Over the past few years, Tylenol has found itself at the center of a controversial legal battle.

Parents acroses the country have filed lawsuits, claiming that using Tylenol during pregnancy led to their children developing autism or ADHD.

Now acetaminophen, which was once widely seen as the go-to pain reliever for expecting mothers and considered safe by most health professionals, is raising some serious questions about whether the drug could be linked to these developmental disorders.

Don't you think that's reason enough to care about the legal implications surrounding this issue?

So, if you're a parent who used Tylenol during pregnancy and are now facing concerns about your child's development, this article will help you find out what your options are.

Continue reading to discover how a lawyer can help you with your Tylenol autism lawsuit.

Determining Your Eligibility to File a Claim

Figuring out if you’re eligible to file a Tylenol autism lawsuit is one thing a lawyer can help with.

For instance, did you know that your child must have an official diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or ADHD from a licensed healthcare professional to qualify? And that most cases require the child to be under 17 when the lawsuit is filed?

This is something your lawyer would inform you about during the very first consultation!

Also, a lawyer would instantly address whether you happen to have evidence of repeated Tylenol use during your pregnancy, especially during the second or third trimester.

Because if not, a lawyer can help dig through your purchase receipts, prescriptions, or even prenatal records to get this important piece of information for the court to see.

In the end, that's what lawyers are for—gathering the evidence and organizing it in a way that makes your case stronger.

Trivia: If you've been wondering whether you could file if you used the generic stuff instead of Tylenol, the short answer is yes. Lawsuits target both brand-name Tylenol and generic acetaminophen because the claim is the same: manufacturers didn’t warn about the risks during pregnancy.

Explaining the Damages You Can Recover

So, you've figured you're eligible to file, and now you're wondering: What can you actually recover?

The answer might just surprise you!

Typically, these cases allow for 3 different types of damages:

1. Medical expenses (doctor visits, ABA therapies, speech and occupational therapy, medications, diagnostics, specialist consultations, etc.)

2. Emotional distress and suffering (counseling costs for the whole family, compensation for the pain you've experienced, loss of enjoyment in life—even if it's just skipped birthday parties or lost hobbies!)

3. Future care and support costs (e.g., live-in aides, respite care, ongoing therapies, education expenses for special schools or private tutoring, vocational training for adult independence, etc.)

A lawyer will explain exactly which of these expenses you're entitled to recover, plus they'll bring in their own financial experts to put a dollar amount on the costs that have and haven't happened yet.

And trust us, you'll need all of this expert help, because these cases aren't DIY-friendly.

Estimating Potential Compensation

Wondering how much you could recover in a Tylenol autism lawsuit?

You'll hate the answer—it depends.

But, because we're not here to be unhelpful (quite the opposite!), our legal source helped us gather some estimates from their practice to help you get an idea.

Typically, it's the severity of your child's autism that plays the biggest role in determining potential compensation, along with the amounts of Tylenol you used during pregnancy, other risk factors that contributed to your child's condition, and the economic losses you've experienced as a caregiver.

With that in mind, settlements for milder cases usually range from $150,000 to $225,000.

Moderate to severe cases, on the other hand, go from $250,000 to $500,000+, with some even hitting seven figures.

Guess we should tell you now that there's one more factor that adds to such a wide range, and it definitely has something to do with the lawyer you choose:

It's a bit about how convincing your case is in court too.

That's why you need a legal specialist, and one with a track record of success in Tylenol Autism lawsuits in particular.

Estimating the Timeline of a Tylenol Lawsuit

If your lawyer has ever tackled a Tylenol autism lawsuit, they'll be able to give you a ballpark on how long yours might take.

Generally, the process isn’t quick, but with the right lawyer, you can speed things up (or at least avoid delays).

For instance, if your case goes to trial, or if you end up appealing, you can expect it to last longer (we're talking years!). But should you decide to settle, things will likely take much less time.

Still, settlements bring their own unique issues with them, such as big pharma’s tendency to lowball payouts. They know you’re eager to wrap things up and might try to push a quick (and cheap) offer your way.

But a good lawyer knows the real value of your claim and pushes back against these tactics.

"No deal," they say, while preparing to take your case to trial if needed.

Knowing What to Expect During the Legal Process

A good lawyer can tell you what to expect in a Tylenol autism lawsuit, but—

They need to specialize in cases just like yours. “Similar” won’t cut it.

You want someone with a proven track record who knows this legal battlefield inside out. (Otherwise, you might end up like that plaintiff whose expert witnesses were dismissed by Judge Denise Cote for using questionable methodologies!)

So, look for a lawyer who:

• Knows how to prep experts so their testimony holds up under intense scrutiny;

• Acknowledges that proving that Tylenol caused autism is no easy task, because autism is influenced by countless factors;

• Has connections in the scientific community;

• Will pivot and take the fight to state courts where standards might be more lenient, if needed;

• Knows how to keep things moving in litigation.

Now, onto the final way a lawyer can help with your Tylenol autism lawsuit claim.

Staying Informed on Case Developments

If your lawyer is up to date with the recent Tylenol autism lawsuits, they'll be honest about how they recently hit a major snag.

As of December 2024, it looks like the feds are done with this case, since plaintiffs couldn't prove that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism or ADHD.

But does that mean you should throw in the towel just yet?

Absolutely not—because your lawyer will also tell you that the plaintiffs have filed appeals.

Now, since appeals can drag on for months or even years, you can't expect quick answers. What you can do, instead, is have your lawyer keep an eye on cases that are still moving forward in state courts, where things could play out differently.

For instance, states like California and Illinois are still in the mix, and their legal standards might just give you a better shot as a plaintiff.

So, it's not over until it's really over, and new evidence can always shift the scale in favor of the plaintiffs. If that happens, you'll want a lawyer who's ready to jump on it!