Defective Medical Device Attorney

The combination of lax regulation and medical appliance makers focused on profits leaves tens of thousands of people each year at risk of serious injury from dangerous medical devices. Serious injuries can have life-altering consequences for the person hurt and their family.

You have legal rights when a faulty device has caused serious injuries. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our personal injury attorneys are legal advocates for injured patients harmed by medical appliances, and we can help you too.

You can file a product liability lawsuit against the company that designed and sold a dangerous medical device.

Contact our Chicago, IL, product liability lawyers at (888) 424-5757 to learn more about your legal options to file a defective medical device lawsuit during a free case review.

All confidential or sensitive information you share about your severe complications remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Chicago Defective Medical Device Attorneys Helping Injured Patients

You may be entitled to substantial financial compensation if you are one of the thousands of people each year injured by a defective medical device (metal hip implants, other hip implants, etc.).

However, you need an experienced product liability attorney who knows how to navigate a legal system built to protect these medical device manufacturers that sell faulty appliances.

Faulty medical device manufacturers could face massive liability if users experience medical complications, life-threatening injuries, or serious harm due to a defect.

Medical Product Liability Claims Against a Manufacturer

One common misconception is that medical appliances are large implants, such as a pacemaker or the Medtronic insulin pump.

However, a defective medical device could be any appliance implanted in the body or used outside the body for medical purposes.

Many medical devices fail. For example, the hernia mesh implanted to stabilize and repair the pelvic muscles is a medical product. It means that the universe of possible faulty devices is very large.

Who is Liable for Defective Medical Devices?

Medical device makers and distributors face several legal obligations under product liability laws. These include warning patients and doctors about potential dangers, providing instructions, and ensuring that devices meet FDA standards. In addition, manufacturers and distributors may be liable for injuries caused by defective devices.

Under strict liability, manufacturers or sellers of defective devices are held accountable for the harm caused by those products. It includes situations where the manufacturer knew or should have known that the product was dangerous.

Product liability law applies to most medical devices, including surgical tools, implants, prosthetics, and other equipment.

Manufacturers and distributors must provide adequate warnings about the possible hazards of their products, ensure that they comply with federal regulations, and ensure that their products function properly. They cannot claim that their products are safe if there is evidence that they are unsafe.

Defective Medical Device Claims Against a Manufacturer

A lawsuit filed against a manufacturer alleges that it failed to warn consumers about potential risks associated with a medical device in this case, a pacemaker. The plaintiff claimed that they suffered injuries due to a malfunctioning device.

The plaintiff sued the manufacturer for negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, and violation of consumer protection laws. The defendant moved to dismiss the case based on preemption under the Medical Device Amendments of 1976.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Recalling Defective Medical Devices

The FDA regulates medical devices under Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 820. Under Section 521(a), the agency must approve each device before they are marketed. Manufacturers must comply with certain requirements outlined in the regulations.

For example, manufacturers must submit detailed information regarding the intended use of the device, how the device works, what risks might arise from using the device, and whether there are alternative treatments for similar conditions.

They must also provide reports on adverse events that occur during clinical trials. In addition, the agency requires labeling the device containing instructions for safe and effective use.

Failing to Meet Federal Standards

In addition, the agency enforces compliance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). If a manufacturer fails to meet federal standards, the agency may take regulatory action, such as imposing recalls, issuing fines, or even revoking approval.

Under the FDCA, the statute of limitations for bringing a claim is three years. However, some states have enacted statutes extending the limitation period beyond the general rule.

Some state statutes allow plaintiffs to bring suit within six years of the date of injury. Other states do not limit the time frame a plaintiff may file a legal claim.

Why There Are Thousands of Defective Medical Device Cases in the US

The United States is the largest worldwide market for medical devices, creating appliances that repair hernias, replace joints, prevent blood clots, expand blood vessels and correct other conditions. In the US, 6,500 medical device companies have sold recalled devices that caused adverse events.

The defective medical device claims do not include foreign companies that sell products to US consumers. In 2017, the American medical device industry generated over $150 billion.

