Types of Medical Malpractice Compensation

Some states have limits on the amount of damages that an individual victim of medical malpractice may be awarded. These caps typically cover specific, tangible losses like medical bills and lost wages.

However medical malpractice cases generally include non-economic damages such as suffering and pain. The experienced lawyers at Sobo & Sobo can help you establish a strong case to recover compensation for these losses in the following areas.

Potencial Loss of Earnings

If an injury caused by medical malpractice compromises your ability to earn income, you can recover compensation for the loss of wages. However, proving these losses is not easy. You must demonstrate that the doctor's negligence caused your injuries, and not simply a result of them. This can be difficult especially if the doctor misdiagnosed or ignored the presence of a medical condition prior to it.

Based on the nature of medical malpractice, you could be entitled to non-economic damages as well as economic damages. Non-economic damages are based on the effect the injuries have affected your life quality. Your lawyer will use expert testimony, charts, and graphics to show the impact of negligence.

In certain instances medical negligence is so severe that you are capable of claiming punitive damages. These damages are intended to punish the healthcare provider who has engaged in a shocking behavior. This kind of damages award is not typical, but it can be awarded if the healthcare provider has acted with malice or irresponsibility.

Medical malpractice claims can be costly to pursue. The costs of court filings, medical records, and other paperwork can quickly become costly. Your lawyer will also need to enlist experts to review your case to determine if medical professionals breached their duty to you.

Permanent Disability

Medical malpractice cases are usually complex, with many types of damages that are available. Compensation can cover costs like future medical procedures, ongoing Medical malpractice attorneys treatment or wages lost in the event of an injury that caused someone to miss work. It also covers non-economic costs like pain and discomfort.

The non-economic costs can be difficult to quantify, but could be a result of any decline in quality of life. They could also include emotional and psychological distress. The lawyer for the claimant will utilize testimony from family and friends members to help jurors comprehend the impact of the accident on the victim's life.

A good NYC medical malpractice lawyer will scrutinize the evidence to determine the value of an action. This includes reviewing the medical malpractice statutes of limitations, which restricts the time a plaintiff must make a claim following an accident.

The value of a claim for medical malpractice will depend on the severity and extent of the injury. Higher settlement amounts are reserved for more serious injuries. A doctor may have misdiagnosed cancer in an individual patient, which could cause death. The most serious injuries are also more likely to cause permanent disability, which increases the cost of the claim.

Pain and Suffering

Patients who have suffered from medical malpractice can also seek compensation for the physical pain they've felt as a result of a doctor’s negligence. Physical pain can result from an injury, like a broken bone or a scar. It could also be caused by or the inability to sleep or exercise and loss of sexual function and other injuries that impact the quality of life of the victim.

Psychological suffering and pain is also a part of the compensation given to victims of medical malpractice. Psychiatric injuries, such as anxiety depression, suicidal phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be incredibly physically and mentally limiting, and can trigger physical pain as well. In addition the loss of mental health may affect a victim's capacity to work or maintain healthy relationships, and impact their general quality of life.

Damages can be divided into two categories: economic or "special" damage, which is based upon the possibility of calculable losses, and non-economic or general damages, like discomfort and pain. Non-economic damages are hard to quantify in dollars, therefore it can be hard to determine the right amount.

There are various methods for calculating the value of an award for pain and loss which includes a multiplier approach which adds up all special damages and then multiplies the number by a particular amount ranging from 1.5 to 5. Some states place limits on these types of awards, however in many cases, judges will not overturn the verdict of a jury.

Loss of Future Earnings

The victims of medical malpractice can claim a wide variety of damages including future loss of earnings. This is the amount that a victim could have earned had they been capable of working at their old job or if a job was available that would have been suitable for their disability. This is a complicated item of damage that usually requires the assistance of an expert economist to determine.

Lost earnings calculations are simple in the event that the victim earned on an hourly basis. A lawyer can multiply the hourly rate of a person by the number of hours they missed to determine their total lost wages. An individual who was employed as a salaried worker will have to consider the amount of time they were not able to work as well as their pay and benefits.

While the process of calculating lost income is relatively simple, future losses can be more complex. The lawyer will need to take into consideration the cost of future treatments and also the costs that can be reasonably expected depending on the condition of a patient.

It is essential to have an experienced lawyer to assist you in pursuing compensation for medical negligence. At Weltchek Mallahan & Weltchek, our team can assist you to determine the best method to pursue your financial recovery. Contact us today to set up an appointment with us for a no-cost consultation. Medical errors can be a grave problem that can cause significant damage. Our legal team will analyze your case in detail and fight for the compensation you are due.