Almost everyone has taken some type of medication in their life, and many people rely on daily medication for a variety of reasons. Some over-the-counter medicines can help relieve pain or nausea while some prescription medications can regulate important bodily functions and can quite literally help keep a person alive. Reports indicate that more than 4 billion prescriptions were filled in pharmacies across the United States in a single year, with more than 65 million of those in South Carolina alone.
When you purchase an over-the-counter medication or have a prescription filled, you should be able to trust that the drug will be effective for its stated purpose and will not cause you additional health issues. Unfortunately, many people who take pharmaceuticals may experience harmful and even life-threatening side effects that they were not expecting.
At the Joye Law Firm in Columbia, SC, we are committed to protecting the rights of people injured by dangerous drugs. We can help you stand up to giant pharmaceutical companies so that you can receive full compensation for your drug injury.
Defective Drugs Can Cause Serious Injuries
Users of pharmaceuticals naturally expect the drugs they are taking to help manage or cure an existing health condition. While certain drugs may be effective in helping one condition, however, they may be simultaneously causing additional and unnecessary physical or mental injuries. Many different pharmaceutical companies have been accused of selling drugs that have dangerous side effects without properly warning consumers of these possible effects. The following are only some examples of the many drugs that have caused injuries to trusting users:
- Byetta/Januvia — Meant for treating individuals with type-2 diabetes, these drugs can result in pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
- Invokana — Also helps treat type-2 diabetes but can cause kidney failure and
- Talcum powder and talc products — Advertised for use with personal hygiene and skin treatment, baby powders containing talc have been linked with ovarian cancer.
- Testosterone therapy — Many products used to ease symptoms of low testosterone (low T) in men have been associated with higher risks of heart attacks and strokes.
- Xarelto — This anticoagulant can help prevent blood clots but can also result in uncontrollable internal bleeding with no antidote.
- Lipitor — The popular drug to help control cholesterol can cause users to develop diabetes.
- SSRIs — Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include many widely used antidepressants including Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac. These drugs have been linked with serious birth injuries when taken by pregnant women without adequate warning of the risks.
- Risperdal — This powerful anti-psychotic has recently been prescribed for children to treat ADHD, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorders, among others. The drug has caused many young boys to develop breasts and even experience milk secretion.
The above are only some examples of the many, many potentially dangerous drugs that are currently on the market. If you have taken any type of pharmaceutical and believe it caused you unnecessary and serious injury, do not delay in discussing your case with an experienced drug injury attorney today.
Holding Pharmaceutical Companies Liable for Your Losses
All product manufacturers have the legal duty to sell products that are reasonably safe for consumers. If any products are inherently dangerous or come with risks of serious harm, a manufacturer must provide adequate warnings of those risks so that consumers may make an educated decision whether to use that product. If a company learns that a product it believed to be safe actually can cause serious injury, it should take the necessary steps to remove the product from the market and/or provide proper warnings.
Pharmaceutical companies should be especially careful when ensuring their products are safe because people actually ingest their products and rely on them for their health and well-being. However, these giant corporations are often more concerned about their profits and bottom lines than they are about the welfare of the consumers taking their drugs. For this reason, many pharmaceutical companies fail to notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), medical professionals, or consumers about potentially dangerous side effects. Proper action can be delayed long after a company is aware of the link between its medication and serious, even life-threatening injuries.
To make matters worse, these companies often have substantial resources at their disposal to fight against legal claims. They can hire medical experts to wrongfully testify to the safety of their product or can scare off injured victims with threats of costly litigation and extensive legal teams. For this reason, too many people who have sustained drug injuries fail to take legal action.
At the Joye Law Firm, we believe that these pharmaceutical companies should be held liable for all of the losses they cause to consumers who only want to improve their health. We have the resources to stand up to these companies in court and we will not back down until we have helped you receive the maximum compensation possible for your losses. Losses resulting from drug injuries can often include:
- Costs of medical treatment for the injury;
- Lost earnings from missing work due to illness or recovery;
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering;
- Punitive damages if the company purposefully or knowingly sold a dangerous product.
Some dangerous drug cases are handled on an individual basis while others join with the claims of multiple victims of the same drug injuries.
Discuss Your Injuries With an Experienced Columbia Dangerous Drug Attorney
If you have been injured by defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed drugs, you should speak with an attorney immediately to discuss a possible products liability claim. Defective drugs can cause dangerous and adverse reactions and your injuries may entitle you to significant compensation. Our lawyers are dedicated to helping people who have been hurt by negligent pharmaceutical companies hold those companies responsible, and we work tirelessly to get each client the largest settlement or award available under South Carolina law. To schedule a consultation with one of our Columbia injury lawyers, call the Joye Law Firm today at (888) 324-3100 to find out how we can assist you.
