Pittsburgh
IVC Filter Lawsuit Lawyer

On This Page

1. IVC Filters and Defective Product Injuries
2. Common IVC Filter Complications
3. Taking Legal Action Against the IVC Filter Manufacturer
4. Recoverable Damages in an IVC Filter Complications Lawsuit
5. Talk to an IVC Filter Lawsuit Lawyer

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

December 12, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

IVC Filters and Defective Product Injuries

If you or a loved one suffered complications, or your doctor could not completely remove your inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, the team from Berger and Green is here to help. We offer free case evaluations to potential clients who had a problem with an IVC filter. We may be able to help you sue the manufacturer and hold it liable for your pain and suffering and other damages.

Let us protect your rights and pursue compensation on your behalf. Call or text our office today at 412-661-1400 if you suffered complications because your IVC filter broke or migrated, or your doctor could not remove it. Our initial consultations are always free, and we represent the victims of a potentially defective medical device on a contingency basis. You owe us no attorney’s fees until we recover a payout in your case.

Common IVC Filter Complications

Implantable IVC filters prevent blood clots in the legs from traveling to the heart or lungs. The current thinking is they should be implanted for only a few days to a few weeks. If left in place for longer, there is a high risk of complications. In the past, IVC filters were not always a temporary solution. Many people received the filters and still have them years later. Others required removal, but their surgeons found it impossible.

The most common problem with IVC filters is that their legs often break off from the body of the filter. These tiny legs can:

• Block blood flow in veins
• Embed in vein walls
• Embed in organs
• Perforate the walls of a vein or artery
• Enter the heart or lungs acting like a blood clot
• Puncture the vena cava

Complications of a broken IVC filter may require surgery to remove the device, procedures to treat the damage it caused, and even life-saving emergency medical care. The first signs of an IVC filter complication may include serious symptoms such as:

• Chest pain, nausea, and shortness of breath
• An accelerated pulse and heartbeat
• Hemorrhagic pericardial effusion
• Cardiac tamponade

In less serious cases, severe pain at the site where the surgeon placed the filter is common. Still, this requires prompt attention from your doctor.

Complications Related to IVC Filter Removal

Another problem occurs when surgeons attempt to remove an IVC filter. Sometimes, even when it is still within the short time frame recommended for these devices, IVC filters are difficult or impossible to remove. It is not uncommon for an IVC filter to:

• Shift positions
• Migrate to another area of the body
• Embed in the vein or other tissues

Any of these situations make it impossible or extremely dangerous to remove the filter. In general, the longer a filter remains in place, the more difficult it is to remove and the higher the risk of complications.

Taking Legal Action Against the IVC Filter Manufacturer

We can file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of these devices. If you suffered complications, we will pursue compensation for your damages. No IVC filter manufacturer or distributor is too large.

Medical device designers and distributors have an obligation to produce safe products that do not cause additional harm. When they fail to uphold this obligation, we can hold them legally liable for the damages their products caused.

We may be able to take legal action in your case and hold the IVC filter manufacturer liable if:

• You suffered IVC complications requiring additional medical care
• The surgeon could not safely remove your IVC filter
• Your family member died of an embolism or suffered heart-related symptoms before their death and had implantable IVC filter

We will investigate your case, looking at your medical records and other evidence to build a solid argument for damages. Let us hold the filter manufacturer and/or distributor liable for your expenses and losses. Call us at 412-661-1400 today to get started.

Recoverable Damages in an IVC Filter Complications Lawsuit

Many IVC filter lawsuits are proceeding as multi-district litigation (MDL). This means the courts consolidated the cases for pre-trial motions and discovery. Bellwether trials are currently underway, offering both sides a chance to see how the arguments may play out in local courts. Some people who suffered complications related to an implanted IVC filter have already negotiated multi-million-dollar payouts while others are waiting to see what happens with the MDL.

Following the bellwether verdicts, the thousands of cases that remain will return to their original jurisdiction for settlement negotiations or trial.

Understanding Your Potential Damages

Even though they are consolidated into MDL for pre-trial motions, the courts will weigh your case on its own merits. If we reach a settlement or win a verdict, you will receive compensation based on your own expenses and losses. Since the effects of IVC filter complications vary widely, some people could receive multi-million-dollar payouts while others receive much smaller awards.

We cannot tell you the specific damages possibly available in your case until after we investigate and collect proof of your losses. However, common damages include:

• Medical care and related expenses
• Past and future lost wages
• Out-of-pocket costs
• Loss of services
• Pain and suffering

Wrongful Death Damages

If your loved one received an IVC filter implant and died because of an embolism or suffered heart-related symptoms before their death, contact us today. Let us review their medical records and analyze other evidence to determine if the filter may have played a role.

Talk to an IVC Filter Lawsuit Lawyer

At Berger and Green, we will pursue compensation for your damages if you suffered complications related to an IVC filter implant. Because each state has a statute of limitations on how long we have to take legal action, it is important to act quickly. We will fight for your rights and go after the payout you deserve based on the facts of your case.

Call or text us today at 412-661-1400 to get started with your free initial consultation.