While many people know that a personal injury attorney can help them build a legal case after a car accident or work-related injury, many don't realize that personal injury attorneys also help people who have gotten sick or permanently disabled from taking prescription medications. If you took any of the following medications and became seriously ill or disabled as a result, contact a personal injury attorney.
Anti-Lipid Medication
Personal injury lawyers are very familiar with the dangers of anti-lipid medications. These medications are also known as statins and are prescribed to lower cholesterol levels. While generally considered safe and effective for most people, statins can cause life-threatening muscle, kidney, and liver problems. One of the most serious effects of anti-lipid medications is rhabdomyolysis.
This condition refers to when your muscle tissue sloughs off into your blood circulation. It can cause severe muscle pain, cardiovascular problems, and kidney failure. If you develop rhabdomyolysis, your personal injury lawyer will request copies of your medical records. They may also consult with your physician and the hospital staff who took care of you. The attorney may also have a medical expert on staff who has extensive knowledge of pharmaceuticals and who can testify as an expert witness if your case goes to trial.
Anti-Clotting Drugs
If you had a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot, or if your doctor believed that you were at high risk for developing one of these conditions, you may have been prescribed an anti-clotting medication.
While effective in reducing the risk for life-threatening events, anti-clotting drugs can cause hemorrhaging from the gastrointestinal tract, severe anemia, and bleeding in the brain. If you became ill as a result of taking anti-clotting drugs, your personal injury lawyer will need to ask you a number of questions before they can move forward with a lawsuit.
In addition to taking a detailed medical history from you, the lawyer will review your medical records to determine if your doctor took the necessary precautions such as ordering period lab tests to check your platelet counts and clotting factors. The dosage of the anti-clotting medication will also be reviewed, and if the lawyer and the legal medical expert determines that the dosage was too high, or if any other "red flags" are raised in your medical records, a lawsuit may be initiated.
If you took a prescription medication that caused a serious illness or disability, call a personal injury attorney. They may offer you a free phone consultation. If you have enough compelling evidence, the lawyer may advise you to pursue legal action.
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