Dallas Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

May 31, 2016

Risperdal links to Gynecomastia

Medical studies and recent lawsuits against the makers of Risperdal have helped highlight the links between the drug and gynecomastia, a condition that causes males to grow breasts.

A 2006 study conducted by Duke University showed that Risperdal was associated with gynecomastia and that it may cause lactation in girls, boys, and women not pregnant or nursing.

Despite this knowledge, the FDA approved Risperdal for the treatment of schizophrenia in children and bipolar disorder in both children and adults in 2007. The year after the FDA approval, the Wall Street Journal reported that Risperdal had been shown to increase prolactin levels (leading to breast development and lactation) and experts stated that up to 70 percent of gynecomastia childhood events were found to be caused by Risperdal use.

May 27, 2016

Man faces lawsuit, criminal charges after wreck

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Deathly car accident A man with a history of drunk driving is facing four counts of criminally negligent homicide and a civil lawsuit after causing an accident that led to four deaths.

Benjamin Ledwell was driving a 2011 Ford F-250 on May 19, 2015 when he crossed the center line and struck a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander head on. The Chevrolet was consumed by flames immediately after the wreck. Four occupants of the Chevrolet died.

Attorney for the family quickly filed a lawsuit against Ledwell for his negligence and allegedly driving a vehicle under the influence.

May 27, 2016

Nexium Side Effects Trigger Lawsuits

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A recent medical study has shown that people who have taken Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI), such as Nexium, may be at an increased risk for chronic kidney disease.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that people who were taking the anti-ulcer medication Nexium may be 20 to 50 percent more likely to experience chronic kidney disease than those not taking the medication. The study indicated that taking the medication more than once daily or for longer periods of time, increased the risk.

Concerns about Nexium and other Proton Pump Inhibitor medications reach back to 2006 or before but the new results indicate that the risk of kidney failure is higher than previously thought. Researchers indicate that many patients taking the medications could have been discontinued without any adverse effects and that many prescriptions may have been given without a clear, medical diagnosis.

May 26, 2016

Nexium side effects lawsuit

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Since first introduced in 2001, patients from across the country have been using Nexium to treat chronic heartburn and related conditions. While patients may have been prepared to deal with the drug’s disclosed side effects such as dry mouth, abdominal pain, and headaches, most were not ready for the drug’s more serious side effects.

Nexium packaging and warning labels don’t list a high risk of developing kidney problems and dementia as possible side effects, yet several academic studies revealed taking Nexium for an extended period of time may lead to developing these conditions.

This omission by the makers of Nexium have triggered lawsuits across the country.

May 26, 2016

What to do when you’re in a car accident

by Dr. Shezad Malik

What to do in car accident Whenever you’re involved in a car accident, it is important you hire an experience attorney to represent your rights. Insurance companies are in the business of trying to minimize their pay-outs, which is why a competent attorney is crucial.

What to do immediately after an accident can sometimes be confusion. You might be asking yourself if you should contact your insurance provider to let them know you were involved in an accident. The answer is you shouldn’t call them. Why? The reason you don’t want to contact your insurance company is because they do not necessarily represent your best interest. As I mentioned above, they are more interested in minimizing their pay-outs.

The rule also applies to deciding when to contact the other person’s insurance company. Whether it was the other person’s fault or you are not sure, it is important that you do not contact the insurance company.

May 25, 2016

Hip replacement lawsuits on the rise

by Dr. Shezad Malik

When metal hips are used in hip replacement surgery, patients can suffer from implant failure, metallosis, bone death, dislocation, and other serious complications.

Many patients experience relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis and increased mobility. But, like other surgeries, hip replacement carries its own set of risks and complications that require immediate medical attention or even additional surgeries to treat. The type of implant may also increase the risk for certain complications. For example, studies show metal-on-metal implants have greater risk of loosening or early failure because metal particles released from the device may weaken nearby bone and tissue.

Popular brands of metal-on-metal hip implants include Smith & Nephew, Biomet M2a-Magnum, and DePuy ASR and Pinnacle.

May 25, 2016

Whole Foods Injury Lawsuit

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Whole Foods is one of the most popular stores in America, and its large volume of customers means that, inevitably, injuries occur on store premises.

If you slip and fall at Whole Foods, you should seek medical attention for any injury that’s obvious, or even if you just feel sore or a little “off.” You may need x-rays or other diagnostic tests to determine what your injuries are. It may take a day or two for the extent of your injuries to become apparent, and you will also want to follow up with your primary care physicians.

Abide by any restrictions your doctor may give you, such as limiting activity, not bearing weight on the affected area, or not doing any heavy lifting. Try to keep a journal or log about your treatment and how you feel on a daily basis, because some details may be hard for you to remember down the road during a lawsuit.

May 24, 2016

Faulty air bag lawsuit

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Air Bag Lawsuit The largest recall in U.S. automotive history is on the way after federal safety regulators expanded a nationwide recall of Takata’s air bags to 69 million vehicles made by more than 14 automakers.

The move by federal regulators comes after the 10^th fatality linked to Takata’s defective air bags was reported. Recently, a teenager named Huma Hanif was driving a Honda Civic when she ran into a car in front of her. The air bag ruptured upon deployment and sent a metal shard into her neck. She died at the scene, becoming the 10^th fatality linked to faulty air bags developed by the company Takata Corp.

The incident highlights some of the dangers associated with air bags. Although they have saved many lives, air bags have also caused some deaths since automakers began widely using them. In the 1990s, for example, 200 people died in accidents in which an air bag deployed with fatal force.

May 24, 2016

Why file a lawsuit against Risperdal?

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Risperdal is atypical antipsychotic that changes the effect of brain chemicals. The U.S. Department of Justice said that the makers of Risperdal illegally marketed drug to children. According to a former Johnson and Johnson sales manager, the company didn’t wait to obtain FDA approval before promoting its use for children.

During a Risperdal trial in Pennsylvania, a Johnson and Johnson sales manager admitted that the company trained salespeople to promote Risperdal to children as early as 2003. This was despite the fact that the drug was not approved for use by children.

This has led to a growing number of lawsuits against the company by several men who took the drug when they were children and developed male breasts, a condition known as Gynecomastia. Over the past few years, juries have awarded $2.5 million, $1.75 million, and $500,000 in cases filed in a Pennsylvania state court. Several other cases are expected to move forward in the next few months.

May 23, 2016

Dangerous dogs and lawsuits

by Dr. Shezad Malik

dallas dog attack attorney An increase number of dog bites across the country has led to increase number of lawsuits filed against dog owners. Some dog owners face specific penalties if their dog is considered a “dangerous” dog under local or state statute.

Dangerous or vicious dogs are sometimes identified by their breed. Dog breeds commonly considered by local and state lawmakers as dangerous or vicious breeds include pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf breed (husky), presa canarios, mastiff varieties, American bulldog, and doberman pinschers.

In other instances, such in Austin, Tx., a dog is labeled as “dangerous or vicious” not by its breed but instead by the individual dog’s history. In Austin, a dog that has attacked an animal or person without the dog being provoked could be labeled as a “dangerous dog.”