What Compensation Can Zantac Cancer Victims Seek?

Thursday, November 18, 2021

What Compensation Can Zantac Cancer Victims Seek?

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and various federal and state agencies are there to ensure that the medications that Americans take are safe. The agencies investigate potential health risks in all pharmaceuticals and make their recommendations to the public based on the best available evidence.

If you experienced health problems caused by Zantac or “ranitidine” (the generic counterpart to or active ingredient in Zantac) and have decided to sue, you are probably wondering about how much your case is worth. The best way to know this is to meet with a Chicago Zantac lawyer.

It is not easy to put a dollar value on a cancer diagnosis or some other harm caused by this popular heartburn/acid reflux medication. However, the information that follows should give you a general idea as to what to expect in compensation should your lawsuit be successful.

Calculating Damages in a Zantac (Ranitidine) Case

Determining the value of a claim regarding the safety of Zantac or ranitidine begins with understanding and figuring out the nature and extent of the injured person’s “damages,” which is a legal term that refers to compensation that an injured person should receive for losses they suffered because of the injury.

The person who caused the injury is the one who must pay the damages either on their own or, as is often the case, through their insurance provider. In a Zantac case, the defendant who is required to pay damages when the damages have been proven is typically a pharmaceutical company like GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, or Sanofi, all of which manufacture Zantac and other ranitidine products, but it is also possible to successfully sue others in the supply chain.

Damages are secured in either of two ways: having an out-of-court settlement of your case with the pharmaceutical company and others you are suing or taking the case to court and having a judge or jury award you the compensation after a successful trial.

The following are some of the common types of damages obtained for those who have been injured or suffered harm using a recalled product like Zantac:

Cost of Past and Future Medical Care

Once you have established your case for compensation for the harm you have suffered using Zantac, you are entitled to receive compensation for your injury that includes any medical treatment you have received to date because of health problems related to your use of the product, as well as the costs for any care you will need in the future.

Lost Income and Diminished Earning Capacity

You are entitled to compensation as damages for any income you’ve already lost—and for the income, you would have earned in the future but now won’t—due to your Zantac-related health issues.

Compensation for Pain and Suffering

Although economic losses such as medical bills and lost income are easy to calculate, “pain and suffering” is not as easy to calculate. However, compensation for pain and suffering is provided for under personal injury law and is a big part in determining how much in total you can expect to receive in an injury case.

Consult with a Chicago Zantac Lawyer Today

If you experienced health problems caused by Zantac or ranitidine and want to know what your options are, contact Malman Law today for a free consultation.