Pharmaceutical class action cases must follow detailed rules

You’ve survived the damage done to you by a prescription drug side effect, but you haven’t escaped unscathed. You have been badly hurt. Your health and your quality of life have been changed by the undisclosed side effects of your medication.

Now you have questions about your future and about your possible recovery. As you work with your doctors, Iowa pharmaceutical class action attorneys, and your family it is important to get your questions answered so that you can face the future with confidence.

Understand What Comes Next

As you consider your legal options, it is important to know:

  • What a class action case is and how to file a lawsuit. Generally, a class action lawsuit may be filed if a group of people suffered a similar harm from the same product. A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed in court, but there is often much work that needs to be done before the filing.
  • About the role of the lead plaintiff  and the rest of the class. The lead plaintiff is the named plaintiff in the lawsuit and works closely with pharmaceutical class action lawyers to make important decisions. Every plaintiff in the class, however, has the right to share in any compensation recovered through settlement negotiations or in court.
  • If you need a class action lawyer. A class action attorney can make sure that your rights are protected and can advise you of your legal options.
  • What evidence is important to your recovery. You should share as much as you can with your class action lawyer—including details about all medications you took, their dosage, and your physical symptoms.
  • What happens if you’ve been hurt by a generic drug. The rules for recovery may be different if you’ve been hurt by a generic drug, but it is still important to contact an experienced lawyer to protect your potential recovery.
  • Whether you have legal standing to bring a case. If you were hurt by a medication or medical device, you are the parent or guardian of someone who was hurt, or you are the personal representative of the estate of someone who died from a pharmaceutical injury, then you may be able to participate in a pharmaceutical class action and obtain a fair damage award or settlement.
  • How much time you have to bring a case. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Iowa is typically two years, but there are important exceptions that could apply to your pharmaceutical injury case.
  • How pharmaceutical class action settlements work. Settlements are often complicated, but they are possible and could benefit you in a pharmaceutical class action case.

Of course, every case is unique. If you have suffered an injury from a prescription medication or medical device then we encourage you to find out more about your individual rights in a pharmaceutical class action case. Call us any time or start a live chat with us on this website to learn more.

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.