Recently in Drug Defect Claims Category

In September 2010, the FDA took a closer look at Actos, a drug that has been in production since 1999 in the United States.  The FDA determined that there is a link between Actos users and an increased risk of bladder cancer.  The risk appears to be higher in men than woman, although both genders are at risk according to recent scientific research.  Actos has many potential side effects, including stomach pain, rapid weight gain, pale skin, painful urination, nausea and a general feeling of sickness.  Actos is used to regulate blood sugar levels, primarily in patients with type II diabetes.

If you are taking Actos and experience serious side effects such as a painful urination, blood in urine, kidney pain, or other similar pains notify your treating doctor immediately.  Do not abruptly stop taking Actos unless directed by your physician.  If your physician makes a diagnosis of bladder cancer, contact a Actos injury lawyer immediately to protect your claim for compensation. 

Once you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, it is important to take steps to protect a legal claim that you may have against Actos.  Claims for compensation in these prescription drug cases can include a settlement for medical expenses (past and future), pain and suffering (past and future), and wage loss associated with treatment.  Bladder cancer is serious and should be attacked immediately with medication and aggressive medical care.

An Actos lawsuit should be filed by an attorney who is experienced in product defect and product liability laws.  Because these drugs are sold nationwide, there will likely be claims from victims made nationwide as well.  Drug litigation can often times be consolidated into what is known as "multi-district litigation", or MDL.  When drug injury lawsuits are consolidated in MDL, the litigation process, especially discovery of documents and depositions, are streamlined into a more efficient means of dealing with each individual claim.

If you are an Actos taker and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, you may have the right to an Actos bladder cancer settlement.  To learn more about the Actos lawsuits that are currently being filed across the country, call toll-free (866) 840-3636 for immediate help. 

Folks injured in automobile accidents, by defective products, or at work have a right to fair compensation if someone else is legally responsible for causing those injuries.  That is where the role of a Missouri injury lawyer comes into play.  A lawyer can help maximize your compensation from a claim by providing a variety of services, which include 1) help obtaining the best medical treatment possible, even if you do not have health insurance 2) investigating and discovering all forms of compensation and insurance applicable to your injury 3) maintaining your right of privacy from probing insurance questions, and 4) negotiating an injury settlement that is satisfactory to your case.

Medical treatment is one of the most important aspects of any injury claim.  And breaking that down further into two components, 1) quality and 2) timeframe.  If you don't obtain the right type of treatment it can be just as damaging to your case as not getting treatment at all.  So if you have a spine injury, go see an orthopedist or neurologist that specializes in spine trauma.  Just like the law, medicine is broken into many, many specialties.  Second, getting the right treatment in the right timeframe is critical.  If you wait too long to get medical care, or have long "gaps in treatment" the insurance adjuster will likely lowball your case or deny it all together.  A personal injury lawyer can offer more advice on this important aspect of your case.

Investigating and discovering all insurance policies that apply your case is vital to maximizing settlement value.  Claims adjusters do their best to conceal available coverage, or mislead as to the 'policy limits' available to compensate an injury victim.  An injury attorney ends these games and ascertains all available insurance coverage, and determines what applies and what doesn't.  Sometimes insurance can be "stacked" to provide even additional compensation.  This aspect of the law is evolving in Missouri and predominantly determined by caselaw and policy language. 

Insurance companies love to uncover all your prior medical history, even if it bears no relevance to the case at hand.  They do this through the use of unrestricted medical record release authorizations that they will demand that you sign in order to present a claim for injury.  An accident injury lawyer would never permit this type of invasion of privacy to take place.   Prior health history can devalue your claim and ultimately lead to poor compensation when it comes time to negotiation of a settlement.  Rely on your lawyer to present only the evidence necessary to prevail in your accident injury claim, nothing more.  For more information, contact Missouri injury lawyer Stephen Schultz.  Mr. Schultz is AV-Rated and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Missouri for the 4th consecutive year.  He can be reached at (866) 840-3636 or locally at (314) 448-0934


  

Many people are hesitant to involve a personal injury attorney in their claim due to the fear of the unknown.  Though no two injury claims are exactly the same, most follow the same timeline of events.  After being involved in a situation that causes injury, it is in your best interest to seek immediate medical attention.  Documentation of your injuries through medical records and reports provides uncontested proof that you were injured as a result of an accident and were in enough pain to seek medical attention.  Once we have a better understanding of your exact injuries, we are able to refer you to a specialist who can use their expertise to further treat you. 

Most Missouri injury lawyers have close working relationships with many of Missouri's best doctors - all of which have the same goal: to help YOU. During the first phase of your claim, you are given a main focus and we (as your attorney) are given a main focus.  Yours is to obtain all recommended medical treatment.  The duration of your Missouri injury claim is the only time you will be able to receive medical treatment at the at-fault party's expense.  All charges for treatment incurred during this time is treated as addition to your final compensation amount. 

