Did a drug that was prescribed to you cause you or someone you love serious harm? If so, you could be owed significant compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. The Virginia drug injury lawyers of CHASENBOSCOLO have the skill, experience, and resources that are needed to take on the big pharmaceutical companies. You don’t have to face them alone, and with us on your side, you can get the justice that you and your family deserve.
Testing is necessary before a manufacturer can submit a new drug to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval. Even when the FDA approves a drug, the drug manufacturer is still responsible for the accuracy of a drug’s warning label. If you or a loved one have been injured or killed due to a drug in Virginia, you have the right to take legal action to hold the manufacturer accountable.
The compassionate and experienced attorneys at CHASENBOSCOLO will put everything on the line for you. We’ve fought against the major drug manufacturers and won, and we’re committed to doing the same for you. Our No Fee Guarantee means that you won’t pay any attorneys’ fees until we win or settle your case, so there is no risk to call us for help.
Call us at (703) 538-1138 or contact us online to take advantage of a free consultation with a knowledgeable drug injury lawyer today.
Do I Need A Drug Injury Lawyer?
Drugmakers are often well prepared to defend themselves against any claims that their products cause injuries or deaths. Knowledgeable attorneys can help victims prove that using a particular medication caused an injury or death. Obtaining evidence of these kinds of effects can be extraordinarily complex. A lawyer who is well-versed in medical liability claims will be able to conduct an independent investigation into your case to discover all forms of evidence and identify all of the negligent parties.
An attorney will also know the most beneficial way for you to pursue compensation for your claim. For example, rather than individual legal action, it may be more beneficial to join an existing class action lawsuit or multidistrict litigation (MDL). CHASENBOSCOLO will not be intimidated by major drugmakers. Our firm has the necessary resources to take on defendants of all sizes.
Why Choose CHASENBOSCOLO to Handle My Case?
CHASENBOSCOLO was founded in 1986 with the philosophy of taking care of the client first, and this has led to us recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for thousands of people. We now have a team of 25 attorneys and more than 90 professionals. Our legal team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Managing partners Barry M. Chasen and Benjamin T. Boscolo each have over three decades of experience in handling injury cases. Martindale-Hubbell has awarded both Mr. Chasen and Mr. Boscolo with AV Preeminent ratings, effectively denoting the highest level of professional excellence.
Our firm understands that many people who are dealing with drug injuries are facing enormous financial strains because of their conditions. For this reason, CHASENBOSCOLO offers you the No Fee Guarantee.® That means you pay us nothing until you obtain a monetary award.
We are committed to helping you achieve a settlement that provides for all of your past, present, and future needs. Our firm will respond to any unacceptable settlement demands by filing a lawsuit when appropriate.
Types of Drug Injury Cases We Handle
Before new prescription and nonprescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can be sold, they must be evaluated by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) of the FDA. It usually takes years for drugs to be tested, but the FDA does have specific processes that allow for expedited approval.
The Accelerated Approval Program allows for earlier approval of drugs that treat serious conditions, and the Fast Track process is similarly intended to get new medications to individual patients sooner. Breakthrough Therapy is a process designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that could demonstrate significant improvement over available therapy, and a Priority Review designation means that the FDA’s goal is to take action on an application within six months.
