Chicago Lipitor Injury Lawyers

In practice for more than 40 years, GWC Injury Lawyers is one of Illinois’ leading personal injury law firms. Some of the states most vulnerable citizens have turned to the firm in their time of need for excellent legal assistance.

Our commitment to client service is only surpassed by our commitment to justice. $2 billion in settlements and judgments later, we have built a powerhouse team of aggressive trial lawyers who are always prepared to take on the world’s largest companies.

An aggressive and experienced dangerous drug law firm is necessary to take on Pfizer, which happens to be one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world. A successful Lipitor lawsuit can help you and your family recover financial compensation that covers:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Rehabilitation costs
• Prescription medication
• Lost time at work
• Vocational retraining
• Emotional distress

Patients who have been injured by Lipitor report substantial pain and suffering as the very drug that was supposed to help and heal them instead causes serious and, at times, permanent harm.

Statins are a class of popular cholesterol groups, and Lipitor is the most widely prescribed statin drug on the market. Statins are prescribed to patients who suffer from elevated levels of cholesterol. Unfortunately, instead of helping patients live more healthy lives, the drug has caused dangerous illnesses.

Lipitor prescriptions and use pose serious medical and health risks to patients. The drug has been associated with mild, moderate, and severe side effects, ranging from simple headaches to Type II diabetes.

Dangerous symptoms and conditions that arise from Lipitor include:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Nausea
• Coma
• Kidney damage
• Type II diabetes
• Severe liver damage
• Internal blood clots

Statins such as Lipitor increase the risk of Type II diabetes. Type II diabetes is a condition which affects a patient’s ability to produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a natural hormone that helps humans maintain their weight and convert food into glucose, which is then used for energy.

Compelling medical studies have demonstrated the link between the use of Lipitor and the increased risk of developing Type II diabetes. Indeed, they were so persuasive that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instructed Pfizer to warn patients and medical professionals about the diabetes link in updated warning labels.

Lipitor is said to contribute to the development of Type II diabetes by raising the blood glucose levels of patients. As blood sugar levels rise, patients take on a greater risk for hypertension and/or stroke.

Patients who are taking Lipitor should watch out for the following symptoms that indicate the onset of Type II diabetes, including:

• Frequent urination
• Frequent thirst
• Unexplained and rapid weight loss
• Blurry vision
• Inability to concentrate
• Numbness in fingers, toes, hands, or feet

Patients who display any of the listed symptoms should immediately consult a medical provider to determine whether additional tests need to be run.

Women who have already gone through menopause or are already overweight may be especially susceptible to the development of diabetes.

Despite the serious complications and health risks associated with Lipitor, patients should not stop taking Lipitor without first consulting a doctor.

More than 1,600 Lipitor lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation proceedings, with the first trials set for October 2015.

The cases have been consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina for the Charleston division. Attorneys for the plaintiffs are arguing that Pfizer should be liable for injuries to patients because the company:

• Knew or should have known about the dangerous risks and side effects
• Recklessly and negligently marketed the product
• Failed to provide adequate warnings

There are a number of legal issues involved in the Pfizer Lipitor lawsuits. There are personal injury claims, product liability claims, and wrongful death claims from patients who have been injured by the popular cholesterol-lowering drug.

Additionally, some plaintiffs’ attorneys have argued that the company engaged in fraud and misrepresentation and breached its duties to protect consumers.