Have you been hurt by a dangerous drug in Tampa, FL? Pharmaceutical companies can be held financially accountable when their defective medications harm consumers. You may be entitled to money for the lost wages, pain, suffering, and medical costs you have endured.
Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers has represented injured consumers against drug companies and insurance companies for over 28 years. Contact our Tampa law office at (813) 222-8656 to schedule a free case review with a Tampa dangerous drugs lawyer. We will help you explore your legal options.
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How Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers Can Help When You Are Hurt by a Dangerous Drug in Tampa
You trust that your prescription and over-the-counter drugs are reasonably safe. When you suffer serious, unexpected side effects, the manufacturer should be held accountable. An experienced personal injury attorney in Tampa can help you stand up to the pharmaceutical company or manufacturer to seek the compensation you deserve.
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers is a small law firm with big-firm skills and resources. We have recovered over $500 million for our injured clients. Our personal injury law firm gives you the personal attention you deserve and do what it takes to hold the drug company responsible for your losses.
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers can help you by
- Providing legal advice, support, and guidance at every step
- Performing an exhaustive investigation to gather evidence and identify all potentially liable parties
- Working with experts to strengthen your case and value your damages
- Determining if your case qualifies for a class action
- Negotiating with the insurance company to seek a settlement that fairly compensates you
- Taking your case to court to hold the pharmaceutical company accountable
Don’t fight a well-funded drug company or their insurers alone. Call Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers today for a free case review. We are here to help you.
Overview of Product Liability Law in Florida
A drug must be safe for consumers before it’s released onto the market. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical companies have been known to hide risks in favor of profit.
If a patient is harmed by a defective drug, the drug manufacturer can be held accountable under Florida product liability law.
These cases may also overlap with medical malpractice claims against hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and doctors liable. Physicians may be liable, for instance, for dangerous off-label use of a drug.
What is a Dangerous Drug?
A dangerous or defective drug is an over-the-counter or prescription drug with severe or deadly side effects that outweigh the drug’s potential benefits.
There are many ways in which a drug can be defective:
- There were defects in manufacturing
- The drug was not tested or studied adequately
- The drug did not come with sufficient warnings or labels about possible interactions, proper use, and side effects
- Side effects of the drug were not disclosed despite being known by the manufacturer
The FDA regulates the sale of over-the-counter and prescription medications.
The FDA does not test new medications but instead relies on the data submitted by manufacturers. It is the pharmaceutical company that must test its product and submit results to the FDA. If the drug is similar enough to something already on the market, it can be fast-tracked for FDA approval, even if the existing product already has dangers.
Dangerous drugs may be recalled by the government or manufacturers may voluntarily recall drugs after identifying defects or risks. Sometimes recalls happen many years or even decades after a drug has been on the market. Many dangerous drugs are never recalled.
How Common are Dangerous Drugs?
Every year, nearly 4,500 drugs and medical devices are pulled from shelves. It often takes years before the dangers are known and a drug is recalled. About 2 million injuries and 100,000 deaths every year are caused by adverse drug reactions in the U.S.
Common Side Effects Associated with Defective Drugs
When a drug is defective or dangerous, it can cause a wide range of side effects and consequences.
Common side effects include:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Blood clots
- Pulmonary embolism
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- High blood pressure
- Birth defects
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Death
In many cases, the side effects of a dangerous drug are not known for years.
Some drugs are not dangerous to the patients themselves but instead cause catastrophic or disfiguring birth defects like limb defects, heart defects, and spina bifida.
We Represent Clients Harmed By All Dangerous Drugs
Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers represents clients who have been harmed by all types of dangerous drugs, including:
- Abilify, an antipsychotic that can cause compulsive behavior such as binge eating
- Accutane, an acne drug that causes serious birth defects and is linked to inflammatory bowel disease
- Invokana, a type 2 diabetes drug that may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, renal failure, and foot amputation
- Elmiron, a bladder drug that can damage the retina and cause pigmentary maculopathy
- Zantac and ranitidine, a heartburn and acid reflux medication withdrawn from the market. Ranitidine has been linked to cancer.
- Onglyza, a type 2 diabetes drug that increases the risk of heart failure and pancreatic cancer
- Xarelto, a blood thinner that increases the risk of internal bleeding and death
- Risperdal, an antipsychotic that can cause gynecomastia
- Ortho Evra, a hormonal birth control drug that increases the risk of DVT, pulmonary embolism, and death
- Belviq/lorcaserin, a weight-loss drug linked to an increased risk of cancer
- Lexapro, an antidepressant linked to birth defects
- Prozac, an antidepressant linked to birth defects
These are only some examples of dangerous drug cases. If you believe you have been hurt by a defective drug, contact us to discuss how we can help.
What is My Tampa Dangerous Drug Case Worth?
The value of your bad drug claim depends on many factors.
Your personal injury lawyer will consider:
- The severity of your injuries
- The type of drug defect
- How your injuries will affect your future health, medical needs, quality of life, and ability to work
- Whether your case is brought under negligence or strict liability law
- Whether your case will qualify for a class-action lawsuit
The best way to find out how much your dangerous drug case may be worth is through a free consultation with Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers
What Compensation is Available in a Dangerous Drug Case in Tampa, Florida?
Manufacturers and other at-fault parties can be held liable for the harm consumers suffer due to defective drugs. You are entitled to seek economic and non-economic damages related to your injury.
You may recover financial compensation for:
- Medical care, including anticipated future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Personal losses, including your pain, suffering, anguish, distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
At Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers, we help you pursue the full compensation you are entitled to. While this cannot erase the harm you have suffered, it can help you get the medical care you need.
How Do I Prove a Dangerous Drug Claim in Tampa, FL?
Both product liability law and medical malpractice law can apply to cases involving a dangerous drug.
Most drug claims are brought under Florida’s strict liability laws. These laws hold manufacturers, retailers, and distributors strictly liable for defective products. It is not necessary to prove negligence.
Some cases, however, hinge on negligence. Drug manufacturers have a duty of care to provide a product that is reasonably safe. Likewise, medical providers have a duty to provide you with the proper standard of care.
There are many ways to hold a pharmaceutical company liable:
- Strict liability if the drug was unreasonably safe
- Negligence if the manufacturer was negligent in testing or manufacturing
- Failure to warn if the manufacturer did not provide sufficient warning or labels of known or predictable risks
Proving a drug is defective typically requires expert testimony from specialists in many fields. These experts may testify about the testing process, flaws in manufacturing, or how the drug was the likely cause of the harm you suffered.
Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers has decades of experience building strong cases against drug manufacturers and holding them accountable for bad drugs.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dangerous Drug Lawsuit in Florida?
You have two years to file a defective drug lawsuit under Florida’s statute of limitations. This deadline begins on the date you discovered your injuries.
Do not delay your case; building a product liability case can take time. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to gather the right evidence.
Contact our law office today to get started on your claim.
Contact a Tampa Dangerous Drugs Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Have you been seriously hurt by a bad drug? You deserve experienced legal representation to build a strong case on your behalf.
Call Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Tampa dangerous drugs lawyer. We will put decades of experience to work for you.