Many different kinds of drugs are prescribed to treat a number of different conditions, and every case is unique in the effects that a drug has on a patient. Some of the drugs most commonly involved in injury claims usually include, but are not limited to:
- Abilify® Compulsive Behavior Risk
Studies have shown a potential link between taking the antipsychotic drug Abilify and damaging pathological behaviors, including compulsive gambling and hypersexuality. - Diabetes Drugs Linked to Cancer
Certain popular Type 2 diabetes drugs have been linked to serious health problems, including pancreatic cancer. - Heartburn Drugs Linked to Kidney Disease
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a class of prescription heartburn drugs, are used to reduce acid in a patient’s stomach. But many of the most popular PPIs have been linked to serious health risks, including chronic kidney disease. - Invokana® and Invokamet®
Patients taking the Type 2 diabetes drugs Invokana and Invokamet may face an increased risk of ketoacidosis—a condition where the body produces high levels of acid in the blood. - Low T Heart Attacks
Testosterone therapy treatments are marketed to men as ways to boost energy levels, sex drive, and muscle mass. But AndroGel® and other testosterone gels, patches and injections may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular injuries. - Onglyza®
An FDA advisory committee concluded taking the prescription Type 2 diabetes drug, Onglyza® (saxagliptin), can increase the risk of heart failure—a fatal condition. - Taxotere® Permanent Hair Loss
Taxotere®, an injectable concentrate used during chemotherapy treatment for cancer, has been linked to permanent hair loss in female breast cancer survivors. - Viagra® Skin Cancer
Male patients who take Viagra® just one time may face double the risk of developing melanoma skin cancer compared to men who have never taken the drug. - Xarelto®
Xarelto®, a blood-thinning drug manufactured by Bayer, has been linked to severe bleeding, strokes and blood clots in certain types of patients. In the event of major bleeding, there is no method to counteract the effects of the drug, which can result in severe injury or death. - Zofran®
Zofran is sometimes prescribed to treat severe morning sickness in pregnant women—an off-label, or unapproved, use. However, data indicates that the drug may lead to birth defects in children.
The drug manufacturer is often the primary defendant in most of these cases, but other parties could also be liable in certain circumstances. For example, doctors can be liable for improper prescriptions, pharmacies may be liable for mistakes in dispensing drugs, and sales representatives or testing laboratories could also be liable for other negligent or reckless acts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Drug Injuries
A brand-name drug is any drug that is marketed under a proprietary, trademarked name. The patent life of most brand-name drugs is 17 years. Generic drugs are identical to brand-name drugs in safety, intended use, dosage, strength, performance characteristics, quality, and route of administration, but typically cost far less. The FDA has a Generic Drugs Program that conducts a diligent review to ensure generic medicines meet the same requirements as brand-name drugs, and the agency states that it conducts 3,500 inspections of manufacturing plants annually.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) are tools utilized by government officials to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion, and 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have legislation authorizing PDMPs. Missouri is the only state without a PDMP. PDMPs collect, monitor, and analyze electronically transmitted prescribing and dispensing data submitted by pharmacies and dispensing practitioners. This information is provided only to entities authorized by state law to access the program. Virginia’s PDMP is established under Chapter 25.2 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, and it was enacted in 2002. Under Virginia state law, any prescriber licensed in Virginia to treat human patients and authorized to issue a prescription for a controlled substance must be registered with the PDMP by the Department of Health Professions.
If a drug’s side effects caused you or someone close to you harm, you could be eligible to hold the manufacturer accountable for what happened to you. Depending on the specific circumstances, you could be eligible to secure compensation for:
- Present and future medical bills
- Lost wages from time off of work
- Loss of future earnings (if your injuries prevent you from being able to return to work)
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
If a defective drug killed your loved one, you could be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim on their behalf. Damages that could be recovered include funeral and burial expenses, final medical expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and others.
Drug Injury Statistics
CNBC reported that while the United States represents only 5 percent of the global population, it consumes approximately 80 percent of the global opioid supply. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), almost 54 million people have used prescription medications for nonmedical reasons at least once. Among people 12 years of age to 25 years of age, 11.4 percent used prescription drugs nonmedically within the past year. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that found more than 80 percent of patients 57 years of age to 85 years of age used at least one prescription medication on a daily basis. Over 50 percent took more than five medications or supplements daily.
Approximately 6.2 million people aged 12 or older misused prescription psychotherapeutic drugs in the past month according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The total included 3.3 million misused prescription pain relievers,2 million misused prescription tranquilizers, 1.7 million misused prescription stimulants, and 497,000 misused prescription sedatives.
Contact a Drug Injury Attorney in Virginia
If you or a loved one have sustained severe injuries or death due to a dangerous or defective drug in Virginia, turn to a legal team with the right experience to handle your case. The drug’s manufacturer will likely put up a fight, so hire a firm that is willing to fight back. CHASENBOSCOLO will stand up for you and will work tirelessly to get you all of the compensation that the pharmaceutical company owes you.
We will discuss all the legal options available to you in a free initial consultation. Call our offices at (703) 538-1138 or contact us online today.
