Product manufacturers have a responsibility to create or design products that are safe for consumers. Therefore, when a pharmaceutical company like Pfizer creates a type of injection that can cause harm to those who receive it, they should be held accountable for their careless mistakes and errors. If you have developed meningiomas or any other injuries after taking Depo-Provera shots, it is important that you are aware of your right to file a product liability claim and seek compensation for your injuries.
How do I recover compensation for the injuries I sustained after using Depo-Provera?
In order to successfully recover compensation for the injuries you suffered after using Depo-Provera, there are certain steps you must take. Below, we will go over eight of the steps to get you through this process and to help you obtain the compensation you rightfully deserve.
- Obtain medical treatment: We cannot express enough how important it is to obtain medical treatment right away. This not only shows that your health and well-being are a priority to you, but it also shows that you were injured and obtained medical treatment for your injuries. While you may only feel slight pain and discomfort, your injuries and conditions could become worse over time. Therefore, it is never recommended to put this off. If you feel like something is off with your body and you have a history with Depo-Provera injections, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Hire a Depo-Provera injury lawyer: Injury claims involving defective or harmful products can be very challenging and complex. Therefore, before you dive deeper into the process of seeking compensation, you should consider hiring a Depo-Provera injury lawyer who is well-versed in this area. They will evaluate your claim, develop a strong legal strategy, and help you fight for a fair compensation amount.
- Gather evidence: Before your lawyer files a claim and seeks compensation, you need to gather as much evidence as possible to prove your side of the story. You want to make sure that everything is nicely organized and easy to determine how it pertains to your case. This may be doctor notes, medical records, medical bills, imaging test results, and more.
- Find and hire witnesses: Finding and hiring witnesses can also increase your chances of recovering compensation. There are two types of witnesses that can be used for your Depo-Provera injury claim, which are eyewitnesses and expert witnesses. Eyewitnesses can be a spouse, family member, friend, coworker, neighbor, or another person who can provide a statement about your injuries or condition and how it has affected your life. Expert witnesses are professionals, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or surgeons, hired by your attorney. These individuals have some type of background related to your case, giving them the knowledge, experience, or training to break down the facts of your claim and make everything easier to understand.
- Inform the manufacturer about the injury: Any time that you experience an injury or illness from a product, it is advisable to inform the manufacturer. The goal is to ensure that they know about your injuries and encourage them to issue a recall. However, in the Depo-Provera case, Pfizer has been made aware of the risks of meningiomas and has not issued a recall. Therefore, even though informing the manufacturer about the injury does not always result in a recall, you can at least obtain a copy of your notification report showing that you notified the company about your injuries, which can be beneficial to securing compensation for your losses.
- Make sure that no other party is responsible: It is crucial to make sure that no other party is responsible. While the manufacturer is likely responsible, there could be other parties who also owe you compensation, such as the distributor, retailer, pharmacy, doctor, nurse, or the clinic. If you do not make sure that no other parties are liable, you could leave much-needed compensation on the table.
- Check the statute of limitations: You cannot seek compensation without first checking the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations provides a specific deadline in which you must file a claim and seek compensation for your losses. For product liability cases, Pennsylvania and New Jersey both give two years from the date that the injury occurred or was discovered to file a claim. If you miss the deadlines, your case will be thrown out, and you will never be able to secure the compensation you need.
- Ensure that you can prove the essential elements: There are several essential elements that you must be able to prove in order to file a claim and recover compensation. The first element is that the defendant owed you a duty of care, which was to keep you safe while using their product. The second element is that the defendant breached their duty of care by acting negligently and creating a harmful product. The third element is that your injuries were directly caused by using the product. The fourth element is that you suffered damages due to the harmful product, such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
If you experienced severe harm or injuries after taking Depo-Provera birth control injections, the Depo-Provera injury attorneys at Kwartler Manus, LLC can help. We will look over the facts and details of your claim, determine how much your case is worth, and help you seek maximum compensation to cover your damages. Our firm has spent years building a solid reputation in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Therefore, when you work with us, you can rest assured knowing that we are a team that is committed to helping you and your family through this tough time. Please fill out our contact form to begin learning how we can assist you today.