June 05, 2015 - Attention Residents of Omaha and other locales in Nebraska! Stryker Corporation has recently reached a 1.4 billion dollar settlement in it's litigation over the Stryker Rejuvenate and Stryker ABGII metal on metal hips. Read more about the recent Stryker Hip Settlement Agreement...
What Led to the Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII Hip Recalls?
The Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip recalls occurred in July, 2012, following the release of an Urgent Field Safety Notification in April, 2012. This Notification was sent to surgeons and hospitals, warning that the ABGII and Rejuvenate could have a higher-than-normal failure rate and could be especially prone to Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII fretting and corrosion which leads to the excess release of tiny metal particles into the hip tissue and bloodstream.
The cobalt and chromium ions which lodge in the hip tissues can cause Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip metallosis with symptoms of inflammation, chronic pain in the hip, thigh and groin area, deterioration of bone and tissue, total hip failure and the necessity of Stryker hip revision surgery. Metal ions in the bloodstream can lead to gastrointestinal, neurological, cardiovascular, renal and thyroid disorders, irritability, reproductive disorders, the development of pseudo-tumors, depression, anxiety, problems with hearing and vision, vertigo and disruption of DNA.
How the Nebraska Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII Hip Statute of Limitations May Affect You
If you have been injured by a device such as a Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip implant, keep in mind that you have only a specific window of time in which to file a product liability claim. The statutes vary from state to state, from one year to ten years. It can often be difficult to determine when the statute of limitations begins to run; it can start when the injury actually occurred or when the injury is discovered. If your statute begins when the injury occurs, there can be harsh consequences should you not discover the injury until your statute of limitations has expired. Other states specify that the statute begins when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered.
This means your deadline could potentially start to run even though you are not yet aware of your injury as an example, perhaps you developed vision and hearing problems after receiving your Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip implant, but attributed those problems to aging rather than to the implant. Later, you realize that diminished hearing and vision is a side effect of cobalt and chromium poisoning, therefore is directly tied to your Stryker device. Nebraska operates under a four-year statute of limitations, beginning on the date the injury occurs. Additionally, Nebraska has a ten-year statute of repose, which begins on the date the product is sold. The difference between the statutes of limitations and the statutes of repose is that the statutes of repose are not dependent on an injury, rather an event or date—such as the Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip recalls. Because the statutes can be difficult to decipher, it is important that you speak to a Nebraska Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawyer at the earliest possible time.
The Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII Hip Lawsuits
There are currently more than 2,300 Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawsuits; seventeen have been settled through mediation, with more currently undergoing the mediation process. Cases are now being chosen for bellwether trials—those that are representative of a large group of Stryker plaintiffs. These bellwether trials are set for the summer of 2015. Because more than 20,000 people received a Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip implant—and the rate of failure is believed to be anywhere from 12%-65%--it is likely that many more lawsuits will follow, particularly as the statute of limitations grows near for those in many states. If you believe you are entitled to file a Nebraska Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawsuit, it is important that you contact a knowledgeable Nebraska Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawyer as soon as possible.
Getting the Help You Need From a Nebraska Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII Hip Lawyer
Speaking to a Nebraska Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawyer can allow you to determine when your statute of limitations will run, how extensive the injuries you received from your Stryker implant are, and whether you should file a Nebraska Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawsuit in order to recover your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and future lost earnings. Those in the following locales in Nebraska are encouraged to call a Nebraska Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawyer today to discuss your options:
· Omaha, Nebraska
· Lincoln, Nebraska
· Bellevue, Nebraska
· Grand Island, Nebraska
· Kearney, Nebraska
· Fremont, Nebraska
· Hastings, Nebraska
· North Platte, Nebraska