Each year, many patients opt to receive hip implants to reduce pain and increase mobility. When these devices fail, patients can suffer significant physical pain and discomfort. Many people experience long-term health effects, compromised quality of life, and the financial burdens of massive medical expenses. But a hip replacement lawyer at Bisnar Chase can help.
Filing a lawsuit against the company responsible for the defective device is often the best way to receive fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, suffering, and other related damages.
The experienced California defective medical device lawyers at Bisnar Chase represent those seriously injured due to faulty medical devices, including faulty hip implants. We have what it takes to fight against large corporations and help injured victims and their families.
Many patients find that their hip implants are defective and begin to experience severe side effects and complications after surgery. Some problems may occur straight away, while others may take years to surface. You can do everything right, diligently working on your recovery, and still suffer devastating pain through no fault of your own.
Contact our hip replacement law firm to secure fair and full compensation for your experience and losses. Call (800) 561-4887 or use our live chat for a free, comprehensive, and confidential consultation with no obligations.
Defective Hip Implant Legal Resources
- About Artificial Hip Implants
- What Makes a Hip Implant Defective?
- Faulty Hip Replacement Recalls
- Hip Replacement Statistics
- Revision Surgeries for Hip Failures
- Why Hire Bisnar Chase for Your Hip Replacement Case?
- Types of Defective Hip Complications
- What is Your Hip Implant Case Worth?
- The Statute of Limitations on Hip Replacement Cases
- Hip Replacement Lawsuit FAQs
- Hip Implant Litigation: Verdicts and Settlements
- Finding the Best Hip Replacement Attorney Near Me
About Artificial Hip Implants
A hip replacement surgery is a procedure that removes old and damaged portions of a hip joint and replaces them with artificial implants. The replacement implants should last at least 10 years, with more than half lasting over 25 years.
The hip joint is a ball and socket. The ball (called the femoral head) is at the top of the thigh bone. It slots into a socket (the acetabulum) in the pelvis, connecting the leg to the pelvis.
This joint gives us excellent mobility when it is working correctly. However, serious problems arise as we get older or through certain conditions. Most people get hip replacements due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteonecrosis, bone tumors, and natural wear and tear.
For example, people suffering from osteoarthritis will experience discomfort as their hip socket cartilage breaks down. As a result of these conditions, patients can struggle with mobility and pain, even when they are not on their feet.
A hip replacement can fix these issues. The procedure involves replacing the old ball and socket with new artificial implants made from metal, ultra-hard plastic, or ceramic. A metal hip is the most common device. A stem will be inserted into the thigh bone and attached to a ball implant. The ball will slot into a new socket implant.
This is a common surgery, with millions of Americans sporting artificial hips. But it is not always problem-free. In some cases, implants are defective and cause further issues.
If this happens to you, contact top-rated hip replacement lawyers nearby. When looking for an attorney for a hip replacement fault, look no further than Bisnar Chase. We have decades of experience and a 99% success rate.
What Makes a Hip Implant Defective?
There are several different reasons why a hip replacement implant could be considered defective.
A defective device is likely to involve:
A design flaw
Missing components
Poor quality materials
Manufacturing errors
Our law firm focuses mainly on product defects cases rather than surgeon errors and medical malpractice.
Manufacturers and authorities may also issue hip implant recalls due to instruction, warning, or labeling issues.
Design and manufacturing defects in hip implants can lead to dangerous side effects. For example, a faulty implant could break apart within the body. It could also fail or move out of position.
One example of a dangerous hip replacement defect is a condition called metallosis. This condition occurs in some patients fitted with metal hip implants. If the metal hip replacement device is poorly designed or constructed, it can cause an abrasive impact between the metal ball and socket.
When metallosis occurs in metal hip implants, chromium or cobalt is produced and can enter the patient’s blood, causing dangerous issues.
Blood poisoning due to metallosis is just one of many examples of dangerous hip defect issues. If you were left in pain and discomfort by a failing implant, contact the hip replacement attorneys at Bisnar Chase to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. We offer a free case review and are ready for your call.
Faulty Hip Implant Recalls
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for investigating medical devices and issuing recalls when necessary. These include everything from hip implants to pelvic mesh cases. When the FDA discovers a problem, order a mandatory recall. The recall might come from the manufacturer or the FDA itself.
Please note that medical manufacturers consistently innovate and develop new hip implant products. New companies and products will always emerge. But some of the top hip implant companies producing devices for patients across the U.S. include:
DePuy
Smith & Nephew
Stryker
Zimmer
Biomet
Wright Medical
Exactech
If you have a hip implant that has defects causing you problems, you should check its recall status or if there are any reported issues. No matter who built your implant, whether it was one of the manufacturers listed above or not, we can help.
You can check the recall status of a metal hip implant by referring to the FDA website or by contacting Bisnar Chase to learn more about your legal options.
