Oklahoma Product Liability Lawyer Stands Up for Victims of Defective Medical Devices
Edmond law firm seeks fair compensation for injured parties
From pacemakers to artificial joints, medical devices are used to treat some of the most severe illnesses or health conditions people can suffer. It is distressing to discover that a device you relied upon as the ultimate cure has malfunctioned and/or has caused you additional injuries. At the Edmond law firm of Walsh & Franseen, our attorneys have experience handling claims over defective medical devices, both as individual cases and as part of mass tort actions. We represent clients in the Oklahoma City metro area and throughout the state in pursuing legal remedies for injuries suffered.
What is a defective medical device?
When medical devices work as they should, they can improve and extend patients’ lives. However, devices can and do fail, sometimes causing serious or even fatal injuries. Statistics from the U.S. Government Accountability Office show that over a recent 10-year period, 1.7 million injuries and 83,000 deaths were connected to defective medical devices. A device might not only fail in its intended function but also can cause deleterious side effects. When an individual is injured by a faulty device, they can sue the manufacturer and others involved in distribution or administration of the product. If you are in this situation, our experienced medical device liability lawyer can advise you about your right to recover compensation for your expenses and for other damages, including pain and suffering.
Common types of defective medical devices
There are a host of medical devices used to treat various maladies. Some of the more common devices recently found to be defective and to have caused serious injuries include:
- Hip implants — These metallic devices have been subject to numerous recalls over the years for such reasons as dislocations, failures and breaks requiring additional surgeries.
- Pacemakers — A malfunction can cause dizziness, fainting, chest pain and possibly a heart attack.
- Defibrillators — These devices may fail to deliver shocks as required. Side effects from defibrillators can include infection, swelling and blood vessel damage.
- Stents — Used to stop narrowing of blood vessels and arteries, stents can cause blood clots and arterial damage, requiring additional surgery.
- Hernia mesh — The mesh can cause infection, adhesion, intestinal obstruction and holes in neighboring organs and tissues.
- Transvaginal mesh — Used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence, this device can cause organ perforation, chronic pain and other complications.
- Drug infusion pumps — Designed to provide medications to patients’ bodies, these pumps can cause injury or death if they malfunction.
Our product liability attorney can counsel you about your eligibility for compensation no matter what type of defective device may have caused your injuries.
How defective medical device cases work
Defective medical device cases are complex and require careful preparation to achieve optimal results. As your counsel, we will investigate your medical device problems by reviewing your doctor reports, consulting with experts and investigating reports of the same device failing in other people. These cases are typically litigated as mass torts because numerous people often have been harmed by the same defective devices. Mass torts are similar claims grouped together for case management and discovery purposes. This makes the process more efficient and provides a higher likelihood of holding defendants accountable. However, each plaintiff can pursue damages based on their own particular injuries. As lawyers with decades of experience resolving product liability claims, including those involving medical devices, we have the skill and knowledge needed to win our clients fair and adequate compensation.
Contact an experienced Oklahoma medical device liability lawyer
The Oklahoma law firm of Walsh & Franseen in Edmond aggressively pursues compensation in cases of defective medical devices that cause injuries. To arrange for a free consultation, call 405-843-7600 or contact us online.
