Medical Malpractice Lawyers (2024)

Elliot Figueira

Contributor

Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.

Editor

Read in 4 mins

Ten percent of all deaths in the United States are caused by medical errors, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. While this statistic might shock some, it will hardly surprise survivors of medical malpractice.

Countless families lose loved ones to these preventable mistakes each year. Not only do medical errors fail to cure serious illnesses, but they create new problems and even healthcare bills for innocent patients.

Medical malpractice can cause permanent disabilities, missed wages, and lasting psychological trauma.

If you’re considering suing a negligent healthcare provider, speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer. ConsumerShield can help connect you with an experienced lawyer today.

Who Needs a Medical Malpractice Attorney?

Patients who have suffered healthcare injuries can work with medical malpractice lawyers to pursue compensation. A wide range of patient injuries may lead to medical malpractice lawsuits, including:

Birth Injuries

Birth injuries are among the most tragic medical errors, as infants may never have a chance to live normal lives. Examples include forceps marks, cerebral palsy, paralysis, and fractures. Birth injuries may also affect mothers in various, potentially fatal ways.

Botched Surgeries

Patients may suffer serious, potentially fatal injuries due to botched surgeries. Although it might seem unthinkable, some patients have had incorrect organs removed. Negligent surgeons may also leave foreign objects embedded inside patients.

Defective Medical Equipment

Many medical malpractice lawsuits involve defective products, including implants, medications, equipment, and supplies. These often lead to class-action lawsuits against negligent medical companies.

Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors not only represent the most common form of medical malpractice, but they also cause the most harm, according to the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, if a doctor fails to properly diagnose a patient, they cannot provide effective treatment. Worse still, they may harm the patient with needless, incorrect procedures.

Medication Errors

Even a slight miscalculation can lead to a fatal overdose. Incorrect medication may also fail to address life-threatening conditions, ultimately resulting in death.

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Can a Medical Malpractice Attorney Help Me Prove Negligence?

Patients can prove medical malpractice lawsuits by establishing a major deviation from established medical protocols.

The plaintiff in a medical malpractice case must prove that the doctor breached their duty of care and an injury resulted from the negligence. The elements of both negligence and medical malpractice are:

  • Duty of care owed by the practitioner
  • Breach of the duty
  • Causation
  • Injury directly caused by the breach

In a medical malpractice claim, the doctor or medical practitioner must meet the expected standard of other doctors in that specialty.

For instance, a heart surgeon is held to the American Medical Association’s standard of heart surgeons. If the doctor makes surgical errors, the question becomes if another qualified heart surgeon would have done so.

Medical malpractice lawyers can help you prove negligence in various ways. A range of evidence could be helpful as you approach compensation.

Your lawyer might look into the history of a particular doctor to determine whether they have been accused of malpractice in the past. They might also refer to medical records and medical images to underscore the extent of your medical error.

Lawyers often enlist the help of independent medical experts to testify on behalf of injured patients.

How Much Can I Get for Medical Malpractice?

You can pursue both economic and non-economic damages for your medical injuries.

Economic damages include missed wages and medical expenses, and families can pursue compensation for funeral costs after fatal errors.

Non-economic damages represent psychological issues such as disfigurement, PTSD, depression, and emotional distress.

A medical malpractice lawyer can help you seek compensation for all of these damages.

The average settlement amount for a medical malpractice lawsuit in the U.S. is about $250,000. In the end, you could recover a few thousand or a few million dollars. All will depend on the severity of the injuries and damages suffered.

Let ConsumerShield Connect You with Qualified Medical Malpractice Lawyers

While an internet article can explain the role of medical malpractice lawyers, it cannot take their place. Contact ConsumerShield today and take the next step toward compensation and justice.

We provide further resources and education for medical malpractice lawsuits, and we are committed to fighting for victims’ rights. When you’re ready, we will connect you with experienced medical malpractice lawyers in your area. Reach out today to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Most injured patients only pay their medical malpractice lawyers if they win their lawsuits. If you receive compensation, your lawyers will take a certain percentage as a “contingency fee.” This amount is typically around one-third or 33% of the final settlement or verdict. Ask your lawyer how much this percentage will be.

  • Medical malpractice lawyers fight for the rights of patients injured by healthcare errors. They may help you determine who to sue, gather evidence, and negotiate on your behalf. If necessary, they may also represent you during a trial.

  • Some lawyers focus entirely on medical malpractice. These medical malpractice lawyers generally have many years of experience in the healthcare industry. And they can help you overcome common challenges associated with medical malpractice lawsuits.

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