You should work with a law firm with hip replacement lawyers who have dealt with cases like yours and won. Contact Bisnar Chase today for a free consultation.
Hip Replacement Statistics
Hip implant surgeries are among the most common and popular structural medical procedures in the U.S. In many cases, they do exactly what they are supposed to. They improve a patient’s mobility and relieve pain.
But there are thousands of cases involving faulty devices that have caused patients further pain. The following are just some of the key statistics relating to metal hip implants:
There are now more than 450,000 hip replacement surgeries in the United States every year.
The number of hip replacement procedures performed each year has skyrocketed by 224%.
Most hip replacements involve people aged 50-80.
The life span of a hip implant will vary by circumstances. Expect them to last at least 15 years. Many effective devices work well for 25-35 years.
The success rate for hip implants is in the 90% range for the first 10 years. This percentage is high but still means that thousands of patients suffer from failing implants every year.
An estimated 2.5 million people currently live with hip implants in the U.S.
Patients require hip revision surgeries for various reasons in a shocking 18% of cases.
When a faulty implant device or component causes severe side effects for a patient, they need to work with experienced hip replacement attorneys who have a successful track record in taking on medical device manufacturers.
Revision Surgeries for Hip Failures
If you are experiencing pain, discomfort, and swelling in your hip after receiving an implant, you should speak to your doctor right away. These symptoms might occur soon after a metal hip implant surgery. In other cases, it might be months or years down the line. Your doctor may suggest an additional hip replacement surgery known as revision surgery to fix the problem.
You may need hip revision surgery if your implant is not working correctly. It involves further surgery to replace the original faulty parts. Some victims of defective hip implants require multiple surgeries to correct the issue.
For many, revision surgery is even more complicated than the initial surgery because there is less bone and more scar tissue for surgeons to deal with. Therefore, the surgery may be more expensive, and the recovery time might be even longer than the original procedure.
With a revision surgery for a metal hip replacement, the process might be slightly different for the surgeon. They may only have to replace some parts if specific components are defective. In other cases, they will do a total revision.
Specialized implant devices can compensate for the extra damage and scar tissue in revision surgeries. For example, metal hip implants made for revision surgeries might have adjusted stems to adapt to the different environments. Again, this can produce extra costs.
Why Hire Bisnar Chase for Your Hip Replacement Case?
There are plenty of personal injury law firms in California. But not all firms offer the level of care, support, and expertise you should expect.
At Bisnar Chase, our mission is to provide superior representation to clients across California while making our world safer.
That includes holding medical device manufacturers accountable for producing shoddy hip replacement products and putting patients at risk.
Our law firm has a 99% success rate and has been in business since 1978. We have helped thousands of clients receive maximum compensation.
The following are just a few of the factors that set us apart from other firms:
We keep in contact with our clients regularly. While some firms are hard to reach or get straight answers from, we promise to keep you involved.
We have the resources to take on the most challenging cases against major manufacturers.
Our team comprises top-rated trial lawyers. While other firms avoid trials at all costs, we have an excellent courtroom track record and will do whatever is required to get you the best outcome.
We offer a free initial consultation and advance the costs necessary to win your case. If we do not recover compensation for you, you will owe nothing.
Our attorneys have already won significant victories in hip replacement cases. We know what we’re doing in cases just like yours.
We take great pride in offering the best client experience with a personal touch.
Our attorneys routinely win the top possible settlements, maximizing the value of your case. We have won more than $700 million for our clients to date, and we are just getting started.
The hip replacement attorneys of Bisnar Chase give all clients expert support and representation. Contact us now.
Types of Defective Hip Complications
There are many inherent risks to installing a medical device inside your body. Even correctly designed and implanted devices can fail. Complications might cause soft tissue issues or cause more serious internal damage.
When there is an increased failure rate for one particular device, it could be defective. Common side effects of faulty hip replacement systems include swelling, pain, debris buildup, loosening, fractures, dislocations, and loss of mobility.
Faulty hip implants may cause:
Debris buildup: This is a particular issue in metal hip implants. Metal parts on hip implants can rub together, resulting in the discharge of small metallic particles into the bloodstream. This process often creates a higher level of blood toxicity and dangerous side effects.
Bone fractures: In some cases, a faulty hip implant can cause significant damage to the bones, muscles, and tissues around the implant. Foreign components in the body can cause bone fractures in specific areas.
Dislocation: The ball has to stay in the socket for a hip implant to work. But malfunctioning hip implants can become loose and ineffective. Others may ultimately fail and dislocate, resulting in a painful and severe medical condition. Some patients may frequently suffer recurring dislocations.
Ossification: This condition occurs when inflammation caused by an implant forces bone, cartilage, and bone marrow to interfere with soft tissue around the joint.
Osteonecrosis: Some victims of defective hip implants experience a reduced blood flow to bones and joints. It can lead to bones degrading and severe issues around the hip joint.
