When a person is harmed as a result of breast implant surgery, they have the right to pursue financial compensation for the damage that they suffered. However, most victims are unsure about the breast implant lawsuit process.
In the past few decades, hundreds of people with breast implants have been diagnosed with diseases related to faulty implants. For instance, many patients developed a form of cancer known as anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
In some instances, this disease can be fatal. As a result of these faulty breast implants, a class action lawsuit in the 1990s resulted in a $4 billion settlement. There were over 450,000 victims involved in the mass action suit.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by faulty breast implants, the skilled team at Morgan & Morgan can help you pursue financial recovery. You may have a valid claim against the manufacturer of the harmful breast implants.
Do not hesitate. to learn more about the breast implant lawsuit process. Complete our online contact form to schedule a free legal consultation today.
Product Liability Cases for Faulty Breast Implants
Most defective breast implant lawsuits seek financial compensation for the victim from the manufacturer. This means that breast implant suits are typically categorized as product liability cases.
There are several types of product liability claims. These include:
- Strict liability
- Breach of express or implied warranty
- Negligence
- Fraud
- Failure to warn
Strict liability is one of the most common types of product liability claims.
Strict Liability
The legal concept of “strict liability” means that the seller, distributor, or manufacturer can be held liable for the damage their product causes.
The liability is “strict” because the manufacturer can be held accountable even without any evidence of negligence. The defendant’s behavior does not affect a strict liability claim.
If the faulty product caused harm, the responsible party can be held liable. With a strict liability approach, the breast implant lawsuit process involves three elements.
For a successful strict liability suit, the plaintiff must prove that:
- The product was unreasonably unsafe when manufactured or sold
- The product was intended to reach the consumer without changes
- The claimant suffered harm because they used the product
As you can see, none of these elements of strict liability involve the defendant engaging in a wrongful action. In the case of breast implants, the victim only needs to prove that the implants caused them harm.
If the defendant can show that the claimant’s actions contributed to the harm, the strict liability case might fail. The same is true if the defendant can show that some other event or person was the actual cause of the injury.
When you , we will thoroughly examine the facts of your case. Our legal experts will guide you through all of the elements of the breast injury lawsuit process.
Failure to Warn and Fraud
A failure to warn claim has to show that the manufacturer should have known about the risks presented by the breast implant. If the company should have known and failed to adequately warn customers, they can be held accountable.
Warnings for potentially dangerous products must be conspicuous. In other words, an average user of the product must be aware of the potential risks.
This type of claim is especially strong if the plaintiff can prove that the manufacturer knew about the possible danger. In some cases, proving knowledge of the inherent risk can lead to a fraud claim.
Breach of Warranty
Product warranties can be either expressed or implied. A warranty is an assurance that a product will adhere to certain quality standards or perform a particular function.
Express warranties are explicitly stated by the manufacturer. Implied warranties are expectations that a product will meet reasonable standards of quality for its intended use.
When breast implants are faulty, the person harmed by them may claim a breach of warranty. Breast implants may breach their warranty when they:
- Rupture
- Deform over time
- Leak
- And more
If you have experienced any of these malfunctions, you may be able to pursue a breach of warranty claim. A defective product attorney can help you to seek the financial recovery that you need after sustaining an injury from defective breast implants.
Negligence
The breast implant lawsuit process can also rely on a claim of the manufacturer’s negligence. However, strict liability claims are typically intended to replace claims of negligence in cases of faulty products.
Only a few states allow victims to file negligence claims in response to injuries from faulty products like breast implants. Negligence cases involve four primary elements.
In these cases, the claimant must prove the following:
- The manufacturer owed a duty of care to the consumer
- The manufacturer breached their duty of reasonable care
- This breach was the only or primary cause of harm
- The plaintiff sustained actual harm from the product
The skilled legal professionals at Morgan & Morgan have decades of experience in securing compensation from negligence cases. To better understand the breast implant lawsuit process, reach out to our firm today.
Breast Implant Lawsuit Process Example
To better understand the breast implant lawsuit process, consider the following example.
Suppose that a patient received breast implants following a double mastectomy. After several years, the patient was diagnosed with a disease that affected her connective tissue. Complications with her implants led her to have them surgically removed.
Upon removal, the surgeon discovered that her breast implants had ruptured. This caused silicone to leak into the area surrounding the implants.
When the victim reached out to the manufacturer, they denied responsibility. After contacting a product liability lawyer, the victim found evidence that the manufacturing company was aware that their implants had a tendency to leak.
After learning this, the victim pursued a product liability suit against the breast implant manufacturer. The manufacturer understood the risks of their product, but they failed to warn the victim of the inherent risks.
As a result, the injured victim received $800,000 in compensation for the harm that she suffered.
Additional punitive damages were also awarded. “Punitive damages” are payments made by the liable party. They are intended to punish a party for their wrongful actions.
If you believe that the manufacturer of your breast implants is at fault for harm that you have suffered, do not hesitate. .
As America’s largest personal injury firm, we have the skills and experience to secure the financial recovery that you are owed.
Suing a Negligent Breast Implant Surgeon
Product liability claims are not the only lawsuits that relate to breast implantation. Some plaintiffs are the victims of negligent surgeons and can pursue damages for the losses that they have sustained.
This type of breast implant lawsuit relies on the legal standard of negligence. A plaintiff would need to prove that their surgeon behaved carelessly in a way that caused them harm.
Specifically, this type of claim would be categorized as a medical malpractice suit. Medical service providers have a duty to provide reliable and reasonably safe care to their patients.
If a surgeon’s performance was substandard and resulted in harm to the patient, the victim can pursue a medical malpractice claim. The charge of medical malpractice can be leveled against any person involved in the surgical procedure, including:
- Surgeons
- Nurses
- Anesthesiologists
- Other medical care providers
Surgeons can engage in medical malpractice before, during, or after breast implant surgery.
To prove that a surgeon was medically negligent, the plaintiff needs to show that another medical professional would have behaved differently under the same circ*mstances.
If a similarly trained surgeon would have taken more competent actions in a similar situation, the victim has experienced medical negligence.
Whether you have sustained damage because of faulty breast implants or medical malpractice, you deserve justice.
When you reach out to the specialists at Morgan & Morgan, we will thoroughly assess your breast implant claim to determine liability in your case.
