Hernia Mesh

Product Liability Lawyers Representing People in Traverse City and Grand Rapids

A hernia occurs when an organ or tissue passes through a weak spot in a person’s muscle or connective tissue. There are several types of hernias, including hiatal, umbilical, incisional, ventral, inguinal, and femoral. Sometimes, hernias happen because of a muscle weakness that was present at birth, but hernias can also be caused by heavy lifting, obesity, and even coughing or sneezing. Doctors often attempt to repair hernias by using hernia mesh, but such repairs can fail and lead to additional, sometimes life-threatening complications. At the Neumann Law Group, our Grand Rapids and Traverse City hernia mesh lawyers can assist Michigan residents who have been injured by these defective medical devices and others, such as transvaginal mesh or faulty hip replacements.

There are several companies that manufacture hernia mesh. These include Johnson & Johnson, Bard, Davol, Covidien, Ethicon, Atrium, B. Braun, Gore, Medtronic, LifeCell, and TELA Bio. Hernia mesh comes in several forms (patches, plugs, sheets, etc.) and is sold under many different brand names, such as C-QUR, Ventralex, Parietex, ProGrip, Proceed, Physiomesh, OviTex, Strattice, Premilene, and Prolene. Hernia mesh may be absorbable or non-absorbable, and it may be animal-derived or synthetic. It may be coated or composite.

Complications Related to Hernia Mesh and Possible Legal Remedies

A substantial number of patients who have undergone surgery to repair a hernia with a mesh product have reported complications, including pain, infections, peritonitis, abscesses, sepsis, migration, shrinkage, perforation of the bowel or an internal organ, tears of the abdominal wall, adhesion of the mesh to the patient’s bowel, obstruction, and recurrence of the hernia. As a result, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has issued product recalls for several hernia mesh products, and a number of product liability lawsuits have been filed against various manufacturers and distributors of hernia mesh products. Some of the claims are part of consolidated multi-district litigation. Our hernia mesh attorneys can advise Traverse City and Grand Rapids residents on whether they may have a claim as well.

People who have suffered complications from hernia mesh should discuss their situation with an experienced attorney. There is both a statute of limitations and a statute of repose that limits the time in which a person injured by a dangerous or defective product can file a claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the product. There are also time limitations applicable to wrongful death actions, which offer legal remedies to family members of a person who has died due to another party’s negligence. In some cases, a claim for medical malpractice may also be worth exploring. These claims are also controlled by a strict statute of limitations and statute of repose.

Seeking counsel early in the process is advisable in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, since the plaintiff has the burden of proof. Your Grand Rapids or Traverse City hernia mesh attorney must convince the jury by a preponderance of the evidence that you are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. This requires proof that a product was negligently designed, manufactured, or marketed, that an express or implied warranty was breached, or that the defendant engaged in misrepresentation or fraud concerning the product. Most product liability lawsuits involve expert testimony regarding the manufacturer’s conduct and the plaintiff’s damages.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Knowledgeable Injury Attorney

The Neumann Law Group is dedicated to helping individuals and families who have been affected by complications arising from defective medical products, such as hernia mesh or hip replacements. If you would like to speak to an attorney about your case, call us at (800) 525-6386 or contact us online to set up a free consultation. We also assist people in Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing, Muskegon, Midland, Holland, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Wyoming, Saginaw, Warren, Petoskey, and communities throughout the Upper Peninsula. As an experienced hernia mesh lawyer based in the Traverse City and Grand Rapids areas, Kelly Neumann understands the challenges that you are facing and is ready to assert the full scope of your rights.