Why You Need a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A medical malpractice lawyer can help patients who have suffered injuries receive compensation for their losses. The common law system regulates medical malpractice lawsuits.

In the common law, doctors must follow the highest standards of care when treating their patients. If a physician violates accepted medical practice and results in injury or death the doctor may be held responsible for medical malpractice lawsuit negligence.

Duty of Care

Medical professionals must adhere to a set standard that are accepted by the medical profession as being prudent and reasonable when they provide care. If these standards aren't met and that failure causes injuries or health issues, a patient may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit (testold.gep.de).

The first element in a malpractice case is to establish that you were a client of the healthcare provider and that they were bound to act in a reasonable manner. Then, you have to prove that the breach of this duty occurred. This is typically done with the use of experts who can provide an objective analysis and evaluation of the case.

The expert witness will be able help determine whether or not the defendant's actions were below the accepted standard of care in your particular situation. The expert will need to examine your medical records and then interview or testify against you to arrive at this conclusion.

You must be able to establish that the breach directly caused your injury. Causation is the third element in a claim for malpractice. In most cases, you will need to have a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the breach of duty and subsequent injury. For instance, a wrong diagnosis could result in the wrong treatment or medication being administered and could result in an adverse reaction, like heart attacks.

Breach of Duty

Like all doctors, doctors have a legal obligation to act with care and caution. However, doctors are held to an even more stringent standard because they are medical experts and are able to make life and death decisions. The duty of care is outlined in laws and standards governing specific types of treatments and procedures.

In a negligence case, it is crucial to prove that the defendant owed the obligation of taking care of the plaintiff. It must be proved that the defendant breached this duty of care. This means that the doctor failed to live up to the standard of care in the particular situation. The quality of care is usually determined by what a typical person would do in similar situations. A reasonable driver, for example, would not run a traffic light.

In a lawsuit involving a malpractice experts could be required to testify regarding the standard of care that was violated and how this standard was violated. They can also describe the cause of the injury and what could have been done to prevent it from happening.

Damages

Physicians in the United States are required to carry malpractice insurance to cover the potential losses that could result from medical negligence. In order to file a claim, the plaintiff must prove both financial losses (such medical expenses and lost wages) as well as non-economic losses (such suffering and pain).

The amount you receive from a successful malpractice suit depends on how well your New York medical malpractice attorney will argue for your losses. Your lawyer can determine your medically required expenses through a review of your medical records, the testimony of experts as well as the assistance of economic experts. Your medical malpractice attorney must prove the loss of earnings by proving the number of days you have missed from work because of medical issues, and that these days were due to the defendant’s negligence.

Non-economic damages are more difficult to prove. You may need the assistance of an expert witness who can describe your mental, physical, and emotional distress as directly resulting from the defendant's negligence. Loss of consortium is a different type of non-economic damage. It is the inability to enjoy a loving, sexual relationship with your spouse or other significant individual as you used to. The attorney representing the defendant will challenge your non-economic losses through depositions, interrogatories, and requests for statements and documents under the oath.

Statute of Limitations

As in every state, New York has a statute of limitations that must be fulfilled before a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed. Otherwise the court will decide to dismiss it. A New York medical malpractice attorney who has experience will be aware of the nuances of these deadlines. They will also ensure that your claim is filed before the deadlines set by law.

In the majority of cases, the victim of medical negligence must bring a suit within two and a half years from the date the act or Medical Malpractice Lawsuit omission by a health care provider resulted in the injury or death. As with all laws, this rule has its exceptions. For instance in the event that the error by the health professional was part of an ongoing course of treatment, the 30-month mandatory "clock" will not begin until the course of treatment is completed or the patient learns about the diagnosis.

In some instances for instance, when an object that is foreign remains in the body after surgery or treatment, it might not be possible for a patient or patient's family to determine that there was a problem until much later. In this regard, a majority of states have adopted a legal concept called the discovery rule, which allows injured victims to extend these deadlines in certain circumstances. Your attorney will know the specific laws in your state and will go over the timeline of your case to avoid administrative errors which could cause delays to your claim.