The focus of any experienced accident lawyer is concentrated on investigative work, gathering all details we can revolving around your case.  During this time, we are also able to assist you in finding, scheduling, and getting to your crucial medical appointments. Once your medical treatment is complete, we are able to move forward with establishing your claim's worth.  Together, we consider every aspect in which this injury has affected you and your lifestyle.  Some clients are able to fully recover physically and return to their lifestyle as it was prior to an accident.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case and clients are faced with a future of uncertainty.  Combining your physical, emotional, economical, and social losses, we fight hard to obtain a fair monetary amount to compensate you for this.  Our fight for this does not end until we (including YOU) are satisfied with a settlement. 

If a reasonable settlement offer is not agreed upon in a fair amount of time, a lawsuit is filed on your behalf in which we continue your legal battle for fair settlement.  Again, nothing is accepted without the knowledge and approval of a client. Upon settlement of your claim, we handle all remaining medical bills and account balances to ensure that nothing is lingering after a final settlement.  After reaching a settlement both the attorney and client are pleased with, all parties are able to continue with their lives as an injury claim being part of their past. A good lawyer prides himself on the ability to maintain open communication.  Clients always have access to attorney and staff office phones, email addresses, attorney cell phones, and office visits.  

Your injury claim is just that - yours.  You should never be left out of any communications regarding your case and should never be wondering the status of your case.  A compassionate St. Louis personal injury lawyer is available to discuss your case 24/7 and will come to you to address your concerns about the case.

This is a common question that many people ask after they are involved in a car accident or other incident in Missouri.  Its hard to say with certainly whether you need an accident injury lawyer unless you weigh your chances of obtaining a fair settlement from an insurance company.  There are studies and statistical data indicating that having legal representation on your side increases your chances of a fair shake at compensation by over 300%.  You have to look at it this way:  the insurance company is a well-funded, well-represented giant that does not have a personal interest or duty to treat you with respect or fairness.  Insurance companies are in business to generate huge profits.  They keep profits up and shareholders happy by minimizing payouts on PI claims, plain and simple.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is just not being truthful or realistic.

There are instances in which you can settle a case on your own without hiring a lawyer.  Those situations include cases where there is little to no property damage and your injuries are minimal.  By minimal I mean that you saw your primary care doctor, got checked out, and everything is clear and you are feeling fine.  One important piece of advice though:  Never, ever settle your case, even if your injuries are very minor, until you give your body at least 60 days to show any signs of lingering symptoms.  This most commonly comes up in whiplash cases or soft tissue car accidents.  Soft tissue injuries can be sneaky.  You can appear sore for a few days, then fine for a few days, and then things can deteriorate quickly.  In some events, victims experience "radicular" symptoms, which are radiating pains down the arms and legs.  This is a sign of a very serious disc problem.

As an experienced Missouri lawyer with an AV-Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell, I can tell you that there will be times that we will turn down potential clients.  We feel that unless we can add value to a client's case by aggressive legal representation, that we would rather explain the process to the caller and advise them to handle the case without a lawyer.  This is something that not all lawyers will do.  There are some personal injury attorneys that will accept every case that walks in the door, even if the injured client could have settled the case without legal representation and therefore avoid paying attorneys' fees.

If you ever need to discuss your case and whether hiring a lawyer is in your best interests, contact a St. Louis personal injury lawyer at Schultz Legal Group law firm by calling toll-free (866) 840-3636.  Schultz Legal Group has offices in Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas and will come to clients locations whenever necessary to consult on a one-on-one basis.

The nationwide Celexa birth defect lawyer at Schultz & Myers are investigating claims on behalf of mothers and their newborn children due to recent developments regarding SSRIs.  A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is the classification of medications that the anti-depressant Celexa falls into.  Our attorneys are currently taking calls from parents who claim that while pregnant, a mother was prescribed and ingested and SSRI such as Celexa, and have a child that has been diagnosed with any birth defect. 

Celexa birth defects can result in persistent pulmonary hypertension, a lung defect that can require a lifetime of medical expenses.  Other birth defects include heart defects, stomach/intestinal defects, and defects of the cranium.  If you were pregnant and took Celexa during your pregnancy, especially during the third trimester, contact a Celexa drug defect lawyer immediately to see you have a cause of action for financial compensation.

Celexa settlements may eventually be obtained if your attorney puts the company on notice of your claim and is able to successfully argue "causation" in your case.  Causation is the link between the drug and the birth defect.  This is commonly proven with expert testimony from expert physicians that do not have a stake in the litigation.  Your lawyer can explain this in further detail.