Infection: There is a risk of infection with any surgery, but faulty implants can increase the risk of recurring infections around the hip joint. It is a particular danger when the device becomes loose.
Contact our hip replacement attorneys for a free case evaluation if you have suffered these or other conditions linked to a malfunctioning hip implant.
What is Your Hip Implant Case Worth?
When you file a personal injury lawsuit, you hold the at-fault party accountable for their negligence. But you are also fighting for financial compensation for your suffering.
The amount of compensation you can win depends on the case. If we are successful, any verdict or settlement will account for:
Pain and suffering
Medical expenses (such as the cost of additional revision surgeries)
Compromised quality of life
Long term health issues
The cost of ongoing rehabilitation and care
Punitive damages
You can trust Bisnar Chase to maximize the value of your case. We have won more than $700 million for injury victims. That includes patients who have suffered severe impacts caused by faulty products and dangerous medical devices. We will hold the manufacturers accountable and get you the justice you deserve.
The Statute of Limitations on Hip Replacement Cases
The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time you have to file a legal claim after suffering an injury.
For example, when hurt by a dangerous product such as an exploding e-cigarette device, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. But hip implant failure cases are a bit more complicated.
With hip replacement claims, the device might not fail straight away. It may even last several years before malfunctioning prematurely.
As a basic rule, you have two years from the point that you discover or become aware of the injury.
If the device failure occurs a significant period after the initial procedure, the law may reduce that time limit. The best course of action is for patients to contact a hip replacement attorney as soon as possible after discovering a problem.
Hip Replacement Lawsuit FAQs
We are here to answer any questions you may have about your implant, recovery, and legal process.
We know that taking legal action is daunting for some people. But our team ensures that you are secure and comfortable with the process before getting started.
If you have questions involving hip implant injuries and litigation that we have not answered below, give us a call for further guidance at no cost.
There are some telltale signs and symptoms of a defective hip replacement. These include feeling pain or discomfort, having trouble walking, or feeling a loose or unstable sensation. Other symptoms might include frequent infections or dislocations or showing signs of metal poisoning. Seek medical help if you have concerns.
You should contact a lawyer as soon as you become aware of an issue with your hip implant. There are strict time limits that dictate who can file a lawsuit. Contact Bisnar Chase now to find out if you are eligible.
You can file a lawsuit against a hip implant manufacturer if your hip replacement was defective and caused side effects. Your attorney will build a case to show the nature of the device defect and how it impacted you.
Yes, Bisnar Chase has no win, no fee hip replacement attorneys who will win your case with no out-of-pocket costs. We advance the money needed to win your case for filing fees, expert testimony, and other expenses. If we do not win your hip replacement claim, you pay nothing.
Hip Replacement Lawsuits: Case Studies
Thousands of people file hip replacement defect lawsuits every year in California and across the U.S.
There have been massive settlements and verdicts in hip replacement cases. These involve a wide range of manufacturers and companies. Many implant manufacturers have had to settle cases involving defective medical devices.
Some of the top case studies include:
➤ Depuy Hit by Major Verdicts and Settlements
DePuy Orthopaedics (a Johnson & Johnson company) has faced more than 20,000 hip replacement lawsuits in the last decade, many of which involve DePuy ASR hip implants. More than $1.5 billion was awarded to patients with DePuy Pinnacle hip replacements through jury verdicts, while settlements totaling $4.42 billion went to patients with DePuy ASR hip replacements.
➤ Stryker Paid Billions of Dollars to Patients Over Hip Failures
Medical device manufacturer Stryker faced more than 4,000 lawsuits due to the high failure rate of Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Replacements. The company has also had issues with its Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head devices. The company agreed upon settlements totaling about $2.2 billion to cover ABG II and V40 Femoral Heads cases.
➤ Wright Settled Hip Replacement and Component Cases
Wright Medical faced more than 600 legal claims due to its Conserve, Dynasty, and Lineage Hip Replacements, and other associated components. It paid settlements totaling $330 million in 2016 and 2017.
These cases represent hip replacement lawsuits that have resulted in significant recoveries for patients. They are far from alone, with many manufacturers facing legal action in recent years.
Contact Bisnar Chase if you have suffered due to a defective hip implant, no matter which company created it.
Finding the Best Hip Replacement Attorney Near Me
You need an attorney who has handled cases like yours successfully and will fight to ensure you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our skilled team of trial lawyers has handled countless product liability claims, including hip replacement lawsuits. Whether you have metal implants causing nasty side effects or another artificial hip system that is failing, we are ready to win your case.
Our law firm has offices in Orange County (Newport Beach), Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and San Diego, serving patients across California. We have a national reputation for handling cases involving dangerous products.
Contact a hip replacement lawyer at Bisnar Chase today for a free consultation with no obligations. Call (800) 561-4887 to review your case with a representative immediately. You can also send us an email or use our website live chat.