Dangerous medical devices could include:

• Surgical robots help medical professionals reach difficult areas during medical procedures
• Transvaginal mesh used in pelvic organ prolapse surgery
• Exactech knee or hip implant
• Biomet hip replacement
• Hernia mesh lawsuits
• IVC filters
• DePuy orthopedics hip replacement
• Allergan breast implants
• Stryker hip lawsuit
• Surgical staplers that help health care providers close wounds after surgery
• Intrauterine devices
• Implantable contraceptives
• Cochlear ear lawsuit
• CPAP lawsuits
• Blood pressure cuffs used in the doctor's office
• Talcum powder lawsuits

The lowest-risk medical devices, such as bandages, are a Class I recall. Medical appliances with higher health risks are categorized as Class III. This defective device has the highest chance of causing serious injury when malfunctioning.

Defective product recalls are all too common in the United States. There were reports of over 1.7 million serious injuries caused by implanted devices. Many implanted appliances cause medical issues due to improper or insufficient testing.

Often the patient's health is compromised when defective medical devices fail without appropriate warnings that would have prevented problems caused by design, the manufacturing process, or medical malpractice.

Discuss your legal options to file a medical malpractice lawsuit for financial recovery within the applicable statute of limitations. Contact our defective medical device lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your failed medical product.

Why You Need an Experienced Defective Medical Devices Attorney

Unfortunately, the US Food and Drug Administration is an ineffective regulator of the medical appliance industry, allowing companies to self-regulate.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process 510(k) allows many dangerous medical products to be sold in the medical marketplace without rigorous FDA testing.

Over a ten-year period, 161 medical appliances in this category were recalled. Approximately 98% of the recalled devices were approved through the 510(k) process.

A defective recalled device could have several negative medical consequences. Even if the patient is not injured, they may need to go through the trouble and expense of replacing the medical appliances.

However, the major effects come when the defective medical device fails and causes physical harm. Then, there are several different damages that patients can suffer in the United States.

What Medical Device Manufacturers Must Pay You in a Lawsuit

Examples of recoverable damages (also referred to as compensation) in a defective medical device case against the medical device manufacturer include:

• Medical expenses, including the cost of past emergency care
• Future medical bills
• Lost wages
• Wrongful death damages

What do you do if a defective medical device has injured you? All injured parties need a medical diagnosis to begin the lawsuit process for defective medical products.

You should see a medical professional immediately to get treatment and correct the problem if possible. Since some medical device injuries can be life-threatening, you should see a medical provider immediately if you suspect something is wrong.

Manufacturers Must Report

Manufacturers must inform the Food and Drug Administration about death or serious injury caused by any defective medical product. Medical device manufacturers initiate the most defective product recalls. In some cases, the FDA will force the recall.

When you are ready to file a dangerous medical product recall lawsuit, you should consult a medical device attorney at an experienced law firm. Some medical malpractice lawsuits may be preempted, meaning the manufacturer cannot be sued for product liability claims when following federal Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Our defective medical device attorneys use successful strategies and legal theory to argue medical malpractice cases for clients when the defendant wants to be exempt from a lawsuit. Schedule a free case review to discuss how our personal injury attorneys seek compensation for our clients.

Defective Medical Device Attorney FAQs

Our law firm understands that many families have unanswered questions about filing a defective medical device claim after suffering serious harm from a faulty product.

Our defective medical device attorney has answered some of those questions below. Contact us at (888) 424-5757 for additional answers or to schedule a free consultation.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Specializing in Medical Device Defects

Were you injured, or was a loved one a victim of wrongful death by a defective medical device (metal hip implants, other hip implants, and defective medical devices)? If so, you have legal rights to seek compensation for your damages through a product liability claim.

The maker of that medical product causing serious injuries could be liable to pay you substantial financial compensation to cover past medical costs, future medical care and physical therapy, and additional surgeries.

Let a personal injury attorney from our law firm help you recover compensation if your legal issue involves medical malpractice, a malfunctioning medical product, or another medical issue.

Give the defective medical product lawyers of our Chicago, IL law firm a phone call at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free case evaluation. Our personal injury attorneys provide legal representation throughout Illinois.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, you pay no out-of-pocket expenses and owe your experienced medical device attorney nothing until we settle your successful case.

All confidential or sensitive information you share with your personal injury attorney remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Resources:

• NLM - About Medical Device Oversight
• NCBI - Health Software Recalls