How Much Can I Get From a Suboxone Settlement?

April 26, 2024 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
How Much Can I Get From a Suboxone Settlement?

Suboxone is used to help with opioid withdrawal and reduce the risk of relapse in people struggling with opioid use disorder. Indivior, the manufacturer of Suboxone, is embroiled in yet another legal conflict over this partial opioid agonist. Suboxone users are challenging Indivior by filing product liability lawsuits after the company’s sublingually administered drug caused devastating tooth decay.

You may be like many plaintiffs struggling to afford medical treatment, enduring painful dental issues, experiencing emotional distress, and incurring other financial losses. If so, you probably have concerns about how much you can get from a Suboxone settlement.

\At Dolman Law Group, we are dedicated to going above and beyond for our clients to ensure they recover the compensation they deserve. If you have questions about a Suboxone case, reach out to us at (727) 451-6900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to discussing the details of your Suboxone tooth decay claim with you.

How is a Suboxone Settlement Amount Determined?

The value of a settlement is determined by evaluating the monetary worth of the plaintiff’s damages. To make this assessment, we consider each Suboxone plaintiff’s individual circumstances and the impact of tooth decay on their career, lifestyle, health, and quality of life. That means it is difficult to assign an exact dollar amount to a Suboxone settlement without knowing the specifics of your case.

Generally speaking, a Suboxone plaintiff could anticipate recovering between $50,000 and $150,000, given the high costs of dental work and the ongoing implications for their quality of life.

What are Suboxone Tooth Decay Economic Damages?

Depending on the extent of your dental issues, you may need extensive repair work, including cavity fillings, oral surgery, dentures, or implants. The cost associated with treating tooth decay can present a financial challenge for many families in the form of medical bills and lost wages from attending appointments. The monetary cost of Suboxone dental injuries can be compensated as economic damages in a product liability lawsuit.

Are There Potential Suboxone Non-Economic Damages?

Additionally, plaintiffs can seek compensation for non-economic damages for the intangible and emotional losses resulting from their Suboxone-related dental problems. Tooth decay almost invariably involves pain and sensitivity, which can affect an individual’s ability to concentrate at work, speak and eat without discomfort, and socialize freely. It is not uncommon for people with tooth decay to become more withdrawn due to shame and fear of judgment.

This can translate into serious costs, such as missing out on a promotion at work because your self-consciousness about your dental issues hindered you from taking the initiative with customers. Suboxone users with tooth decay may also struggle with mental health issues like depression or anxiety stemming from chronic pain and low self-esteem.

Other Factors That May Affect the Value of Your Suboxone Dental Decay Settlement

Although Suboxone plaintiffs have the burden of proof for establishing liability and the value of their damages, they may benefit from Indivior’s prior indiscretions. Indivior, the manufacturer of Suboxone, has a number of credibility issues as a defendant, including multiple other legal issues. Most recently, Indivior faced legal action based on its attempt to exploit its Orphan Drug designation from the FDA to create an illegal monopoly.

Suboxone was first introduced in the U.S. in 2002 under the FDA’s Orphan Drug policy. The Orphan Drug Law allows a drug manufacturer to maintain market exclusivity for 7 years for providing medication to an unaddressed demographic, after which competitors can introduce generic versions, usually at more affordable price points.

Indivior circumvented this limitation by making minor alterations to their product, changing the oral pill-form of the drug to a sublingual film that is placed under the tongue until it dissolves. The company settled its antitrust claims for $385 million in October 2023. However, Indivior’s legal woes are not limited to antitrust violations. 

In 2020, the company paid $600 million to settle claims that accused Indivior of false advertising. The U.S. government contended that Indivior’s characterization of their sublingual film version of Suboxone constituted fraudulent marketing because there was insufficient evidence to support the company’s assertions that the updated product was safer for users and less likely to be abused.

We now know that the sublingual film version of Suboxone is also responsible for severe dental injuries, reaffirming Indivior’s reputation as an unreliable source. 

Ways to Protect Your Suboxone Tooth Decay Settlement

While you can’t necessarily increase the worth of your potential settlement, you can take steps to prevent reducing its value so you have the best chance at recovering the maximum amount possible for your Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit. This starts with making an effort to practice good dental hygiene, attending dentist appointments, and addressing dental emergencies promptly, even if you continue to experience tooth decay from using Suboxone sublingual film.

Taking care of your dental health preempts arguments from the insurance company that your tooth decay is entirely your fault, that you allowed your teeth to deteriorate to secure a more significant settlement, or that you exaggerated your dental issues to inflate the value of your injury claim.

Work With an Experienced Product Liability Lawyer for Your Suboxone Lawsuit

Another way to safeguard your settlement is to engage a skilled product liability attorney to advocate for your rights, provide an accurate evaluation of your claim’s value, and adeptly negotiate for the maximum compensation possible.

Look for a skilled personal injury attorney who has the time necessary for a mass tort claim, makes themself accessible to you, and has a background in handling defective drug claims. These are good indications that they are qualified to properly investigate your claim to obtain evidence of your injuries and subsequent damages. You can support this process by keeping records of your losses, such as bills, journal entries, and medical documents, as this kind of information can support the financial value of your damages.

The Benefits of Hiring the Suboxone Lawyers of Dolman Law Group

When it comes to complex and sensitive legal matters, there is no team more qualified than our Suboxone tooth decay lawyers here at Dolman Law Group. We have successfully recovered maximum compensation on behalf of our injured clients for many years based on our reliable work ethic, diligent and detail-oriented approach, and client-centered perspective.

Our team has an established background in product liability lawsuits for defective medications, which has allowed us to hone our skills in this area and secure outstanding results. We can also offer access to resources like expert witnesses and investigators, administrative support for the paperwork required to file a Suboxone tooth decay claim, and the benefit of our unrivaled negotiating skills. 

Contact Dolman Law Group For Help With Your Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit

The persistent stigma around tooth decay and other dental issues can make it difficult to seek help. At Dolman Law Group, we recognize the effort it takes to overcome this self-doubt, concerns about the work of filing a personal injury lawsuit, and the interference in daily responsibilities. We want to make your experience as stress-free as possible so that you can focus on your health while we advocate for fair compensation for your Suboxone dental decay claim.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (727) 451-6900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with one of our Suboxone tooth decay lawyers. Our team of seasoned product liability attorneys will outline the steps of the personal injury claims process, identify which damages you may be eligible to claim, discuss the services that we offer, and address any concerns you may have.

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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