Medical Device Injury Lawyers Seeking Real Justice Through Impella & HeartMate Heart Pump Injury Claims
Defective heart pump lawsuits are about protecting patients harmed by devices that were supposed to help them. When an Impella Left Sided Blood Pump or a HeartMate Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) causes a serious complication, the effects touch every part of a family’s life. These cases focus on injuries and deaths linked to the following devices:
-
- Abiomed Impella® Left Sided Blood Pumps
-
- Abbott HeartMate II™ & HeartMate 3™
At Bernheim Kelley, we Keep It Real. We move quickly to protect your rights while we pursue accountability and fair compensation. Our mass tort team is actively investigating Impella and HeartMate claims and accepting new clients nationwide. Tell us your story.
Our defective medical device attorneys have decades of Real Experience standing up to Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, and device makers. Let’s discuss your legal options for a defective heart pump lawsuit and create a plan that aligns with your needs and what matters most to you and your family.
If you or a loved one had an Impella or HeartMate device and suffered a serious complication, you may be able to file a defective heart pump lawsuit. Complete our case review form, contact us online, or call 617-420-1111 to set up a FREE case evaluation.
"*" indicates required fields
Eligibility: Do You Qualify for an Impella or HeartMate Heart Pump Lawsuit?
You may qualify to pursue a defective heart pump lawsuit if you experienced the following:
- You or a loved one received an Abiomed Impella or an Abbott HeartMate II or HeartMate 3.
- After use or implantation, there was a serious complication, a revision or exchange procedure, or a death.
Not sure which device or model you had? We can get the records and confirm for you. Reach out to Bernheim Kelley or fill out our case evaluation form today, and we will discuss your options with you.
Real Results
- $250,000,000+: As co-lead counsel in the Fresenius GranuFlo mass tort, Walter Kelley helped coordinate a nationwide settlement for patients injured by the product.
- $74,400,000: Serving as lead counsel and court‑appointed leadership counsel in defective hip implant cases, we secured settlements for clients across the country who needed revision surgery.
- $34,000,000+: We recovered over $34 million for clients harmed by implanted medical devices that later had to be removed.
- $9,800,000: A pharmaceutical company agreed to a confidential settlement after failing to warn about known risks that caused permanent injuries.
- $2,800,000: We recovered compensation for a Florida woman whose neurologic injuries from a dangerous drug ended her work in the service industry.
Why Choose Us?
When you’re facing one of the toughest moments of your life, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a trusted ally who will stand with you and fight for your rights.
What Is the Abiomed & Abbott Heart Pump Recall Lawsuit?
Impella pumps help move blood for short periods during high-risk heart procedures. HeartMate pumps are implanted devices that help the heart circulate blood for longer-term support. In 2024, the FDA flagged safety problems with both devices.
Defective heart pump lawsuits allege that design flaws or inadequate safety notices and warnings to doctors and hospitals led to serious injuries or deaths. If that happened to you or someone in your family, you may be able to file a lawsuit to hold the manufacturer accountable and seek compensation for medical care, lost income, and other losses.
Every case is different. We confirm which device you had, the clinical timeline, your doctor’s documentation, and FDA communications to see if you have a valid claim.
What Devices Are Involved?
Abiomed Impella Left Sided Blood Pump models used for short-term support, including:
- Impella 2.5
- Impella CP
- Impella CP with SmartAssist
- Impella 5.0
- Impella 5.5 with SmartAssist
- Impella LD
Abbott or Thoratec Corp. HeartMate systems used for durable support, including:
- HeartMate II
- HeartMate 3
What Happened with the FDA?
Abiomed Impella® Recall
In March 2024, the FDA classified a Class I recall of the Instructions for Use for Impella Left Sided Blood Pumps due to the risk that the pump catheter could perforate the left ventricle. The recall was a correction to labeling and training materials, not a product removal. The FDA cited reports of 129 serious injuries and 49 tragic deaths related to this issue and directed updated warnings to reduce perforation risk.
The FDA also issued a 2023 warning letter to Abiomed regarding complaint handling and safety notices and warnings to doctors and hospitals related to Impella devices.
