Practice Areas

• Defective Drugs
• Automobile Accidents
• Workers' Compensation
• Disability Insurance - ERISA
• Social Security Disability
• Veterans Disability
• Nursing Home Neglect
• Medical Malpractice & Negligence
• Accident Attorney
• Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
• Insurance Disputes

Blog

News

Library

North Carolina Legal News

AU Federal Court: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Doubles Heart Attack Risk

Problems continue to mount for drug maker Merck, who is now fighting a number of international legal battles regarding their defective arthritis drug Vioxx, which was taken off of the market amid controversy in 2004. Most recently, an Australian court has found Vioxx liable for one man’s heart attack and Merck could end up paying millions to 500 participants in a larger class action lawsuit. In this latest court decision, Graeme Peterson has been awarded $287,000 compensation after suffering a heart attack while taking the drug for arthritis pain.

Vioxx was an anti-inflammatory drug and COX-2 inhibitor that was touted when first release in 1999 for helping patients with arthritis and other chronic pain without the common stomach problem side effects. At its height, 80 million people worldwide were taking Vioxx and it was one of the most popular choices for treating a range of chronic pain issues in patients.

However, in 2004, a study was released showing that the arthritis drug doubled the chances of heart attack, making it the most widely-used prescription drug ever to be pulled off of the market for being defective. After the drug was deemed dangerous, Merck faced thousands of wrongful death lawsuits and product liability lawsuits as well as thousands of class action lawsuits around the world.

Merck made $2.4 billion off of their drug Vioxx in the year before it was removed from the market. However, they have paid billions in legal fees and settlements in the years following the drug recall.

Read More About AU Federal Court: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Doubles Heart Attack Risk...

back to top

Free Case Review

Brenton D. Adams View lawyer's profile

How To Get Top Dollar For Your Workers' Compensation Claim

Get my FREE Book NOW!

Ten Costly Mistakes That Can Wreck Your North Carolina Case

Get my FREE Book NOW!

The Truth About Lawyer Advertising

Get my FREE Book NOW!

Compensation Calculator

Get my FREE Book NOW!

Videos

Automobile Accidents:

How Do My Previous Injuries From an Auto Accident Affect My Current Claim?

Will Slight Damage to My Car Affect My Personal Injury Claim?

Car Accident Passenger has Spine Destroyed - Paralyzed From Chest Down

Workers' Compensation:

If You've Been Injured On The Job In North Carolina, Brent Adams And Associates Can Help You Get Workers Comp

What Happens When You're Injured at Work Due to a Third Party? NC Attorney Brent Adams Explains

What if Your On The Job Injury was Your Fault? NC Attorney Brent Adams Explains

Medical Malpractice & Negligence:

North Carolina Death Due to Botched Surgery

North Carolina Medical Malpractice: Cataract Surgery Gone Wrong

What Does a Patient Need to do Before Filing Suit in North Carolina?

Accident Attorney:

Secrets North Carolina Hospitals Don't Want You To Know

NC Injury Lawyer: Do You Use Health Insurance to Pay Accident Medicals?

NC Personal Injury Lawyer Explains Trip & Fall on a Jetway

Insurance Disputes:

NC Attorney Brent Adams Explains What Happens When There is not Enough Insurance

North Carolina Attorney Brent Adams: The Insurance Company is NOT on Your Side

NC Attorney Brent Adams: Don't Sign Anything From an Insurance Adjuster Before Talking to a Lawyer

General:

One Thing You Should Never Say After a Car Wreck

How Much Can You Receive for Your Personal Injury Claim?

What Medical Bills Can You Recover for Your Personal Injury Claim?

more

FAQs

Workers' Compensation

• Will I be followed by a private detective after I make my workers compensation claim?
• Should I settle my case without the assistance of an experienced NC workers compensation lawyer?
• Are the vocational counselors assigned to injured workers by the insurance company interested in my welfare?
• How do you file a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Labor?
• If my doctor assigns me work restrictions which limits what I can do at work such as the amount of weight I can lift and whether I can bend and stoop, should I work outside of those restrictions when I return to work?
• Am I entitled to a second opinion on the issue of the nature and extent of my disability by a doctor of my choice?
• What is my workers’ compensation rate or my “comp rate”?
• Can I recover money for my pain and suffering involved with my on the job injury?
• Am I entitled to a jury trial to decide my workers’ compensation case?
• Is it necessary for me to be a United States citizen in order to collect workers’ compensation benefits?

Social Security Disability

• How can I get Social Security disability in North Carolina?
• How do I apply for Social Security disability in North Carolina?
• I live in Raleigh, and I'd like to know what is Social Security disability?
• Should I file a claim for social security benefits?
• I am only in my 20s. Last month I received personal injuries in a vehicular accident and am now unable to work. Is there a certain age I must be to receive benefits from Social Security disability?
• I'm receiving benefits from Social Security disability for myself, my wife and my son based on my severe disability. I also have a daughter by my ex-wife who used to receive child support from me when I was still able to work. Now that I'm disabled, can my daughter receive benefits too?

Veterans Disability

• I'm a veteran in North Carolina; how are disability ratings determined for veterans?

General

• Do I have to pay income tax on amounts I recover from my personal injury claims?
• Q: I haven't worked with asbestos for twenty years. Do I still have a workers' compensation claim if I get sick?
• Do I have a claim against the manufacturer of the asbestos products that caused my disease even if I as exposed long ago?
• What if I was injured by exposure to asbestos in my home? Do I have a claim if I never worked with asbestos? What kind of products should I worry about?
• Do I qualify for disability benefits under my union pension plan?
• How do these claims work together? Can I get all of the benefits at the same time, or do they offset each other?

more