found in overwhelming doses per pill. More than 70,000 lawsuits against Zantac have been consolidated into a class action as of March 2022.
If you or a loved one has suffered significant medical problems due to prescription drugs, contact our team of personal injury attorneys with the legal knowledge and skills you need to protect your interests.
Can Common Prescription Drugs Lead to Health Problems?
Going to the doctor and receiving a prescription for a new drug that is supposed to provide some level of relief is a common occurrence. Unfortunately, prescription drugs have the potential to do more harm than good. The most common prescription drugs known to pose an additional risk and cause serious side effects are as follows:
- Zofran (ondansetron) – Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, this drug has been prescribed to expectant mothers to treat morning sickness but has since been linked to birth defects such as cleft palates and lips and congenital heart defects. The FDA never approved this drug to treat morning sickness.
- Yaz – Manufactured by Bayer, Yaz is a common birth control pill that has a wide range of side effects, including serious risks of kidney disorders, uterine bleeding migraines and irregular heart rhythms.
- Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) – Produced by Pfizer, this is a cholesterol-lowering drug that may lead to an increased risk of kidney and liver disorders, Type 2 diabetes, and muscle disease.
- GranuFlo (sodium diacetate) – Fresenius Medical Care developed this drug to be used during kidney dialysis to neutralize excess acid in a patient’s blood. This drug has been linked to a risk of sudden, fatal heart attack and was recalled by the FDA in May 2012.
- Januvia (sitagliptin) – This Type II diabetes drug made by Merck & Co is linked to an increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer that can lead to death.
- Fosamax (alendronate) – Made by Merck & Co to treat osteoporosis, this drug is linked to esophageal cancer, random bone breaks and chronic irregular heartbeats.
- Topamax – This is an anticonvulsant drug, produced by Janssen Pharmaceuticals (Johnson & Johnson) used to treat epilepsy and prevent migraines. Patients taking this drug are at an increased risk for metabolic acidosis, eye disorders, suicidal thoughts and actions, and birth defects if taken during pregnancy.
- Pradaxa (dabigatran) – Manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, Pradaxa is a blood thinner prescribed to prevent strokes. This drug has been linked to sometimes fatal instances of uncontrollable hemorrhage and bleeding.
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of these drugs for failing to adequately warn against possible side effects and intentionally concealing proof of harmful complications.
If you or a loved one has suffered significant medical problems due to prescription drugs, contact our team of personal injury attorneys with the legal knowledge and skills you need to protect your interests.
Prescription drugs are supposed to enhance your quality of life, not destroy it. Unfortunately, many drugs have proven to lead to severe medical complications and even death. At Osborne & Francis, PLLC, we understand how daunting your situation may seem and strive to ease your legal and financial burdens.
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