malpractice lawsuit
Did you suffer bodily harm because of a doctor’s neglect?
Do you feel you were treated in a dangerous way in your last hospital visit?
You’re not alone. In 2012, over $3 billion was spent on medical malpractice payouts.
Let’s discuss the facts you need to know about medical malpractice lawsuits.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is defined as an act or continuing conduct by a medical professional that does not meet regular competency standards.
In other words, a doctor who caused unnecessary harm. This can be through an act of negligence, ignorance or intentional wrongdoing.
While the number of cases per year is declining, it is still a major issue. As of 2016, there were an estimated 8,500 malpractice cases settled in the US. Read more if you want to learn more about the statistics.
So, what can happen in these cases?
Money damages, if awarded, typically take into account any form of economic loss. Non-economic loss, such as pain and suffering, are also included.
We’ll discuss that later. There are also plenty of online resources to learn more about medical malpractice law in the US.
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5 Facts You Need to Know Before Filing a Malpractice Lawsuit
While there is a lot to know about these types of cases, let’s go over the essentials.
Determining A Victim
A bad outcome of a surgery, or another medical endeavor, does not always qualify as malpractice.
A malpractice claim exists if a provider’s negligence or ignorance led to injury or other damages to the patient. Examples include:
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
- Additional medical bills
- Lost work or earning capacity
So let’s talk about the process it takes for a claim to be filed.
Your Claim Must Go Before a Medical Review Panel
After speaking with law and insurance professionals, your claim must go before a panel of three doctors before being filed.
There Is a Two-Year Statute of Limitations
That’s right. You can only file a claim within two years of the incident in Michigan.
Acting as soon as possible is the best plan of action. Check out our medical malpractice legal services now.
What Is the Most Common Factor in Malpractice Cases?
According to several medical professionals, the provider’s state of mind can be the biggest factor in these cases. Complacency often leads to errors.
Recognizing the behavior of your provider may play a key role in your case.
This seems to be a bigger factor in these cases than the type of procedure being carried out.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get a Second Opinion
You may have already spoken to an attorney or your insurance provider about your claim. There is nothing wrong with getting a second legal opinion.
So, if you still believe you have a legitimate malpractice claim, what should you do now?
Next Steps
We learned about determining a valid claim, and a bit about the process.
If you believe you were a victim of medical malpractice, don’t wait. Speak to our legal professionals, and we will answer any questions you have.
If we find you have a legitimate claim, we will help you every step of the way.
Meet our team, with the necessary medical knowledge to represent you for your medical malpractice lawsuit. Call us now!
