Hospitals are your go-to place whether you want to have a check-up or be admitted for an injury. It is where you trust your health and live with doctors and medical professionals.
These doctors and nurses have been working non-stop to treat every person admitted to a hospital. However, no matter how skillful these medical professionals may be, they’re also human and make mistakes.
Healthcare professionals’ mistakes are sometimes severe and cause serious harm to a patient. No matter the severity of the error, everyone should take medical negligence seriously. Proving negligence is essential, especially if you seek compensation for your treatment.
But as a patient, you can’t do all these alone – that’s why medical negligence lawyers exist. Read on to learn more about what they can do for you.
What is medical negligence?
Medical malpractice refers to the mistakes or poor care done by medical doctors, nurses, and other professionals.
This includes any medical treatment medical professionals provide their patients, whether at hospitals, health centers, or homes. Common types of medical malpractice that make an existing illness worse include:
- Incorrect medical diagnosis
- Surgical errors
- Issuing the wrong treatment
- Medication errors
- Birth injuries
- Failure to warn a patient of medication risks
- Anesthesia errors
- Dental Malpractice
- Wrong operation procedure
Why do you need a medical negligence lawyer?
If you or someone you know suffered medical negligence, a lawyer can help! But not just any lawyer; you need someone specializing in medical malpractice – medical negligence lawyers.
They can help you handle the complicated nature of medical malpractice, bring a claim, and win the compensation you deserve.
A medical negligence lawyer can help determine if your case and worsening health or injury issue are eligible for a medical malpractice claim. Hiring a medical negligence lawyer can speed up the process if you want to file a case or receive compensation.
How long do medical negligence cases take to resolve?
The time a medical negligence issue takes depends on various factors, like the complexity and severity of your case. For serious malpractice, a typical negligence lawyer would advise between 12 to 24 months to solve the issue.
However, cases that both parties can solve through communication and mediation are often quicker. Meanwhile, highly severe cases that reach the Supreme Court can extend to 36 months.
What are the four critical elements of a medical negligence case?
Filing a medical negligence case is much more than words; you must prove four factors to support your claim. These are known as the four D’s of medical negligence:
1. Duty
The first step your lawyer must do when filing a medical negligence case is duty. It refers to showing that the medical provider or hospital that treated you owed you a duty of care.
You must show that you had a patient relationship with the medical provider. This process aims to help you and your lawyer get through this by showing your medical records and treatment to the hospital.
2. Derelict
The next thing you need to prove is a derelict, or consider this step as showing proof of malpractice.
It means you must prove that the doctor or your medical care provider failed to comply with professional standards. You can show evidence of misdiagnosis, your doctor prescribing you the wrong dose or medication, or failure to know the risks of your medication.
3. Damages
As mentioned, doctors are humans, too, sometimes committing mistakes due to various factors. However, just because a medical professional made a mistake doesn’t automatically mean you’re a victim of negligence. After showing proof, you must back up with harm from the provider’s actions.
For instance, if you were given the wrong medication without harmful effects, you are not eligible for a medical negligence case. On the other hand, if you suffered a worsening or new illness brought on by the wrong medication, you could file for a claim.
4. Direct Cause
Finally, the last step to a successful claim is showing that the harm you suffered was the direct cause of your medical provider’s malpractice.
This step is often one of the most challenging components of a medical negligence claim and usually takes specialized knowledge to create a connection. A medical negligence lawyer can help you build a strong case of direct cause for a successful compensation claim.
What can medical negligence lawyers do for you?
A medical negligence lawyer is an ally in your fight to get compensation due to malpractice. Here are some reasons why you need a lawyer on your side:
1. Specialization
Seeking help from a medical negligence lawyer increases your chances of winning a claim. Although it might be your first medical malpractice case, there is no need to be wary.
Your lawyer has handled hundreds to thousands of cases in their career, so they have the knowledge and skills to handle this case.
2. Deep Knowledge
Since medical malpractice lawyers specialize in negligence, they have studied and know all about it. Medical malpractice is a complicated area since it contains a lot of technicalities and is strict when it comes to requirements.
A medical negligence lawyer has deep knowledge of medical errors and malpractice. They can help you with the 4D process for a successful compensation claim.
Additionally, medical malpractice lawyers have a wide range of knowledge regarding medical errors and how to detect them. This includes medical concepts, medical standards, malpractice litigation, claim process, insurance companies, legal procedures, and many more!
3. Reduce Financial Risk
A medical malpractice lawyer will represent you on a contingency basis, so you won’t be required to pay them a fee until they prevail in your legal matter. One benefit of this is that you don’t run the danger of financial loss because medical malpractice lawyers will pay for the expenses of supporting your claim.
Work With an Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer Now!
A medical malpractice lawyer can help you receive compensation for your case, whether for a wrong medication, poor treatment, or dangerous drugs worsening your condition. Work with an experienced medical negligence lawyer today!
