What Is a Drug Injury?

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Updated February 21, 2020 | Drug Injuries | Social Share

When an individual has been injured or killed from taking prescription medication or over-the-counter drugs, a drug injury lawsuit may be possible. The injury sustained can be a condition brought on by a serious reaction, side effect, or even death. To be eligible for a drug injury case, the injury sustained must have been a preventable injury had someone—such as a drug manufacturer, physician, or pharmacist—made a better move.

Before any medication ever reaches the market for sale, it must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, sometimes defective medicines find their way through the system, reach the masses, and harm hundreds of people. Other times, the issue lies in the hands of improper or unclear warning labels or instructions that later cause harm. It’s also possible that the incident causing injury occurred at the pharmacy: medications were improperly handled, bottles were mislabeled, and so on.

Who Is Liable for Drug Injuries?

Proving liability for a drug injury can be complicated by a couple of factors: Healthcare providers everywhere use different treatment methods, and every procedure or treatment regime has slight risk. The number one thing to always look for is that the injury was an avoidable one.

In most cases, one of these entities are held accountable for drug injuries:

• Physicians
• Drug manufacturers
• Pharmacists

What are some Possible Damages in a Drug Injury Lawsuit?

Recoverable damages are similar to those in a medical negligence case. While there’s no guarantee, an attorney will typically seek compensation for the following damages:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Any income you might have lost during your illness
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life in the case of a permanent injury
• Any funeral or burial expenses that might apply

Contact a Drug Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a defective drug, you are urged to contact the Indianapolis Drug Injury Attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham. The lawyers at WKW can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.