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Medicines are supposed to help individuals get better, but sometimes, they do just the opposite. Side effects from medicine or medicines that are not formulated or labeled correctly can cause serious harm.

Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure that their products are safe for public consumption and a duty to warn about possible side effects. When they do not live up to this duty, they may be held liable for illness or injury caused by their products. This is true even if the medications have been approved by the federal agency that investigates the safety of new drugs — the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, if you have suffered from a harmful over-the-counter or prescription medication, the time to file a claim is limited by law. It is important to contact a Greenville dangerous drugs lawyer as soon as you can.

Possible Compensation

In other instances in which dangerous drugs have been linked to illness, injury, or death, patients or their family members have been awarded compensation by the courts. Patients may be found entitled to different types of damages such as:

  • Compensation for income lost or reduction of future employment ability
  • Reimbursement for past or future medical expenses
  • Money to compensate for pain, suffering, mental anguish and other issues
  • Reimbursement for funeral and other expenses

In the case of a death caused by medicines that have been found dangerous, family members of the patient would be entitled to compensation, and a dangerous drugs attorney in Greenville can help.

Complexities of Legal Cases

Before the manufacturer or distributor of a drug can be held responsible for illness or injury caused by that medication, the patient must prove certain facts. Even though all medications are tested and evaluated thoroughly by the FDA, the information collected about a particular drug can be limited by different factors.

To begin with, many side effects and complications are ignored or not reported in clinical trials. In addition, clinical trials of a medication use a relatively small number of patients compared to the number who will take the medication after it is approved.

Therefore, some of the side effects of that medication may not be clear during the clinical trials.  Moreover, clinical trials often do not reveal the effects of the drug when it is used in combination with other medications.

Claims involving medications can, therefore, be quite complex, often requiring analysis of medical research and interviews with doctors and research scientists.

Theories of Liability

Despite the complexity, it is possible for a Greenville dangerous drugs lawyer prove that a drug manufacturer or distributor did not fulfill its obligations to the public and should be held liable for damages. Different theories on which an award of damages could be based include if:

  • The drug was produced in a defective manner
  • The drug was labeled improperly
  • The dosage instructions included with the medication were incorrect
  • The manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings about possible side effects
  • The manufacturer or distributor failed to warn of potential drug interactions

Contacting a Dangerous Drugs Attorney Today

An attorney familiar with the complex requirements of a case involving dangerous medication can evaluate the circumstances of your situation and provide advice as to the best course of action.

If you have been harmed by medication that was defective or improperly labeled or otherwise unsafe, contact a Greenville dangerous drugs attorney as soon as possible.