The drug defect injury lawyers at Schultz & Myers have office locations in Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas, and handle cases on a nationwide basis.  These attorneys are top rated in personal injury and wrongful death litigation.  It is imperative that any consumer who has been injured by a dangerous or defective drug hold the company accountable.  This is the basis of the checks and balances afforded by the US Constitution and the civil justice system.    

Our St. Louis personal injury law firm gets hundreds of calls each month from innocent victims injured in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and by defective products.  We also field phone calls from family members who have lost a loved one because of the reckless conduct of someone else.  People don't call us because they have good news.  They call us because they are under a significant amount of duress and don't know where to turn for quality legal advice.  Our accident attorneys take great care in answering all questions and concerns and offer hope for those who don't understand the insurance claims process.

Unfortunately, insurance adjusters do not have the best interests of injury victims at heart.  In fact, claims adjusters are compensated to minimize injury claims and make sure that the insurance company doesn't pay out any more than the smallest amount legally possible.  Many of these claims are even denied.  The motto "deny, delay, defend" is commonplace in the insurance industry.  An experienced injury lawyer evens the playing field though, and most of the time an attorney can obtain 10-20X more compensation that a victim will be able to get on his or her own.  The threat of a jury trial is often enough to get the insurance company to act in good faith.  However, circumstances exist where insurance companies will remain defiant and unreasonable even when an attorney gets involved.  In that case, your lawyer will need to work up your case and possibly take it all the way through to a jury verdict.  After all, that is what the civil justice system is for.

An attorney is able to obtain a settlement most of the time, without dragging the case on for months or years.  Your lawyer will negotiate with the claims adjuster with evidence he has gathered, as well as a better understanding of the laws that apply and the many forms of damages and recovery that are available to the injury victim.  Claims adjusters are not about to educate you on all of the forms of compensation that you may be entitled to.  That will be the job of your lawyer.

If you have been hurt due to the fault of someone else, it is likely that several insurance companies may have a part in the claim.  A personal injury attorney will interpret all insurance policies that may apply to the accident in order to maximize recovery from the client.  In, fact, there are often times additional policies of insurance that the victim didn't even realize applied to the incident.  If you have questions, contact a lawyer by calling (314) 732-1401, or by email.  

Lexapro is an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor) which is used to treat depression.  This powerful medication is also used to treat certain forms of adult anxiety.  Unfortunately, studies have linked Lexapro to several serious birth defects.  If you are pregnant, it may be important for you to discuss complications between Lexapro and heart defects.  If you have a child that is diagnosed with heart defects, contact a Lexapro birth defect lawyer immediately by calling (866) 840-3636. 

The first step to protecting your legal rights is to investigate whether a heart defect was caused by a prescription medication.  Drug manufacturers have a duty to keep dangerous drugs out of circulation.  This includes comprehensive testing for all potential customers, including pregnant women.  The studies that have linked Lexapro to heart defects are compelling.  When you speak with a Lexapro heart defect attorney, they will collect all of your medical records and have them reviewed by a heart specialist.  Then a determination will be made whether you have a viable product liability claim.  This entire review process is free to clients.  Our Lexapro attorneys only charge attorneys fees if we win the case for our client.  Their is no financial risk for our clients to have us collect and review medical records and diagnostic reports.  This is important.  After all, our clients are already under a high level of stress when they contact us. 

Heart defects are serious.  Certain heart defects can be treated if they are diagnosed at an early age.  In fact, it can still be possible for victims of congenital heart defects to mature and live healthy, normal lives.  However, future medical expenses can be staggering and it is critical to obtain compensation to assist with these costs.  Contact a Lexapro birth defect lawyer today by calling our experienced nationwide drug defect law firm.

Our Missouri tractor-trailer accident lawyers are following a major crash that took place in Atchison County late last night.  David Hollenberg was driving a Freightliner semi-truck northbound on I-29 near Rock Port, Mo., when he attempted to pass a Dodge vehicle.  The semi-truck clipped the back of the Dodge and caused it to flip over on the driver's side door.  Mr. Hollenberg then proceeded to "snowplow" the Dodge down the highway and off to the east side of I-29. 

The four residents of Cold Springs, New York, in the Dodge were ejected upon rollover.  20 year-old Christopher Darman, 18 year-old Rebecca Darman, 24 year-old Amanda Playford, and 54 year-old Joseph Darman were all critically injured.  Joseph, Rebecca, and Amanda were flown to Omaha for emergency medical care at a level-1 trauma facility.  Christopher Darman, who reportedly sustained the least severe injuries, was transported to Grape Community Hospital in Iowa.  Troop H of the Missouri Highway Patrol continues to investigate this Rock Port tractor-trailer crash to determine probable contributing circumstances to the cause of the crash.  It is yet to be released whether truck driver Hollenberg, a resident of Cameron, MO, will be charged with any traffic violations.

