Montgomery Prescription Error Attorney
Medication is often necessary for those experiencing pain from an injury or to help treat certain conditions, such as high blood pressure. However, when medication errors are made, they can seriously harm patients.
Doctors are responsible for prescribing the proper medication to patients, pharmacists have an obligation to properly fill those prescriptions, and other medical professionals may be responsible for administering them. When any of these responsibilities are not met, those injured may have a valid medical malpractice claim.
Prescription error cases are some of the most complex medical malpractice claims, and you should not try to handle one without an experienced attorney to fight for your best interests. At Serious Injury Law Group, our Montgomery prescription error attorneys will review your case, explain your legal options, and answer all your questions in a free and confidential consultation.
Contact us now to get started on your claim.
Do You Have a Prescription Error Claim?
In Alabama, it is possible to hold doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers responsible when they make prescription errors and patients are harmed as a result. Plaintiffs, though, do have to prove certain elements of their case.
The plaintiff, or person bringing the lawsuit, has the burden of proof in prescription error cases. This means that you must have substantial evidence that a healthcare provider failed to take the same reasonable care that another healthcare provider would in a similar situation. In these cases, that failure to act reasonably is considered medical negligence.
Plaintiffs must also prove that they suffered harm for which they require compensation. They must show that the healthcare provider’s actions were the direct cause of that harm.
In Alabama, there is no requirement that plaintiffs must obtain a certificate of merit in medical malpractice cases, as there are in many other states. However, the allegations made in a lawsuit must be specific. The complaint must include a detailed description of the act or failure to act, as well as the date, time, and place of the act or failure to act.
To discuss the details of your claim, please contact us to speak with a knowledgeable prescription error lawyer.
What Is a Prescription Error?
A prescription error is a preventable mistake that involves the inappropriate use of medication while treating a patient. Essentially, these errors are made when prescribing, dispensing, and administering medications. These mistakes hurt thousands of individuals every year in the United States.
What Are Some Common Types of Prescription Errors?
Unfortunately, there are many common types of prescription errors that can pose a serious threat to patients’ health. These include:
- Wrong intervals: Doctors must ensure they provide very clear instructions for taking medications. This includes taking the proper dosage at the right times, as often medication must be taken a certain number of hours apart.
- Incorrect or missing warning labels: Many drugs have certain side effects that can be quite dangerous. Medication manufacturers, pharmacists, and doctors have a duty to inform patients correctly of any risks associated with taking a certain drug.
- Incorrect instructions: Many medications have specific instructions. For example, some must be taken with food, while others work best on an empty stomach. When incorrect instructions are given for medication, they can have serious consequences.
- Failure to warn of adverse reactions: There are many drugs that will adversely react with other drugs. Prescribing doctors must thoroughly check the medications a patient is currently on to ensure a newly prescribed medication will not interfere with existing medication the patient is taking.
- Incorrect dosage: When physicians do not prescribe the proper dosage, it can have disastrous effects for patients. When the dosage is insufficient, the patient may not be properly treated and the condition may become worse. When the dosage is too high, it could be fatal for the patient.
- Incorrect medication: There are many ways a doctor may prescribe the wrong medication to a patient. They may simply mix up two drugs that have similar-sounding names, or they may prescribe a medication the patient is allergic to. Any time the wrong medication is prescribed, it can have significant consequences for patients.
These are just a few of the most common types of medication errors that can occur. When they do, patients who suffer harm as a result may have a valid personal injury claim.
How Can a Prescription Error Lawyer Help You?
If you believe you have a prescription error case, you should not take it on alone. There are many ways a prescription lawyer will help you, including:
- Determining who is liable
- Accurately evaluating your claim
- Investigating and collecting evidence to substantiate your case
- Reaching out to a network of expert witnesses to support your case
- Communicating with the insurance company to ensure your rights are protected
- Negotiating a fair settlement for the full amount of compensation you deserve
- Taking your case to trial, if necessary
If you believe a doctor, hospital, or pharmacist has made a mistake with your prescription and you have suffered harm as a result, it’s important that you speak to a Montgomery prescription error lawyer today.
How Long Do You Have to File a Prescription Error Claim?
Like all states, Alabama has a statute of limitations on claims involving medical malpractice. This is the amount of time you have to file your claim. In Alabama, the statute of limitations on claims involving prescription errors is two years from the date of injury. If you file your claim after the statute of limitations has expired, you will likely be barred from receiving any compensation.
Many people think this is a long time to file a claim, but it’s not. Before filing a claim, an attorney will need to perform an investigation to determine liability and collect evidence to prove it. For this reason, it’s important to speak to a prescription error attorney as soon as possible after suffering an injury from a medication mistake.
Talk to a Prescription Error Attorney Now
If you have been injured or become ill from a medication error, you may be entitled to compensation. At Serious Injury Law Group, our Montgomery lawyers can help. We will investigate your claim, collect evidence to support your case, and fight to hold insurance companies and at-fault parties accountable for paying the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been hurt, contact us now to schedule your free consultation.