Ventilators are assistive breathing devices, which function much like a bellows. They allow healthcare practitioners to move specific amounts of air in and out of your lungs. This allows patients to breathe when their bodies otherwise could not function.
As patients, we rely on healthcare facilities to have working ventilators. Covidien, LP has recently recalled their Puritan Bennett 980 Series Ventilator due to a manufacturing defect. This is a Class I recall by the FDA, which is considered the most serious type of recall. If you have reason to believe that you or a loved one were harmed by a malfunctioning ventilator, call a personal injury attorney right away. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills and other associated expenses.
The recall
According to the FDA, the recall is due to a “a capacitor manufacturing assembly error that may cause the ventilator to become inoperable or stop working as intended. If this occurs, it could result in the loss of ventilation and serious adverse events such as hypercarbia (an increase of carbon dioxide in the blood), hypoxemia (an abnormally low amount of oxygen in the bloodstream), neurological injury or death.”
To date, there has been one death, six complaints and no injuries associated with the ventilators.
These ventilators were distributed between February 2017 to April 2020. There are 135 ventilators recalled total.
Why you need an attorney
If you or a loved one were also affected by the malfunctioning ventilators, a personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve. Depending on the circumstances of your case, your lawyer may be able to represent you in a products liability lawsuit. This is a type of negligence claim, which asserts that manufacturers have created a defective product. In turn, the defective product caused injury to the plaintiff.
Products liability lawsuits can help you recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, inability to do activities you once enjoyed and more. If your lawsuit is successful, you may be awarded both economic and noneconomic damages. The key is that the plaintiff suffered actual harm, rather than simply being treated by one of the recalled devices.
While products liability claims can be difficult to prove, a seasoned attorney will know the best ways to present your case. Make sure to call a lawyer before the statute of limitation runs out.
Discuss your case with an Ohio products liability lawyer
When you’re harmed as a result of a defective product, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. If you have a case, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call me today at 877-614-9524 for a consultation, and we’ll work to get what you deserve.
