Injuries arising from the use of defective medical devices and drugs can be severe and have a long term impact on your health and overall well-being. Side effects can include heart attacks, strokes, death diabetes, birth defects and many other serious conditions and diseases. You may suffer loss of body parts, ability to maintain your normal quality of life as well as financial loss through huge medical bills.
It is important to know how to protect your rights and pursue justice if you have been injured by a defective drug or medical device. An experienced pharmaceutical injury attorney who understands the complexities associated with such a case should always be the starting point.
If you have suffered injuries from the use of defective drugs, here is a guide on what you need to do:
- Do not stop using the product until you consult a physician – While suspending the use of the drug may seem to be the most appropriate action to take, it must be done only after consulting a physician. When the physician agrees that you have been injured as a result of a defective drug, he or she may advise you to not only stop using it, but in some instances, destroy it. Even then, be sure not to destroy the drug as you may need it as evidence.
- See your doctor immediately – While it is true that you have a case against the manufacturer of the product, your health comes first. See your physician as soon as you can and let them know about the drugs you are using as well as the resultant side effects.
- Keep the product – Be sure to keep the product that has caused harm to you. This serves as evidence which may be crucial in proving your case. Should keeping the product also be dangerous, you can take photos that will be a visual record of the product. You will do well to keep the receipts and packaging of the drug and any other medical records relating to the injury. In the case of medical equipment, assemble the technical information as well as the owner’s manual and other user instructions. These may also be used as evidence in the event that a lawsuit is filed. Remember, you can never have enough evidence.
- Gather your medical records – Your medical records will always be required in any lawsuit. Request them from your doctors and other medical providers, organize them and bring them to your attorney.
- Consult a pharmaceutical injury attorney – Consulting an attorney is another important move as it will pave way for a thorough investigation which is a precursor to filing a claim. This should be done fast because delaying can result in the loss of evidence. Pharmaceutical injury attorneys understand the laws governing the use and distribution of products hence will protect your rights.
In summary, knowing that you have been hurt or injured by pharmaceutical products is not enough. You must follow appropriate steps to protect yourself from further harm while also ensuring that you are compensated for the damage suffered.
The post What to Do After Being Injured By a Defective Drug appeared first on DrugRecallAttorneys.org.
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