FDA Orders Heartburn Medication Zantac and Generic Versions Pulled from Market

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered drug makers to pull the popular heartburn medication Zantac and other prescription and over-the-counter versions of the drug ranitidine off the market immediately. The FDA warns that the medication contains a “probable” cancer-causing contaminant that poses an unacceptable risk to patients.

Last year, the FDA had warned that the medication was contaminated with low levels of a chemical called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, at the time, the FDA considered the levels of contamination too low to cause harm. After further study, though, the administration determined the contamination levels increase over time, particularly when the medication is stored at higher than room temperature.

“Low levels of NDMA are commonly ingested in the diet, for example NDMA is present in foods and in water. These low levels would not be expected to lead to an increase in the risk of cancer,” the FDA stated. “However, sustained higher levels of exposure may increase the risk of cancer in humans.”

What Should You Do If You Are Taking Zantac?

The FDA is asking consumers who are using the drug to treat heartburn, stomach acid, or ulcers to stop taking it immediately. The agency suggests that consumers who are taking the over-the-counter version of the medication switch to another approved product for their condition. People who are taking a prescription ranitidine should talk with their doctor as soon as possible about alternative medications.

What to Do If You Have Suffered Illness Possibly Related to Zantac Contamination

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or experienced other severe side effects that you believe could be related to Zantac, seek legal advice immediately. If you have leftover medication, save it along with the packaging it came in, as that could be used as evidence in your case. Also save any records, receipts, and other paperwork related to your diagnosis and treatment.

Through a product liability claim, you may be entitled to seek payment for your:

• Medical expenses
• Future treatment needs
• Lost income if you are missing work due to your illness
• Reduced earning capacity for the future
• Pain and suffering

Talk to Our Zantac Lawyer About Your Legal Rights

We should be able to trust that the medications we take are safe ─ that they will make us better, not worse. Unfortunately, drug makers don’t always look out for consumers like they should. Medication contamination poses a serious threat to consumers across the United States. Those who are diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses due to this contamination deserve justice.

Contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin to speak with a knowledgeable product liability attorney about your case. We will listen to your story and explain your legal options in a free, no-obligation consultation. There are no fees for us to begin work on your claim, and you do not pay us unless we recover money for you.

The post FDA Orders Heartburn Medication Zantac and Generic Versions Pulled from Market appeared first on .

from https://www.michaelgopin.com/blog/fda-orders-heartburn-medication-zantac-and-generic-versions-pulled-from-market/
via https://www.michaelgopin.com

Adding Obstacles Could Reduce Left-Turn Crashes Involving Pedestrians

We’ve all seen it. Left-turning drivers cutting diagonally through intersections without any regard for the pedestrians who are trying to cross safely. How could we prevent these types of serious accidents? A new study suggests that “centerline hardening” could be a solution.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study showed that the use of bollards and rubber curbs along the center lines of lanes forced drivers at intersections to take left turns more slowly and at more of a right angle, rather than trying to cut across diagonally. The infrastructure changes introduced in Washington, D.C., prompted a significant reduction in the number of times left-turning drivers suddenly hit the brakes or swerved, as well as reduced the number of instances where pedestrians had to rush to get out of the way of vehicles. Overall, these crash-avoidance maneuvers were reduced by 70 percent with the introduction of the obstacles added to centerlines, the study showed.

“This study suggests that simple infrastructure changes can deliver big benefits,” IIHS Senior Research Transportation Engineer Wen Hu says. “Communities looking for ways to make pedestrians safer should add centerline hardening to their toolbox.”

What Is Centerline Hardening?

The IIHS study defines centerline hardening as “a technique to make intersections safer for pedestrians by encouraging drivers to make left turns at slower speeds. Bollards and rubber curbs are used to block the diagonal path through the intersection.”

Bollards are short posts that are bolted or otherwise secured to the road to provide visual guidance to drivers. They are sturdy but oftentimes flexible to reduce damage in case a vehicle strikes them. Rubber curbs are simply raised curbs placed in the centerline of lanes at intersections as a reminder for drivers to stay in the correct lane when turning.

