It is estimated by the CDC that more than 70,000 opioid overdoses caused the death of opioid victims in 2017, a figure that makes opioid overdose a leading cause of death in the United States.
According to additional data provided by the CDC, it is estimated that around 40 Americans die because of opioid overdose every day. These figures have skyrocketed and the likelihood of opioid overdose has only increased since the turn of the century.
At The Ledger Law Firm, our nationally recognized personal injury law firm represents surviving loved ones who have lost a family member to the devastation and harms of opioid addiction. Seeking compensation for an opioid addiction death costs you nothing other than the time it takes to speak with a Ledger Law opioid attorney in the pursuit of justice for your departed loved one.
If the following factors were involved in the loss of your loved one, legal action may be warranted against the responsible parties.
Overprescribed Opioid Medication
According to CNBC reporting, Americans consume the overwhelming majority of the world’s prescription opioids. In fact, four out of every five prescribed opioid drugs worldwide are consumed by Americans, despite making up just five percent of the world’s population.
Research suggests that overprescribing opioids is a major contributing factor to the opioid epidemic. Particularly, studies have suggested that surgeons are most notable for a needed change in prescription behavior.
It is also estimated that as much as 20 percent of prescribed opioid bills are taken for reasons that are nonmedical, and approximately 65 percent of heroin users admit to using prescription opioids prior to ever taking heroin.
For these reasons, it is now frequently recommended that surgeons and physicians prescribe fewer opioid pills or even prescribing medication that is not an opioid altogether.
If overprescribing opioid pills led to your loved one’s passing, The Ledger Law Firm will fully investigate your claim to hold all legally responsible parties accountable.
Drug Manufacturers and Distributors May Also Bear Legal Responsibility
26 lawsuits are currently, at the time of writing, being brought against opioid drugmakers for deceptive marketing that, according to the lawsuits, caused widespread fraud that wrongly downplayed the risk of opioid addiction.
Similarly, other lawsuits have sued opioid distributors for failing to meet legal requirements that would prevent controlled substances like opioids from being misused for unlawful purposes.
Depending on the facts of your claim, it may make the most sense to bring legal action against these manufacturers and distributors for the loss of your loved one.
Common opioids that are prescribed and have been involved in recent litigation include:
- Oxycodone
- Methadone
- Hydrocodone
- Morphine
- Fentanyl
- Propoxyphene
- Hydromorphone
If one of these classes of opioids were involved in your loved one’s opioid overdose, talk to a Ledger Law opioid overdose attorney at our firm. Please note that whether your loved one obtained opioids illegally after an overprescribed prescription or similar legal wrongdoing does not bar your legal claim.
We will fully investigate the facts of your claim in an effort to provide you with the justice that is owed. No amount of legal justice or deserved compensation can bring your loved one back after being introduced to the dangers of opioids, but The Ledger Law Firm is committed to delivering the justice and closure your family deserves.
Contact us online today for a free case evaluation to discuss your legal claim today.
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