If you’re experiencing issues related to a joint replacement surgery and an Exactech product was used, you should take the following steps:
Seek Medical Attention
The first thing you want to do is call your surgeon and set up an appointment. If you underwent any type of joint replacement surgery where an Exactech product was used, you should reach out to your surgeon and have a conversation with them about the next steps, even if you aren’t yet in pain or experiencing difficulties; you want to get ahead of it instead of waiting for it to get worse. Signs that you should speak with your surgeon include joint pain, inability to put weight on the joint, grinding noises or sensations in the joint, inflammation or swelling, and instability. From here, you will hopefully receive an X-ray to see what the problem is.
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed so far but aren’t sure if an Exactech product was used, you should reach out to your surgeon so you can gather information from them about the joint replacement surgery and the product used. If you’re experiencing issues because of a company’s defective product, there’s no reason that you should have to pay to fix the issue.
Speak With a Personal Injury Attorney Right Away
After you’ve spoken with your surgeon and determined what the next steps are related to your health, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney right away. Make sure you speak with someone who has experience handling product liability claims, and those specifically involving defective medical products. Not all personal injury lawyers are created equally. The more relevant experience they have, the more likely you are to recover the compensation you truly deserve.
When you speak with potential attorneys, make sure you provide them with as much information as possible. This includes medical records and notes about how your life has been affected and what needs to be done to remedy the situation. The more you can provide them upfront, the better they can determine if you have a valid claim.
You Can File a Claim With Exactech
While you don’t have to take this route, you have the option of filing a claim with a third party that Exactech is utilizing to handle these claims instead of filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you do this, you will pay for all your revision surgeries and any other medical necessities to solve the problem, and then you will be reimbursed after the fact. If you choose this route, you will lose out on the ability to collect compensation for other damages, such as emotional distress and pain and suffering.
Keep in mind that the company you’re dealing with represents the interests of Exactech; no matter what they say, they are not fully on your side. Even if you choose to go this route, it’s still wise to speak with an attorney before doing so to ensure that you aren’t taken advantage of throughout the process.