Abbott HeartMate™ Recall
In April 2024, the FDA announced a Class I recall for HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 due to Extrinsic Outflow Graft Obstruction (EOGO) from biological material buildup over time. The FDA noted 273 injuries and 14 deaths associated with this issue.
In May 2024, the FDA announced a Class I recall for the HeartMate 3 Implant Kit due to a potential leak path between the inflow cannula and the titanium apical cuff, which could allow blood leakage or air entry and lead to serious complications. Abbott reported 81 incidents, including 70 injuries and 2 deaths.
Signs & Injuries Linked to Defective Heart Pumps
Impella
- Perforation of the left ventricle or free wall rupture
- Hemodynamic collapse or loss of blood flow
- Stroke or death
HeartMate II & HeartMate 3
- Low-flow alarms or recurrent low-flow events
- Prolonged surgery or unexpected challenges
- Bleeding, right heart failure, or air embolism
- Outflow graft obstruction over time
- Leak at the apical cuff and inflow cannula interface
If you had similar complications after an Impella Pump was used during a procedure or after a HeartMate Pump was implanted, we can review your case and explain your options. You may be eligible to pursue compensation for your distress and pain.
We are currently investigating these claims and accepting new clients nationwide. For answers and a clear path forward, fill out our online form or contact our team of defective device lawyers for a FREE, confidential case evaluation. And remember, you don’t pay unless and until we win you compensation.
What People Face After Defective Heart Pump Injuries
Many patients and families face a chain of medical, financial, and emotional challenges after a medical device injury is discovered. The new normal can sometimes include the following:
Medical Realities
- Emergency surgery, longer ICU stays, and repeat hospitalizations
- Device removal or replacement, pump exchanges, or revision procedures
- Stroke rehabilitation, new mobility limits, and cognitive changes
- Worsening heart failure or the need for transplant evaluation
- Bleeding or clotting complications related to blood thinners
- Infection risk, wound care needs, and frequent follow‑up at specialized centers
Financial Strain
- Large out-of-pocket bills and travel to out-of-network hospitals
- Lost income for patients and caregivers
- Added costs for home health, equipment, and transportation
Family Impact
- Caregiver burnout, sleep disruption, and stress
- Grief and funeral expenses in wrongful death cases
We meet you where you are. Our team helps gather records, preserve evidence, and connect your story to the facts as we diligently pursue the accountability and recompense you deserve for what you’ve been through.
What To Do Now
Our mass tort attorneys have worked tirelessly, handling many defective medical device cases over the years. We know what we’re doing, and we want you to focus on your health and family.
Here’s what you can do to help us help you:
- Gather Records: Keep anything that could support your claim, including bills, hospital records, device model and serial numbers, discharge summaries, and any adverse event notes.
- Start a Journal: Track symptoms, alarms, hospital visits, time off work, and out‑of‑pocket costs.
- Report to FDA MedWatch: Patient and caregiver reports help regulators and physicians. We can assist with the filing.
- Do NOT Discuss the Event with Manufacturers or Insurers Without Counsel: Protect your rights and your privacy. Speak with our team first.
If you have questions or feel overwhelmed, reach out to our compassionate team for support. You didn’t expect to be in this position, but we know what to do next. However, deadlines apply in every state, so it helps to fill out our case review form or contact us as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Impella & HeartMate Lawsuits
A medical device malfunction lawsuit is a legal claim against the company that manufactured a medical device when that device fails, is defectively designed, or lacks adequate warnings and causes an injury or death. In a HeartMate or Impella recall lawsuit, we need to show how the device or its safety notices and warnings to doctors and hospitals fell short, connect that failure to your injuries or loss, and seek compensation and accountability.
These types of cases are often handled as part of coordinated mass tort litigation. This allows individual families to benefit from shared science, experts, and court discovery while keeping their own claims and damages.
You might! The FDA required a safety correction to the Impella instructions in March 2024 because the pump catheter can tear the wall of the left ventricle. Reports include serious injuries and deaths.
If you had an Impella during a procedure and then suffered a heart wall tear, hemodynamic collapse, emergency surgery, stroke, or a loss, talk with us about an Impella lawsuit. We will review your records, identify the device and model, and discuss your options with you.
