All professionals are prone to making mistakes, but the risks that come from a medical professional’s errors may be far greater than in other fields. There are systems for holding medical professionals such as doctors responsible when they are negligent, and a Fresno medical malpractice lawyer can help you seek justice after an instance of medical wrongdoing affecting you or a loved one. They will review your case, file your case, and handle your case until it reaches the legal finish line.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (800) 641-8998 for a free consultation about how we may help you after an instance of medical malpractice.
Medical Malpractice Is Deadly
The average person who goes in for a medical procedure or doctor’s visit may not realize the risks that they face. You or a loved one harmed by medical malpractice may not have completely understood the risks, either.
According to Johns Hopkins University, medical errors trail only heart disease and cancer as the third-leading cause of death in the United States. This is a highly concerning finding, and it gives insight into the fairly common nature of medical malpractice.
In addition to possible death, a medical error could lead to:
- Paralysis
- Coma
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Brain damage
- Loss of limb usage
- Organ damage
- Severe infection
- Other serious medical outcomes
Doctors and other medical professionals must live up to a high standard of care, and when they do not, it is the patient who may suffer the most serious consequences. While medical errors during surgery are one possible form of medical malpractice, they are far from the only one.
Potential Forms of Medical Malpractice
Whether or not you have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit may depend on whether your duty of care was violated.
Therefore, any act by a medical professional that is considered unreasonable by those who understand medical professional standards may be grounds for a lawsuit. Some specific errors and oversights that could lead to a lawsuit include:
- Failure to diagnose a condition
- Misdiagnosis of a condition
- Ordering tests or procedures that are not necessary
- A medical error during a procedure
- Improper use of anesthesia
- Performing the wrong procedure
- Causing birth injury
- Failing to screen for health conditions during pregnancy
- Inappropriate prescription of medication
- Generally failing to be thorough in ruling out health conditions
- Any act that causes harm to you as a patient
The average person may not be able to adequately determine when a doctor or another type of medical professional violates their duty of care to you as a patient. When you hire a Fresno medical malpractice lawyer, they may hire experts to testify that the defendant in your case violated their duty of care to you and may owe you compensation as a result.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today to find out more about how we can help you after suffering medical malpractice.
For a free legal consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer serving Fresno, call (800) 641-8998
Who Is Responsible for Medical Malpractice
Every instance of medical malpractice is unique. There is no way to say for certain who is responsible for your losses without reviewing the details of your case. Your lawyer will gather all of the facts and evidence related to your case and inform you:
- Who they believe is responsible for your losses
- Whether more than one party are responsible
- Why those parties are responsible
- How they can seek compensation from those responsible parties
A medical professional who caused you or a loved one to suffer harm may be the most likely candidate for liability in your case. Additional parties such as the medical facility where the negligence occurred could also be liable for some portion of your losses.
Once your lawyer assigns liability to responsible parties, they will take the next steps in pursuing any compensation that you deserve.
A Lawyer Will Chart Your Path to Possible Awards
Your lawyer will have several responsibilities related to your case, and forming a strategy for seeking awards may be one of them. A lawsuit may not always be necessary in the wake of medical malpractice, and your lawyer will explain the options available to you for seeking compensation.
The Insurance Information Institute (III) notes that doctors are generally required to carry medical malpractice insurance. It adds that this type of insurance may provide financial coverage when a patient such as yourself or your loved one is injured or killed because of certain medical services.
Your lawyer will review the specifics of any medical malpractice insurance relevant to your case and can help you with any claim that you choose to bring. Whether you choose to file an insurance claim rather than a lawsuit may depend on:
- Whether the person or institution responsible for your losses has insurance
- How much coverage their insurance provides
- Whether their insurer agrees that they are responsible for your losses
- How much compensation they offer for your losses
There may be numerous reasons why a lawsuit is necessary rather than an insurance claim. You and your lawyer will discuss these issues, as every case is unique.
Your lawyer’s goal will be to secure fair compensation for you, regardless of the path they choose in pursuing it. Some types of compensation that you could be entitled to include coverage for:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Costs from losing a loved one
Your lawyer will keep an up-to-date account of all of your accident-related losses and will fight for the awards that you deserve.
Fresno Medical Malpractice Lawyer Near Me (800) 641-8998
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC Today
You or a loved one may be entitled to compensation if you were harmed because of the action or inaction of a medical professional.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (800) 641-8998 for more information about how a Fresno medical malpractice lawyer will serve you or a loved one.
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