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(314) 500-HURTWhen pursuing an opioid death or overdose case, time is of the essence. Families who wait to pursue a potential claim may do so for a number of reasons. Burger Law has compiled a list of the Top 10 Mistakes Made in Opioid Overdose Cases. The attorneys at Burger Law have successfully recovered millions of dollars to compensate injury victims. Gary Burger and other lawers at his firm are experienced in winning injury and wrongful death cases involving product liability, negligence, consumer
fraud and injuries and addiction caused by the negligence of doctors and pharmaceutical or drug manufacturers. If you’ve
or someone you love has fallen victim to addiction, dependence, overdose, or death because of prescribed opioid
medication, allow Gary Burger and associates to represent your case.
1. They let their medical malpractice or products liability claim expire
The statute of limitations period for medical malpractice and products liability is typically set by the state where the
malpractice occurred. In Missouri, the statute for medical malpractice is typically 2 years. The products liability
statute of limitations is 5 years in Missouri.
2. They continue to place trust in their doctor when something feels wrong
It’s important to actively participate in your healthcare by asking your doctor questions. Sometimes patients feel
intimidated by their doctor or they assume that their doctor always knows what’s best. But if the doctor is making
decisions that are not in the best interest of the patient, then this can have devastating results.
3. They hold doctors accountable, but not the prescription manufacturers
Sometimes patients realize that the doctor was overprescribing opioid medication and they want to hold that doctor
accountable. But it’s also important to realize that drug manufacturers who failed to adequately warn patients of the
addictive potential of opioid medication should also be held accountable for profiting from millions of uninformed or
misinformed consumer-patients.
4. They don’t get good legal advice from the right lawyer
Not every lawyer is prepared to take an opioid case. It’s important to find a lawyer who knows the relevant issues and
can answer the important questions. At Burger Law, we are prepared to inform you of the strengths and weaknesses of your
case.
5. They don’t understand that opiate abuse has become an epidemic in the United States
According to the CDC and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, “Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental
death in the US, with 52,404 lethal drug overdoses in 2015. Opioid addiction is driving this epidemic, with 20,101
overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers, and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin in 2015.” American Society of Addiction Medicine.
6. They don’t understand that over-prescribing opiates results in profitable revenue
Sometimes the explanation for overprescribing patients is as simple as dollars and cents. The more required patient
visits for opioid prescriptions, the more revenue doctors will earn.
7. They begin experimenting with other addictive substances
Opioid dependency doesn’t usually stop with prescription medication. The greater the addiction becomes, the more likely
a patient will seek dangerous alternatives- this can lead to experimentation with opioid substitutes like heroin.
8. They think that over-consuming prescription medication is ok because it is legal
Just because the FDA approves prescription medication for distribution to consumers, does not mean that the medication
is entirely safe or that it cannot be abused.
9. They believe that alternative pain therapies won’t help them
Once dependency on opioid prescriptions has developed, patients often convince themselves that other treatment options
are unavailable or unable to relieve them of their symptoms.
10. They don’t seek a second opinion from a different provider
Most doctors are responsible professionals who look out for their patients. But doctors are people too, and people can
make mistakes. When given an opinion or diagnosis from their primary care doctor, patients won’t always seek out a
second opinion for serious pain related symptoms.
1. American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Types of Opioid Death / Wrongful Death Claims
If your doctor has prescribed you or a loved one an opioid medication for a prolonged period of time to treat pain, and
especially chronic pain, you may have a claim for consumer fraud, medical malpractice, product liability, a
Merchandising Practices Act claim, negligence, or wrongful death. Some of the most common opioid medications prescribed
for pain are fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, or methadone. Some of the common brand names are
Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Hysingla, Butrans, Duragesic, Nucynta, Opana.
To get started on your free case evaluation, contact the personal injury lawyers at Burger Law by calling (314) 542-2222
or completing our online contact form. You can also view more information by visting our Opioid Death Lawyer website.
Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO
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