Pradaxa Lawsuits Joined

Pradaxa, an oral anticoagulant developed by the Boehringer Ingelheim pharmaceutical company, was supposed to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Unfortunately, many patients who were prescribed the drug found that it had adverse side effects that neither they, nor their doctors, understood. Internal bleeding stands out as one of the most problematic side effects, especially since doctors don’t have a medically verifiable way of stopping the bleeding.

As of 2011, over 250 people had died from internal bleeding events attributed to Pradaxa use.

Multidistrict Legislation (MDL) Against Pradaxa Maker Boehringer Ingelheim

Not surprisingly, many people allegedly injured while taking Pradaxa have sued Boehringer Ingelheim. On August 9, 2012, 185 of those cases were consolidated into an MDL (multidistrict litigation). This essentially means that a single federal court will oversee the suit instead of letting hundreds of courts across the country attempt to tackle the issue in a piecemeal fashion.

In some ways, this benefits everyone involved in the case. Boehringer Ingelheim doesn’t have to worry about defending itself in front of judges all over the country. The corporation also benefits from a single ruling. If it is not found liable, then the company is in a much better position than if some courts found them liable while others did not.

Anyone who has suffered from the adverse affects of Pradaxa also benefit from the MDL. The coordination of cases allows the Plaintiffs to work together to seek compensation for their injuries.

The Time to File Lawsuits is Limited

A statute of limitations is a law that requires an injured victim to file a lawsuit in a certain period of time. The statute of limitations for faulty prescription drugs varies from state to state Regardless, once that time passes, no one can bring suit against the drug manufacturer. All of this can seem very confusing to people who don’t work in the legal system so it is important to consult an experienced defective drug attorney who can determine what the statute of limitations may be in your particular case. Because you have a limited time to file suit, you should do so as soon as possible.

But before contacting an attorney, however, first you must consult a doctor to make sure you get any medical conditions treated appropriately. Once you have talked to a doctor, you should contact an attorney who has plenty of experience with this type of case. It is a complicated situation, but you shouldn’t let that stop you from getting the compensation you deserve.