​​Is Hair Loss a Side Effect of Birth Control?

The steps you take when you suffer hair loss from birth control could make or break your lawsuit. Here are some quick tips to guide you. 

Consult a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will conduct several tests and provide professional advice from a medical perspective. Be sure to inform your doctor about the birth control method or other medicines you take. 

Next, contact a personal injury attorney. This is because product liability cases are not only complex but also time sensitive. The longer you take to speak with an attorney, the harder it is to prove your case. 

Hair loss lawsuits are usually not the easiest to handle. But an experienced attorney can create the most appropriate legal strategy to pursue this kind of lawsuit. Remember, the right strategy will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. That said, the attorney will help determine the following factors:

Do You Have a Valid Hair Loss Lawsuit?

The truth is, just because you suffered hair loss while using particular birth control doesn't necessarily mean that the manufacturer is liable. A seasoned product liability attorney will evaluate your case to determine whether you can proceed with a lawsuit. And if you don't have a valid claim, your attorney can also inform you about other options available to you. 

To determine whether you have a valid claim, the attorney will consider the following factors:

Whether the Manufacturer Owed You a Duty of Care
The attorney will likely establish that this is true because, unless under rare circumstances, manufacturers usually owe consumers a duty of care. The term “duty of care” generally means that the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that their products do not harm consumers. 

Whether the Product Caused Your Hair Loss
The attorney will establish the connection between the birth control method and your hair loss. For example, did the birth control method contain an ingredient known to cause hair loss? Or did you suffer hair loss because of an underlying medical condition? 

Whether the Birth Control Pill or Device Is Defective  
With the help of experts, the attorney will determine the defect in the birth control method you used. 

Whether You Used the Birth Control Device or Pill as Intended
Here, the following questions will arise: 

• Did you follow the manufacturer's instructions? 
• Did you use the product for any other reason other than birth control? 

One of the reasons you need to work with an attorney is because they know how to build and strengthen a case. For example, when they want to find out whether you were using the product as intended, it's not because they doubt your claim. Rather, it's because they want to shut down all possible defenses the other party could come up with to deny liability.

Another example is if you have an underlying medical condition. This alone could be a reason for the defense to deny your claim, primarily if the condition is known to cause hair loss. But what if the hair loss has nothing to do with the medical condition? You will need an attorney to prove that these two instances are unrelated. 

There are different ways to pursue such a lawsuit, and that's something an experienced attorney will consider well in advance. In most cases, you can either file an individual lawsuit or pursue a class action lawsuit. 

Each of these legal avenues has its pros and cons. For instance, if you opt for an individual lawsuit, the defense will likely give you a rough time during litigation. On the other hand, if you opt for a class action lawsuit, the defense will likely want to settle because they risk losing huge sums of money. 

Now let's look at it from another perspective. Suppose your attorney decides to proceed with an individual claim and actually wins it. In that case, you may be entitled to higher compensation than you would if you filed a class action lawsuit. 

This is because, in a class action lawsuit, the settlement amount is shared between the members of the class. Even so, the lead plaintiffs (the individuals selected to represent other class members) usually carry the larger share of the compensation. 

When you lose hair because of using a particular birth control method, chances are the defense will want some form of evidence to prove your claim. They will not just write you a check simply because you suffered hair loss. Bear in mind that the results of the claim could trigger many other lawsuits from other individuals who've suffered the same damage, or even more, from using this birth control method.

For this reason, the defense will want to ensure that you can prove your case. But the good news is that, in most cases, you may not be required to prove that the other party acted negligently. 

This legal concept is known as “strict liability.”

It allows the plaintiff to recover damages even without proving negligence. This is because requiring the plaintiff to prove negligence would be almost impossible, making it difficult for them to recover damages.

Here's an example of a situation that would make it difficult for the plaintiff to prove negligence: 

Lisa has been using a birth control method called XYZ. After several years of use, she discovers she's lost so much hair. The hair loss makes her feel embarrassed. Her friends start spreading rumors that she has cancer while others make fun of her. As years go by, Lisa's confidence drops significantly. She constantly has to wear hats to cover her hair loss. Also, she cannot seem to keep a romantic relationship because of her condition. 

After discovering that the birth control method might have contributed to her hair loss, Lisa decides to file a claim against the product manufacturer. Under normal circumstances, Lisa would have a rough time trying to prove negligence. This is because she doesn't know anything about the manufacturing process of birth control pills, therefore, she can't possibly prove negligence.

But thanks to the strict liability concept, all she needs to do is prove that the product was defective and that it caused her hair loss. Still, this is not easy to prove, but it is much easier than proving negligence. With the help of an experienced product liability attorney, Lisa might be able to file a successful claim or lawsuit against the product manufacturer. 

Believe it or not, more than one party might be responsible for your hair loss. In this case, the manufacturer of the birth control method, a medical professional, etc. 

Let's look at a UID as an example of a popular birth control method. A defective UID could cause several side effects, depending on how it interacts with your body. For example, if the UID was not properly designed, you might have more than hair loss to worry about. 

The same applies if the medical professional responsible for installing this birth control method was negligent. In that case, you might also have a case against them. 

The attorney will also determine whether you suffered additional damages other than hair loss. In that case, the following questions might arise: 

• Did you suffer a significant drop in self-confidence?
• Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, or other similar problems due to hair loss?
• Do you struggle to get into or keep a relationship due to your hair loss?
• How did hair loss affect your professional life?
• Do you feel embarrassed about your condition? 

The answers to these questions could help determine the kind of injury you've suffered. In addition, your medical expenses also fall under this category. If you sought hair loss treatment, your attorney can help you recover these expenses. 

After evaluating your damages, the attorney will also determine the settlement amount you may be entitled to. This amount is calculated based on the kinds of injuries and damages suffered. It includes but is not limited to medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, loss of relationships, and so on. 

Once the attorney has identified the parties responsible for your hair loss, they will file a claim with them. The responsible parties will then respond by either approving or denying the claim. Then, both parties will begin negotiations to try and come up with an amicable solution out of court. However, there are no guarantees; the other party might simply refuse to settle because they think you do not have a case against them.

If so, your attorney might decide to file a lawsuit against them. This action brings the case in front of a judge or jury. After listening to the arguments from both sides, the judge will make a ruling on the matter. If you win the case, you will be able to recover damages. If you lose the case, your attorney will advise you on the way forward, including filing an appeal.

Whether it is a product liability or medical malpractice case, you need someone to fight for you. It's not easy to take on the big players in the industry — they usually have the resources to hire the best defense attorneys to represent them. 

For this reason, you need an experienced, powerful, and aggressive team of attorneys to fight for you. That's where Morgan and Morgan, the largest and most popular personal injury law firm in the country, comes in. 

Our attorneys will evaluate your case, free of charge. And if you have a valid claim, we will walk you through the next steps. If the other party refuses to settle, they'll see us in court. It's as simple as that. 

When it comes to fighting for our client's rights, we don't settle for less, and neither should you.

Contact us today to find out how we might be able to help you get the compensation you need and deserve.