Overtaking vehicles in a tractor-trailer is dangerous, and lane change maneuvers such as this are closely regulated by Missouri law and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  Any lane change violation is deemed a "serious safety violation" by the FMCSA, and can result in suspension or termination of a commercial truck driver.  I-29 in Missouri is a roadway commonly traveled by large 18-wheelers and it is rarely safe to overtake a vehicle unless extreme caution is used in doing so.  Despite being two lanes in each direction, this highway still has its share of major traffic accidents.

Our Rock Port Missouri truck accident lawyers always recommend that victims secure competent legal representation immediately following any major tractor-trailer accident.  The primary reason for this is that evidence, such as truck driver log books, the 'black box', QUALCOMM data, and other critical pieces of information can be lost or destroyed if an attorney fails to file the necessary court documents.  Insurance companies and trucking companies know what evidence can hurt them if a truck accident injury victim files a lawsuit against them.  To avoid harming your case, contact a Missouri truck accident lawyer immediately by calling toll-free (866) 840-3636, or visit the Missouri truck accident information center at Schultz & Myers law firm.

Federal and state cases for prescription drugs Reglan and generic metoclopramide litigation are being filed by plaintiff's suffering with a movement disorder- Tardive Dyskinesia.  Reglan side effect claims continue to be filed in multiple jurisdictions.  States courts currently hearing the cases are Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California. The Supreme Court of the United States will decide later this year, if there is or is not federal preemption of the state law claims in torts for the generic drug manufacturer's warning labels.

Philadelphia is one of the first courts to decide to consolidate the increasing number of cases to conserve the judicial resources in hearings and trials. As the plaintiff's cases proceed with scheduled trial dates, there has been an emphasis on the due diligence of Reglan injury lawyers to execute these cases in a timely and efficient manner. The East and West coast states have followed Pennsylvania's protocol in consolidating the litigation. Reglan side effect claims are serious and the litigation will be time-consuming.

The United States Supreme Court will hear and decide later this year if there is preemption for generic drug manufacturers in regards to warnings on their labels. The legal issue is, "Are generic drug manufacturers equally liable to warn consumers of the side effects, no different than the name brand drug manufacturers?"  Although the defense of the generic drug manufacturer's is, the law currently prevents the generic prescription labels to be modified to read any different than those required by the FDA guidelines on the brand name manufacturer's warning labels.

Contact a Reglan drug claim lawyer today by calling (866) 840-3636 to discover more information on how to obtain compensation for a drug defect claim based upon Tardive Dyskinesia.

A common question that callers ask when contacting our St. Louis personal injury lawyers is: what do you charge for handling an injury claim?  The answer is nothing, unless our lawyers win your case.  This is a relief for most injury victims.  After all, most accidents cause financial stress on an unimaginable level.  The last thing that anyone in this position needs is a lawyer that charges a large up-front attorney retainer.  The attorneys fees that Schultz & Myers charges are contingency on the outcome of each case.  Therefore, our lawyers and clients share a common interest of reaching a successful outcome in each case.

There are many ways to contact an accident injury lawyer for advice on presenting an injury claim.  Some people use the internet.  The internet is a good resource for researching personal injury lawyers.  For example, using a search engine like Google or Yahoo and plugging in search terms such as "St. Louis car accident lawyer" will provide results that are a good starting point for choosing the best lawyer for your case.  It is wise to never choose an accident injury lawyer based upon how flashy a website is.  In fact, the Missouri ethical rules have made it a point to require lawyers to tell potential clients that decisions for legal representation should not be based solely upon advertisements. 

Choosing a lawyer based upon a referral from a friend or family member can also offer choices.  CAUTION:  Do not think that a lawyer referred by someone else is the right lawyer to handle a serious injury claim.  Traffic lawyers do not make good injury lawyers, and vice versa.  Would you seek a foot doctor if you had migraine headaches? No.  The same holds true with lawyers.  Yes, all lawyers have a general understanding of civil personal injury litigation.  The lawyers at Schultz & Myers would conceivably be able to assist a client with a Will, however, we would never do as good as a job as a lawyer who only does Wills.  Accident injury claims for compensation involve complex civil state statutory laws and civil court procedures.  Never take your serious injury case to a law firm that dabbles in all areas of law.  Chances are high that you will not receive all forms of compensation that you deserve.  

When choosing a personal injury lawyer, also bear in mind that going with the biggest law firm in town does not necessarily mean you are getting the best legal representation available.  It is important for all injury victims to get one-on-one personal service from a lawyer, especially in situations like these where the client is under a high degree of emotional and physical stress.  When selecting your lawyer, make sure that he or she plans on staying in touch with you personally on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Do your homework before retaining any lawyer.  Personal injury claims require handling by an accident lawyer who has both experience and an aggressive strategy.  Without this, your claim can be drawn out for months or years while the lawyer does his best to feel his way through the complexities of these case types.