Chicago Drug Injury Lawyer

Seeking Compensation for Drug-Related Injuries

If you were prescribed a medication or a pharmaceutical drug that caused you to develop health problems, serious side effects, or injured you in some way, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more.

At the Law Offices of Michael J. Brennan, our Chicago drug injury lawyers fight to protect patients like you from negligent drug manufacturers. We understand how devastating drug injuries can be.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Regarding Drug Injuries

What is a pharmaceutical injury?

Pharmaceutical injuries can occur when a patient takes a defective drug, is given an improper dosage, or is prescribed the wrong medicine.

What should I do if I’ve been injured by a drug?

If you have been injured after taking a drug, it is important to seek immediate medical attention for your health concern. This visit can also be use as evidence to back up your claim.

If you choose to pursue an injury claim, an experienced drug injury lawyer can answer your legal questions and ensure deadlines, statutes of limitations, and other important factors affecting your case. You should not delay in finding a lawyer when you may have a possible case involving a drug injury or death due to strict filing deadlines.

Why do I need a drug injury lawyer for my injuries?

Drug manufacturers do not necessarily have your best interests in mind. Claims adjusters working for drug companies can often try to settle a case with the lowest payout possible.  A drug injury attorney is completely on your side and will help you get you the best recovery possible.

FAQ: Can You Sue a Drug Company?

Drug Injuries Occur More Often Than You Think

According to the FDA, as many as three billion prescriptions for medications are written annually in the United States. While these drugs help in the fight against disease and illness, there are also serious risks involved.

Unfortunately, all these medications induce over four million adverse drug reactions are reported each year. These adverse drug reactions result in over 100,000 hospitalizations every year in the U.S.

Adverse drug reactions can occur for many reasons, from doctors prescribing the wrong medications to hospital and nursing home staff administering the incorrect dosage. A number of injuries and even fatalities occur even when drugs are administered correctly purely from unintended side effects.

Defective Drugs

If you have been harmed by taking a prescription drug, you need to take legal action. The responsible party should be held accountable when they release products into the marketplace. Our defective drug injury lawyers can help you to make a claim and get monetary compensation for the injuries you have suffered or for the death of your loved one.

Liability in Pharmaceutical Injury Lawsuits

It is sometimes difficult to know exactly who is to blame for the injury caused by the drug. In many cases it is the drug manufacturer, but sometimes it is the doctor who prescribed the drug, or even the pharmacist who distributed the drug.

There are also different claims that you can make when hurt by a harmful drug. For example, you can prove that the company should be held liable based on:

• Strict liability: These rules say that drug manufacturers are always responsible for unexpected drug reactions when taking medication as prescribed or directed. You do not have to prove the manufacturer was negligent in order to make a strict liability claim- you just have to prove that the drug caused dangerous side effects.
• Negligence: If a pharmaceutical manufacturer was careless when testing or producing a drug, you can argue that they are liable for the injuries that resulted from the negligence.
• Failure to warn: When a drug manufacturer has no warning about a specific side effect or leaves off important information about the potential risks of a medication,  legal action can be taken based on failure to warn.

Many drug injury claims are settled outside of court. That’s when you need a skilled negotiator for a fair settlement agreement. We use our negotiating skills to get clients the full amount of compensation they deserve, without the stress of a trial. Each case is different and we will take the time to look at your case to determine who is potentially to blame for the injury that has occurred.

Drug Recalls

Almost all drugs have some side effects that are revealed in the testing. If the benefits of the drug outweigh the side effects, the drug can be approved despite the potential harm it may cause. The drug manufacturer lists the potential side effect with a warning label (or fact sheet) with the medication.  This allows doctors and patients to make an informed decision before taking the medication.

Unfortunately, this system does not always work as intended, and all too often dangerous drugs are released to the public before all the side effects are fully understood.

When side effects are widely reported, a drug recall occurs to remove the harmful pharmaceutical product from the public. These drug recalls can be initiated by the manufacturing company, or by request by the FDA.

Sometimes companies have been known to delay drug recalls. Financial considerations can make it tempting for pharmaceutical companies to ignore problems after a drug is released. A Chicago drug injury lawyer will be able to help in determining if a slow drug recall is a factor in your case.

Most Common Injuries Caused by Defective Drugs

• Depression (leading to an increased risk of suicide)
• Heart attack
• Stroke due to hemorrhages
• Diabetes
• Increased blood pressure
• Organ damage or failure
• Birth Defects

Dangerous side effects may not show up for months or years after a drug has come on to the market. The FDA will begin receiving adverse reactions when problems develop, but manufacturers may be slow to recall dangerous drugs, if they are recalled at all.

Legal Options for Illinois Drug Injury Victims

The complications caused by defective drugs can be life changing. You deserve to be compensated for costs such as medical bills, lost income,  pain and suffering, emotional distress or the wrongful death of a family member.

The Michael J. Brennan Injury and Accident Lawyer offices handle personal injury cases caused by drugs in the Cook County and across Illinois cities such as Chicago and Orland Park.

We pride ourselves on offering our clients a high level of service and dedication. At our firm, your case is not just handed over to an associate lawyer. Instead, Michael will take a personal interest in your case, and will resolve your concerns. Contact our law firm today.