5 Medical Malpractice Cases that Require an Attorney's Help

Medical malpractice is a severe issue in the healthcare industry. When a medical professional fails to provide the necessary care to a patient, the result can be devastating, causing severe harm and sometimes even death.

Unfortunately, an estimated 250,000 people die from some form of medical malpractice each year. Medical malpractice is one of the leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths in the United States.

As such, it is advisable to seek the help of an experienced medical malpractice attorney to protect your rights and ensure that you receive fair justice.

So, let’s say you live in Tampa along Florida's Gulf Coast and a case of medical negligence occurs. An experienced medical malpractice attorney in Tampa can help you file a lawsuit and win a fair settlement.

The average settlement amount for such cases is around $250,000 in Florida. Attorney fees in Florida for these cases are limited to 30% of the $250,000 in the settlement.

Of course, the settlement figure depends on the severity of the case and other factors, including the state it occurred. According to data from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), the state of New York had the highest total medical malpractice payments, totaling $7.025 billion – followed by Pennsylvania, with $3.416 billion.

Florida was among the top three US states with the maximum number of medical malpractice cases, while North Dakota had the lowest amount of medical malpractice payments, totaling just $28.35 million in the ten-year period from 2009-2018.

When to Enlist the Services of a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you are wondering when or whether you should hire an attorney to help you with your case, here are some of the many medical malpractices that can be litigated successfully with the help of a qualified medical malpractice lawyer:

1. Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

One of the most prevalent medical malpractice cases is misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

This happens when a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a medical condition accurately or promptly, leading to incorrect treatment or a delay in treatment that causes harm to the patient.

In such cases, an experienced attorney can help the patient recover compensation for the harm suffered due to the misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

2. Surgical Errors Due to Carelessness / Negligence

Another common type of medical malpractice is surgical errors.

These errors can include performing the wrong procedure on a patient, operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient's body, or causing injury during the surgical procedure.

When a surgical error occurs, the consequences can be severe, leading to permanent physical harm, chronic pain, and even death.

In such cases, a medical malpractice attorney can help the patient recover compensation for the harm suffered as a result of the surgical error.

3. Medication Errors

Medication errors are another common form of medical malpractice. These errors can occur when a healthcare provider prescribes the wrong medication, administers the wrong dose, or fails to monitor the patient for adverse reactions.

Medication errors can have serious consequences, leading to severe injury or death. In such cases, a medical malpractice attorney can help the patient recover compensation for the harm suffered due to the medication error.

4. Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors are a serious form of medical malpractice that include administering too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor the patient for adverse reactions, or using the wrong type of anesthesia.

Anesthesia errors can have serious consequences, leading to brain damage, organ failure, or even death. In such cases, a medical malpractice attorney can help the patient recover compensation for the harm suffered as a result of the anesthesia error.

5. Birth Injuries

Even birth injuries can be a severe form of medical malpractice.

Birth injuries can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum. These injuries can include cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, brachial plexus injuries, and other serious conditions that can cause permanent harm to the baby.

When a birth injury occurs, it's important to seek the help of a medical malpractice attorney so that the parents and the child receive the legal redress and compensation they deserve.

In Conclusion

Considering the rising prevalence and serious consequences of medical malpractice, it is vital to have a medical malpractice attorney help you prosecute your case in a court of law, whether the malpractice occurred due to incorrect dosages, surgical errors, or wrong diagnosis. This way you can find justice and discourage similar medical malpractice happening to other people.