Yes. In April 2024, the FDA announced a Class I recall for the HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 due to blockage in the outflow graft, which can limit blood flow over time. In May 2024, the FDA issued a Class I recall for the HeartMate 3 implant kit due to a seal issue that could allow blood to leak or permit air to enter the system.
The medical device injury lawyers at Bernheim Kelley can evaluate whether you have a HeartMate recall lawsuit if you or a loved one experienced any of the following after a HeartMate implant:
- Low-flow alarms or events
- Bleeding
- Right heart failure
- Prolonged or unexpected surgery
- Air embolism
- Death
- Or other related complications
Cases are currently being filed across the country and may be coordinated as mass torts. We are reviewing HeartMate lawsuits now and accepting new clients nationwide. Reach out today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation, and we’ll evaluate your eligibility.
In a class action, a single lawsuit represents a group of people who share the same issue, and the court resolves the class claims collectively with a single result that applies to the entire class.
A mass tort is different. Each person has an individual lawsuit, and cases are coordinated for efficiency, often in a federal Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). Families benefit from shared experts, science, and discovery, but your claim remains your own and any compensation reflects your specific injuries and losses.
Most Impella & HeartMate heart pump lawsuits are filed as individual cases and may be coordinated by the courts as a mass tort for efficiency.
Most are still being used. The Impella action in 2024 was a correction to the Instructions for Use, so the pumps remained available with stronger warnings and training. HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 devices also remain in use with updated guidance for surgeons and hospitals. Certain accessories have been removed from use.
Start with what you have at home. Look for a medical device ID card, discharge papers, or an after-visit summary. We can request your operative report, implant logs, device labels, and billing records to confirm the exact model and lot. If you remember the hospital, the month, and the year of your procedure, that is enough for us to get started.
It depends on your state and situation. Many states have filing windows that can be as short as 1 to 2 years, and some rules pause or extend the deadline in limited circumstances. The safest bet is to reach out to our team of dedicated mass tort lawyers as soon as possible. The faster we can get to work, the better our chances of protecting your rights and maximizing recovery.
Timelines will always vary by case. There are many factors that can influence the length of an Impella or HeartMate lawsuit, including:
- The severity and type of injuries
- How quickly medical records are obtained
- Whether cases are coordinated as a mass tort
- How the defendants choose to litigate
Some claims could be resolved within several months, while others could take longer. What you can expect from the driven defective heart pump attorneys at Bernheim Kelley is simple: we will move swiftly, keep you informed, and press for the best possible resolution for you and your family. Once we’ve sat down and discussed your case, we’ll be able to give you a better idea of how long this might take.
Every case is different. Potential compensation in a HeartMate or Impella heart pump lawsuit could include:
- Medical bills (past & future)
- Cost of long-term care
- Lost income & benefits
- Reduced earning capacity
- Home or attendant care
- Pain & suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The diligent team at Bernheim Kelley will evaluate your losses and seek the full and fair compensation you deserve after this terrible ordeal.
Often yes. Most states allow a surviving spouse, children, parents, or the personal representative of the estate to bring a wrongful death claim and, in some cases, a survival claim. However, these laws vary from state to state. Our knowledgeable and experienced team can explain who can file, what damages are available, and how the process works in your jurisdiction. We are so very sorry for your loss.
Your first conversation with us is FREE. We handle Impella recall lawsuits and HeartMate recall lawsuits on a contingency fee. That means you pay nothing up front and don’t owe us a dime unless we recover compensation for you. There are no retainers and no hourly bills. Our defective medical device lawyers Keep It Real about costs and keep you informed at every point along the way.
Next Step: If you believe you were injured by an Impella or HeartMate device and want to discuss a defective heart pump lawsuit, fill out our case review form, call 617-420-1111, or contact us online for a FREE, confidential case evaluation. Bernheim Kelley is investigating claims and accepting new clients nationwide.
– you are in good hands!
How Bernheim Kelley’s Abiomed Impella Heart Pump & Abbott HeartMate Lawyers Build Your Case
At Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, we prepare every case for trial to give you the best chance of securing Real Justice. Our approach blends Real Experience in medical device litigation with clear communication and steadfast client support.
Here is how we build your case:
- Confirm the Device: We identify the exact pump, model, and lot from hospital records and labels.
