Every year there is an estimated 100,000 deaths in the United States because of medical errors that should have been prevented. This makes medical malpractice one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Also, hundreds of thousands additional medical injuries occur that should have been avoided with proper precautions. Althought these numbers are alarming there is just a small percentage (less than 15%) of victims or their families who seek compensation they are owed.

Compensation: Part of a System of Checks & Balances

Compensating victims for wrongly suffered injury is a vital part of the system of checks and balances in America’s legal system. In medical malpractice claims, compensation is given to injured victims as a financial remedy for damages and also makes the responsible party(s) to take responsibility for their actions. In fact, victims are awarded compensation as a way to penalize the parties responsible and hopefully it will deter them from any future negligence.

What This Means for You

It means that if you’ve been injured or lost a family member due to the negligence of a healthcare professional (for instance, a doctor or nurse), you may be entitled to medical compensation for:

Financial Losses – such as those due to medical costs associated with treating the injury, job loss, the cost of permanent disability, etc.
Non-monetary Losses – such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, funeral costs etc.

When to Contact a Malpractice Lawyer

As soon as you suspect that medical malpractice has occurred, you should contact a lawyer. There are strict laws that limit the time you have to file a lawsuit for medical compensation, so act as soon as possible. In fact, if you have suffered because of or lost a loved one to any of the following, it’s in your best interest to have your case evaluated:

• Misdiagnosis – for instance, being diagnosed with the wrong condition or illness
• Missed diagnosis – including failure to diagnose cancer
• Ob/Gyn error – including injury to the infant during delivery
• Lab mistake – such as misinterpreted x-rays or imaging scans, blood tests or biopsies
• Surgical mistake – including surgery on the wrong patient, organ or limb
• Hospital infection – from unsanitary conditions or inadequate sterilization procedures
• Medication error – receiving the wrong dose or the wrong medication
• Delayed diagnosis or treatment

These are just a few of the more common instances of medical malpractice, but negligence comes in many forms and you have a right to know whether negligence caused your injury or loved one’s death.

Talk to an Attorney about Medical Compensation

The lawyers at our law firm are dedicated to helping victims of malpractice seek the medical compensation they deserve. Our attorneys have obtained significant settlements and awards on behalf of clients, and we have the resources to help you too.

For a free case evaluation, contact our law firm today. We’ll evaluate your claim, answer your legal questions, and inform you of your best options.

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