How to Pursue a Hip Replacement Lawsuit

Many people in Arkansas and Oklahoma sustain injuries or musculoskeletal disorders that cause them to undergo hip replacement surgery. Unfortunately, however, some people experience problems from the hip replacements they receive. Some people suffer infections, loose replacements, dislocated replacements, or metal poisoning because of defective hip replacements. If you have experienced these types of issues following hip replacement surgery, you might be able to pursue compensation through a hip replacement lawsuit. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Craig L. Cook can examine the evidence and explain whether you might have a claim.

Hip Replacement Lawsuit: Defects in Artificial Hips

Hip replacements are meant to replace your hip’s ball-and-socket joint. Most implants are comprised of artificial balls that fit inside of cups. Metal hip replacements include balls and cups constructed from metal, and many are made out of cobalt and chromium. While metal-on-metal hip replacements might be more durable than plastic or ceramic hip replacements, they have also been linked to serious complications.

Some of the complications that can occur with metal-on-metal hip replacements have led to several recalls by different manufacturers, including DePuy Orthopaedics and its ASR hip replacement in 2010. Metal hip replacements can also cause debris to be released into the body because of friction. Called metallosis, this condition can result in severe pain, swelling, and blood poisoning.

Liability in a Hip Replacement Lawsuit

Many people have filed hip replacement lawsuits after suffering complications from their hip replacements. These lawsuits have been filed against several manufacturers of hip replacements, including DePuy, Biomet, and Stryker. In a hip replacement lawsuit, you will need to prove that your hip replacement contained a manufacturing or design defect or that the manufacturer provided inadequate warnings about the risks of the implant.

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of defective hip replacements. Implants with design flaws have failed and led to metallosis in many patients. Some people have had to undergo second revision surgeries to replace failed implants. Others have argued that the manufacturers did not provide sufficient warnings about the dangers associated with their metal hip replacements.

Multidistrict Litigation

Many lawsuits have been filed across the U.S. These lawsuits have been filed in state courts as individual claims and in federal court as multi-district litigation. Multi-district litigation includes cases sharing common factual issues that are heard by one judge before they go to trial. This allows plaintiffs to have their cases proceed more quickly without giving up their rights to individual compensation for their injuries. When the cases reach the trial phase, they will be heard in the courts in which they were initially filed.

The injuries people might suffer from defective hip replacements can greatly vary, meaning the damages that might be available will also differ from case to case. Pursuing a lawsuit for your injuries from a defective hip implant might entitle you to recover compensation for your losses. An experienced attorney can help you determine whether a claim should be filed in state or federal court and help you through the process.

Most hip implant lawsuits are filed against the manufacturers. However, a claim might be filed as a medical malpractice claim if the surgeon committed a medical error during surgery. In that situation, an attorney might file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the surgeon because their medical negligence caused the patient’s injuries instead of the implant itself.

Consult an Attorney Today

Thousands of people across the U.S. have suffered complications from defective hip implants. If you have developed complications from your hip implant or have had to undergo revision surgery, you should consult an attorney at the Law Offices of Craig L. Cook as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation, please call 479-783-8000 (Fort Smith), 918-912-2132 (Tulsa), or 479-455-2210 (Fayetteville) or send us a message online.