Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are medical implants used to help reduce the risk of fatal blood clots in high-risk individuals. These devices collect blood clot fragments from the bloodstream before they reach vital organs. Unfortunately, some IVC filter brands have been known to fracture, embolize, or migrate, which causes severe health risks and even death. Those who have recalled devices in their bodies must have corrective surgeries.
If you or a loved one have had an IVC filter implant and experienced subsequent complications or death, our legal team wants to help. Shook & Stone has a track record of success in personal injury cases, such as product defects, medical malpractice, and wrongful death, and we’re here to hold negligent manufacturers and doctors accountable for their actions.
Fill out our form today for a free case consultation with a capable mass torts attorney to see if you are eligible to join a Las Vegas IVC filter lawsuit.
About IVC Filters
Most IVC filters are temporary and are removed once they’ve caught the blood clot(s). Some manufacturers, however, have labeled their filters as permanent despite FDA warnings against using these devices for more than 54 days. Long-term use increases the likelihood of the filter moving, breaking, or embolizing. When this happens, the fractured device can travel to vital organs and cause fatal, inoperable injuries, including organ damage, stroke, heart attack, and more.
Irresponsible labeling and design are some of the elements that lead the victims of these devices to file a Las Vegas IVC filter lawsuit.
What Is an IVC Filter Lawsuit?
When you file a Las Vegas IVC filter lawsuit, you claim that you or a loved one experienced injuries for one or more of the following reasons:
- The IVC filter was defective by design
- The IVC filter had manufacturing defects
- The manufacturer showed negligence in failing to warn patients of the product risks
If you’re able to prove that one of the above points is true, you may be awarded compensation. The amount you get is contingent upon:
- Your ability to prove that the device caused your injury or disability
- The severity of your injuries
- How long you’ve had complications
- The amount of income you’ve lost because of your injuries
- The amount you’ve spent on treatment
Today, there are nearly 15,000 lawsuits against the two primary IVC filter manufacturers: Cook Medical and C.R. Bard. These companies, particularly C.R. Bard, demonstrated negligence in knowingly selling dangerous filters without enumerating product risks to doctors or patients. As such, thousands of people are holding them responsible for the harm these devices have done to them and their loved ones. When such is the case, the manufacturer is liable for the patient’s preventable pain, suffering, and/or death.
Why Should I File a Mass Tort IVC Filter Lawsuit?
IVC filter lawsuits are commonly combined into multidistrict litigations (MDLs) through the federal court. Mass torts allow you and your lawyer to team up with other lawyers and plaintiffs with similar injuries and strategize the best approach for a rock-solid case.
Mass tort lawsuits make it faster and easier to obtain compensation for your losses, and they also put fear into the hearts of irresponsible manufacturers. Manufacturers are always looking to avoid PR fiascos and protect their reputations. So, when they see companies like theirs losing millions upon millions of dollars for deceptive and dishonest business practices, it encourages them to correct their actions.
IVC Filters and Medical Malpractice
The manufacturers aren’t always the ones responsible when problems arise with an IVC filter. If a surgeon implants one of these devices improperly, they are then liable for the damage they’ve caused. The symptoms of IVC filter implantation malpractice are different than the ones we’ve discussed above. They can include one or more of the following:
- Low blood pressure
- Neck pain
- Lightheadedness
- Chest pain
- Arrhythmia
- Confusion
- Shortness of breath
When filing a lawsuit under medical malpractice, you’ll need plenty of evidence to build your case. Work with one of our expert attorneys to collect everything you need to prove your surgeon’s negligence.
Statute of Limitations for a Nevada IVC Filter Lawsuit
After you’ve discovered an injury from an IVC filter, do not wait longer than two years to file a lawsuit in Las Vegas. If you wait for the statute of limitations to pass, you won’t have a case anymore, regardless of how much evidence you have. Consult an IVC attorney the moment you suspect a product defect or medical malpractice.
How Can a Las Vegas IVC Filter Lawsuit Attorney Help Me?
While Las Vegas IVC filter lawsuits are litigated in civil court rather than criminal court, they enable you to lay hold on the money you need to cover your losses. If you are the victim of an IVC filter defect or you’ve lost a loved one due to the negligence of a doctor or manufacturer, you deserve justice.
When it comes to bringing lawsuits against IVC filter companies, you need the very best legal guidance to help you establish damages and causation, to gather sufficient evidence, and to give you strong representation in the courtroom. Shook & Stone is here for you during this difficult time. Contact us today for a case consultation to get on the road to recovery.