- Prove What Went Wrong: We work with cardiology, cardiac surgery, and engineering experts to link the device problem to your injury.
- Secure Evidence: We preserve device data, imaging, telemetry, and medical records, and send the needed preservation notices.
- Map the Timeline: We tell the story of your care, the FDA updates, and the manufacturer’s safety notices to doctors and hospitals.
- Value Your Full Loss: We calculate medical costs, future care, lost income, and intangible losses, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship.
- File & Manage the Case: We handle the short-form complaint and required mass tort documents, and file in the forum that best fits your situation when the law allows.
- Coordinate & Update: We collaborate with national mass tort teams and keep you updated on milestones, court orders, and negotiations.
We will strategize and plan together so you always know what’s next and the reason behind each move. If the defendants refuse a fair resolution, our trial team is ready to present your case in court.
Potential Compensation for a Defective Heart Pump Lawsuit
A HeartMate or Impella heart pump lawsuit can help secure vital compensation after a defective heart pump has caused you harm. Though the damages you seek will be specific to the details of your claim, possible damages could include:
- Medical expenses
- Future care costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Home or attendant care
- Pain & suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In the case of a loved one’s passing:
- Funeral & burial costs
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of consortium
- And more
You trusted medical professionals to care for you and help you get better. You didn’t deserve what happened instead. Bernheim Kelley will pursue the full measure of compensation allowed by law. We have a reputation as a trial-ready, client-centered, dedicated firm, and we’ll put our skills to work for you immediately.
What We Know & What We’re Investigating
What We Know
- In March 2024, the FDA required Abiomed to update the Impella instructions to warn that the pump catheter can tear the heart wall (left ventricle).
- In April and May 2024, the FDA announced Class I recalls for HeartMate devices: one for blockage in the outflow graft that can limit blood flow over time, and another for a seal issue in the HeartMate 3 implant kit that could allow blood to leak or air to enter.
- The 2024 Impella action was a correction to labeling and training, not a removal. The pumps remained available with stronger warnings and instructions.
What We Are Investigating
We will look closely at the facts that connect your injury to the device so we can explain what happened and who is responsible. In short, we examine:
- How the pump was designed and labeled, and whether the instructions, training, and safety notices sent to doctors and hospitals were clear and complete for real-world use.
- When the manufacturer and the FDA learned about specific risks, when warnings were sent to hospitals, and whether those warnings reached your care team in time.
- Whether certain models, lots, hospitals, procedures, or settings show patterns of problems, and what those patterns mean for your case.
Bernheim Kelley Means Real Advocacy & Real Justice
You deserve answers, accountability, and a plan that puts your health and future first. At Bernheim Kelley, you get compassionate advocacy, seasoned trial experience, and clear communication from day one.
These are some of the many reasons families choose Bernheim Kelley:
- Real Results: Our team has recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including a $200 million jury verdict against R.J. Reynolds, $250+ million coordinated recovery in the Fresenius GranuFlo litigation, and $74.4 million in defective hip implant litigation.
- Trial‑Ready Approach & Real Experience: We have real trial experience and prepare every case for court, so we can negotiate from a position of strength.
- Personal Attention: You get direct access to your legal team, regular updates, and answers whenever you need them.
- Nationwide Representation: We handle mass tort claims across the country and meet you where you are.
- Real Support: We help coordinate records, treatment, and, when needed, travel arrangements. More importantly, we care about you, your family, and getting your story heard.
- No Fee Unless You Win: Financial concerns shouldn’t stop you from seeking accountability and justice. Your initial consultation is FREE, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Our Medical Device Injury Attorneys Are Accepting New Clients: Contact Us Today for a FREE Case Evaluation
Our mass tort attorneys are investigating Abiomed and Abbott Heart Pump recall claims and accepting new clients nationwide. If you were injured or a loved one was lost due to the use of an Abiomed Impella Left Sided Heart Pump or an Abbott HeartMate II or HeartMate 3 device, you may be eligible for a defective heart pump lawsuit.
We want to hear your story, protect your rights, and hold negligent manufacturers to account. Reach out to us today for a FREE case review. Call 617-420-1111 or fill out the case evaluation form now.