Medical Malpractice
When you need medical care, you trust your medical care provider to successfully provide that care. And generally, going to the doctor will make you feel better. Occasionally things do not go as planned. As in any profession, medical professionals make mistakes. If you were injured because of a medical professional’s negligence, contact an experienced medical malpractice law firm to discuss filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Which “Medical Professionals” May Be Held Liable for My Injury?
- Nurses
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Nursing Homes
- Healthcare facilities
A medical malpractice claim may be filed against more than one person. For example, if during your course of care both a doctor and a nurse provided care that led to your injury, you may list the doctor, the nurse, and sometime even the healthcare facility as defendants in your medical malpractice claim.
What Is Considered Negligent Care?
A physician’s duty to you is of a higher standard than that of an average citizen. In a medical malpractice lawsuit you must show that the medical professional and/or healthcare facility deviated from accepted medical practices and procedures. Examples of negligent care in a medical malpractice claim include the following:
- Late diagnosis or misdiagnosis
- Lack of informed consent
- Surgical error
- Anesthesia error
- Prescription error
- Birth trauma
- Emergency room error
- Wrongful death because of a doctor’s or nurse’s error
An error does not always mean that there is a medical malpractice claim. You must also suffer an injury in order to file a lawsuit and be considered for compensation.
Damages
Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is a way to exercise your rights as a patient and a way to seek compensation for the damages you incurred as a result of the medical malpractice.
Your past and future medical expenses, lost wages from time away from work, and pain and suffering are all examples of damages that may be compensated. Discuss a medical malpractice lawsuit with an injury law firm near you.
Settlements
Most medical malpractice cases settle and do not go to trial. Settlements for medical malpractice cases can be very large, but many states have a “cap,” or legal limit, on the maximum you may win. Make sure to speak with an experienced injury attorney to find out your state’s procedures and how to best navigate a medical malpractice lawsuit.