Vioxx was approved in 1999 by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) and was thought to be some sort of super-drug that could be used to treat osteoarthritis without the associated side effects of other medications being used. Known as a Cox-2 Inhibitor, vioxx was widely prescribed for five years, and the manufacturer of the drug is thought to have yielded profits of nearly $8 billion in that time. However, on 30 th September 2004, the manufacturer, Merck, recalled the drug from the US market following evidence that it is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Various journals, such as The Lancet and The Wall Street Journal have since published information indicating that Merck knew about these increased risks years ago, yet continued to market the drug. If this is the case, Merck will be liable to pay compensation to those affected by vioxx, in order to enable victim to recoup medical costs, loss of income and pain or suffering.
As someone that has been affected by this drug, you will have the option of filing a compensation claim against the manufacturer, Merck. You can do this in a couple of ways: you could either file an individual lawsuit against Merck for compensation; or you could file as part of a class action suit along with other victims that have suffered as a result of taking this drug. Unless you are experienced in legal matters of this sort, it can be difficult to know which of these legal options will best suit you. It is therefore strongly advised that you contact an experienced and specialist lawyer to discuss your case further.
A vioxx lawyer will be able to run through your legal options with you, and can better determine whether you would be better off filing an individual lawsuit or filing as part of a class action vioxx lawsuit. A class action suit can be the most cost effective legal option in these circumstances, and can also increase your chances of success. However, since the payout has to be shared amongst all claimants that are part of the class action lawsuit, the settlement figure that you get individually could be lower than that of an individual claimant. The legal option that will best suit you will be based upon your personal circumstances and situation, and a specialist vioxx lawyer will be able to advise you on the best legal option based upon the facts.
Making the right decision with regards to your legal options can make a big difference when it comes to the success of your lawsuit. It is therefore important to ensure that you have all of the expert help and assistance that you can get. A qualified and experience professional in this field can provide you with this help, and will already have the experience, knowledge, skills and resources to determine the best course of action from the legal options available, and then take steps to put your case forward.
Most vioxx lawyer are able to offer a free consultation in order to discuss your legal options with you, so you can get a better idea of the type of lawsuit you should go for, and what you chances of success are. You can contact a vioxx lawyer and make an appointment to discuss the details of your case, and the lawyer will then work to prove that the manufacturer of the drug was negligent in providing safety information to you (as a consumer) and that you were harmed as a result of taking Vioxx.
You can also contact a vioxx lawyer to discuss legal options if you are filing a claim on behalf of a family member that has suffered through taking vioxx. Again, the principles are the same in that the lawyer will fully discuss your legal options, and together you can decide upon the best course of action. However, it is advisable to look into your legal options as soon as possible to increase your chances of a successful claim.