What the Pedestrian Accident Statistics Show

Across the United States, pedestrian fatalities jumped 53 percent from 2009 to 2018, the IIHS noted. More than half of all crashes involving pedestrians in 2018 happened at intersections. Left-turn accidents in particular accounted for almost a third of all intersection crashes involving pedestrians in 2018.

In the IIHS study, Hu collected data from 10 intersections in Washington, D.C., for two months before and three months after the centerline infrastructure measures were put in place. She compared the data collected against numbers from eight control sites where no centerline safety features were implemented.

The study found that using the centerline hardening infrastructure:

• Decreased the average left-turn speed by 7 percent
• Reduced by 36 percent the number of drivers who made the turn at more than 15 mph

Hurt in a Pedestrian Accident? Talk to a Lawyer Now

No matter what safety infrastructure is in place at an intersection, drivers have a duty to watch out for pedestrians. When drivers are speeding or distracted and make a dangerous left-hand turn, hitting an innocent pedestrian, they should be held accountable.

At the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, our pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help crash victims fight for the full compensation they need to recover after devastating accidents. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation, and learn how our team can help you get through this difficult time.

The post Adding Obstacles Could Reduce Left-Turn Crashes Involving Pedestrians appeared first on .

from https://www.michaelgopin.com/blog/adding-obstacles-could-reduce-left-turn-pedestrians-crashes/
via https://www.michaelgopin.com

Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, Represents Car Accident Victims in El Paso, TX

For more than 30 years, the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, has been standing strong for car accident victims who need an aggressive advocate against deep-pocketed insurance companies. The car accident law firm in El Paso, Texas, has earned a reputation for securing full and fair financial compensation for people who have been seriously hurt or lost a loved one in crashes caused by others’ negligence.

No car accident victim should have to face off against a powerful insurance company after a serious crash. Victims are often facing overwhelming medical expenses, missing time from work, struggling to get their vehicles fixed or replaced, and dealing with ongoing pain. They should not be pressured to settle for less than the full compensation they deserve. That’s where the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin can make a huge difference.

How the Law Firm Helps Car Accident Victims

When you choose an experienced car accident attorney in El Paso, you can trust that legal professional to handle every aspect of your claim for compensation. This includes:

• Reviewing your case for free, answering all your legal questions, and explaining what to expect moving forward
• Launching an immediate investigation into your auto accident to collect all the evidence, such as the police accident report, photos, video surveillance footage, witness statements, etc.
• Working with experts such as accident reconstruction professionals to show exactly what happened and who should be held liable
• Documenting the full extent of your injuries and related damages, including hiring medical specialists, long-term care experts, economists, and other experts to demonstrate what maximum compensation should be in your claim
• Managing all communication and negotiations with the insurance companies while working toward a full settlement that covers current and future losses
• Taking your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement

An injured crash victim should never try to handle a car accident claim without professional legal representation. An insurance adjuster may seem nice and understanding, but that person’s job is to protect the insurance company, not the victim. The insurer’s goal is to minimize or deny claims as much as possible, and they have professionals on their team who deal with these types of claims every day. That is why victims need professional legal representation as well ─ to level the playing field.

Demanding Justice for Car Accident Victims Across El Paso

Accident victims often face far-reaching complications beyond the injuries themselves. For example, many victims cannot return to work right away. They may have trouble getting transportation to and from doctor’s appointments. They may find that they will need additional surgeries and rehabilitative therapy in the months and years to come. Some may be totally disabled and unable to return to the life they once knew.

The dedicated El Paso car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, understand the short-term challenges and long-term damages accident victims can expect. The legal team works to alleviate these burdens by demanding the full financial compensation clients need to move forward with their lives.

To learn more about the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, visit the law firm’s website or contact us today.

The post Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, Represents Car Accident Victims in El Paso, TX appeared first on .

from https://www.michaelgopin.com/blog/law-offices-of-michael-j-gopin-represents-car-accident-victims-in-el-paso/
via https://www.michaelgopin.com