As a leading cause of serious injury and death in the United States, medical malpractice is responsible for hundreds of thousands of injuries each year and as many as 100,000 fatalities. Very few victims ever take legal action even though popular belief is otherwise and the statistics are so alarming. Only a small precentage of medical malpractice victims or their families, roughly 10 to 15%, ever contact a medical attorney for legal assistance.

It is important for those who have suffered injury due to the negligence of a healthcare professional to speak with a medical attorney. An attorney can help you discover if you have a viable case against those parties that caused you harm and help to determine how much compensation may be sought.

The Right to Be Compensated

Various state and federal laws provide medical malpractice victims and/or their families with the legal right to seek compensation for damages suffered due to another’s negligence or wrongdoing. The law does require victims to file a claim within a certain amount of time (called a statute of limitations), but those who file a case in a timely manner may be able to recover damages such as:

• Compensation for monetary losses – for expenses related to medical treatment and rehabilitation as well as wage losses and other expenses caused by the injury
• Compensation for non-monetary losses – for instance, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of a loved one, loss of consortium, etc.

Punitive damages may be awarded by the jury in some cases. This type of compensation is designed to punish the defendant and deter acts of negligence in the future. However, it is important to note that not all medical malpractice cases go to trial. Oftentimes, a medical attorney will try to negotiate a settlement prior to trial.

When to Contact a Medical Attorney

As soon as you suspect that malpractice has occurred, you should contact a medical attorney.  The following are some of the more common instances of malpractice for which individuals often seek the advice of a medical attorney:

• Surgery errors
• Medication mistakes
• Birth/delivery errors
• Lab errors
• Misdiagnosis/failure to diagnose
• Delayed treatment
• Infection caused by inadequate sterilization

Please note, however, that each case is unique and this list does not provide all possible examples of medical malpractice. If you have any questions about whether medical negligence caused your injury or the death of your loved one, contact a medical attorney.

Have Your Case Evaluated

A medical attorney will evaluate your claim free of charge and inform you as to your eligibility to file a medical lawsuit. It is important to learn about your legal rights if you have been injured due to a medical error whether it is by a nurse, physician or the negligence of another healthcare professional. You may have a legal right to financial compensation and an attorney will assist you in obtaining that money.