Our lawyers are currently accepting new lawsuits from individual who were injured as a result of a defect Zimmer hip replacement implant. The Zimmer hip replacement joint implants were recalled in July 2024 due to design defects in the implant device that significantly increase the risk of thig bone fractures.
If you had a Zimmer hip implant and suffered a fractured femur, or other leg fractures or injuries, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and get compensation. Contact our national product liability lawyers today at 800-553-8082.
About Zimmer Hip Replacement Products
Zimmer Biomet is a medical device company that was originally founded in 1927 to produce simple metal splints for use in orthopedic repairs. Today, Zimmer is a publicly traded company with a global market.
Zimmer designs and manufactures a wide range of orthopedic medical devices and products. Zimmer’s primary products are artificial implants commonly used in joint replacement surgeries. Zimmer makes knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle replacement implants.
Recall of Zimmer Hip Replacement Implants
In July 2024, the Food and Drug Administration announced that Zimmer was initiating a voluntary recall of its CPT Hip System joint replacement implants. The Zimmer CPT Hip System is a line of artificial hip joint implants for use in total hip replacement surgeries.
Zimmer launched the recall after research found that individuals who received the CPT hip implant had a significantly higher risk of suffering a thigh bone fracture compared to individuals with other types of hip replacement implants. The research clearly indicated that the Zimmer CPT hip replacement had design flaws that made thigh bone fractures much more likely.
Zimmer’s voluntary recall plan only calls for the gradual phasing out of future sales of the CPT implants by December 2024. In September 2024, however, the FDA issued a public notice announcement warning doctors and patients against using the Zimmer CPT implant system in any future hip replacement procedures.
Filing a Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuit
The recall of the Zimmer CPT hip replacement system and the new evidence linking the hip replacement implants to thigh bone fractures is a clear indication that the Zimmer CPT implants contain design defects that make them unsafe. Manufacturers like Zimmer have a legal duty to ensure that their products are safe and can be held legally accountable when they are not.
Anyone who suffered a fractured thigh (femur) after having a Zimmer CPT hip implant installed in a hip replacement surgery may be entitled to pursue a product liability lawsuit and get financial compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost income resulting from their injury. Our product liability lawyers are actively seeking Zimmer hip implant recall cases from patients adversely impacted by a defective Zimmer hip replacement implant.
Why Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuits May Become Part of an MDL
Because many people across the country have been affected by the defective Zimmer CPT hip implants, it’s very likely that these lawsuits will be consolidated into a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). An MDL is a legal process that allows multiple similar cases from different courts to be combined and transferred to a single federal court. This consolidation streamlines the pre-trial process, making it more efficient by preventing duplication of efforts like discovery (the exchange of evidence) and coordinating witness testimony.
MDLs are common in large product liability cases involving defective medical devices like hip implants, and they help ensure that plaintiffs receive a fair and consistent outcome. While each individual case in an MDL is still treated separately, the key issues of liability and causation are determined in a way that applies to all the cases involved. This means that even though your lawsuit may be part of an MDL, your specific circumstances and injuries will still be considered in any settlement or resolution.
Once the Zimmer CPT hip implant lawsuits are consolidated into an MDL, the process will move through several key stages:
- Discovery and Evidence Gathering: During this phase, our legal team, along with other plaintiff attorneys, will work to gather and exchange evidence that demonstrates how the defective design of the Zimmer CPT implant caused your injuries. This evidence may include medical records, expert testimony, internal company documents, and scientific research.
- Pre-Trial Proceedings: The first step in an MDL is for the court to select a group of “bellwether” cases. These are the first cases to go to trial. The purpose is to see how juries react to the cases to help the parties better understand the settlement amount of the claims. Sometimes in mass tort cases, there will be settlement before there is ever a bellwether trial.
- Bellwether Trials: If the bellwether cases do go to trial, the cases often settle shortly after that.
- Settlement Negotiations: After the bellwether trials, the parties will typically enter into settlement negotiations. At this point, Zimmer may choose to offer a global settlement to resolve the majority of cases in the MDL. This settlement would provide compensation to qualifying plaintiffs based on factors like the severity of their injuries, their age, the extent of medical treatments required, and the impact of the injury on their quality of life.
- Settlement Distribution: If a global settlement is reached, each plaintiff’s claim will be reviewed individually to determine the appropriate compensation.
The problem with MDLs is they take too long, sometimes several years to resolve. But they often result in more favorable settlements for plaintiffs because they streamline the process and create pressure for the defendant company to settle.
Settlement Value of Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuits
Zimmer is clearly going to be liable for femur fractures and other injuries that are directly related to the defective design of the CPT hip implants. Medical device companies like Zimmer are legally required to ensure their products are safe and do not harm consumers when used as intended. This responsibility makes manufacturers strictly liable for hidden design flaws or defects that cause harm. This is what we have here.
It is very early in this litigation to say with any level of accuracy what the potential settlement value of Zimmer hip replacement recall lawsuits could be. However, based on prior settlements in similar cases we do some informed speculation as to what these cases might be worth.
Successful plaintiffs could recover damages for (a) pain and suffering, (b) medical expenses for treatment and revision surgery, and (c) lost income or wages due to the implant failure. Based on the settlement value of broken thigh (femur) injuries in other types of cases, we think the settlement value of Zimmer hip implant recall lawsuits could be around $150,000 to $450,000.
Historical Settlement Amounts in Hip Implant Lawsuits
Examining past hip implant litigation settlements provides valuable insight into the potential compensation that plaintiffs might receive in cases involving defective Zimmer hip replacement implants. Historically, defective hip implant lawsuits have resulted in substantial settlements and verdicts due to the severe injuries and long-term complications associated with these devices. There is no question our lawyers like these cases.
For example, the DePuy ASR hip implant litigation, which involved a similar class of defective hip products, resulted in a global settlement of over $2.5 billion. In that case, plaintiffs suffered complications such as metallosis and device failure, which led to a settlement amount averaging around $250,000 per claimant. Similarly, the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implant settlements in 2014 totaled more than $1.4 billion, with individual settlement amounts averaging between $300,000 and $600,000 depending on the severity of injuries and required corrective surgeries.
Given the nature of the injuries associated with the Zimmer CPT hip replacement—specifically thigh bone fractures, which can necessitate multiple corrective surgeries and result in significant pain and disability—settlement amounts for these cases could potentially fall within a similar range. While it is too early to definitively determine the average settlement value for the Zimmer hip implant lawsuits, based on these historical precedents, plaintiffs may expect settlement values between $150,000 and $450,000, depending on the specifics of their injuries and the impact on their quality of life.
As more evidence comes to light and the litigation progresses, these projected settlement payouts could increase, particularly if a larger number of plaintiffs come forward or additional defects are uncovered.
How Do You Know if You Have a Zimmer Implant?
Most patients who undergo joint replacement surgery are not aware of what type or brand of implant product was used in their surgery. That makes it very hard to know whether you have a Zimmer CPY hip replacement system or not. To find out if you have a Zimmer hip replacement implant, you will need to contact your orthopedic doctor’s office.
Zimmer Hip Replacement Recall Lawyers
If you suffered a broken leg after having a Zimmer hip replacement implant system installed, you may be able to file a lawsuit and get financial compensation. Consult with one of our product liability lawyers today to determine your legal options. Call 800-553-8082 today or get a free online consultation.