Despite the $3 billion in payouts in 2012 alone, medical malpractice lawsuits aren’t as common as they should be. Statistics show that medical errors kill about 200,000 people in the United States each year, but only 15% of all personal injury lawsuits involve medical malpractice.
Regardless of the error, medical malpractice boils down to negligence. When a health care provider deviates from the normal standards of care and a patient is injured, they can be held liable both criminally and financially.
For example, it’s reasonable to expect doctors to ask for a history of allergies before prescribing medication. If a doctor doesn’t ask about allergies, it would be considered malpractice if that doctor prescribes antibiotics to a patient with a history of allergic reactions to that particular antibiotic.
In many cases harmful mistakes weren’t intentional, but could have been preventable with a little bit more due diligence. Regardless, mistakes that deviate from the standards of care can be considered malpractice.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to medical malpractice, you have every right to file a claim against a negligent provider. If you’re still unsure, here are 3 good reasons to move forward:
There’s no good reason to allow medical bills to pile up and steal your life, money, and energy. If you or your loved one can’t afford the necessary treatment for injuries you didn’t cause, life will be much easier if you shift that burden onto the responsible party. You shouldn’t have to struggle or file for bankruptcy because someone else caused you harm.
For the best chance at getting all of your medical bills covered, schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer in your area that specializes in medical malpractice. Gather your medical records, invoices, and insurance statements and bring them to your consultation.
Don’t skip the lawyer. The process of pursuing a medical malpractice claim is complex and requires the help of a legal professional. In some states, like Illinois, your lawyer will need to include an affidavit stating that they’ve consulted with a medical expert qualified to review your case. That’s not something you’ll find easy to do on your own.
People have an inherent need to feel like justice has been served. If you don’t file a medical malpractice lawsuit against a negligent provider, you’ll live with a nagging feeling that justice wasn’t served.
According to A.J.W. Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, justice is a basic human need. Even classic Greek philosophers considered justice as a virtue alongside courage, prudence, and temperance. A negligent medical provider won’t be brought to justice unless you file a lawsuit.
By filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, you’ll have the chance to hold a negligent medical provider accountable for their mistakes that caused you harm.
Filing a lawsuit doesn’t have to be stressful; your lawyer will handle everything for you. In the end, if you win your case, you’ll have all your medical bills covered and enough money to live on until you can find another work situation or start collecting disability payments.
On the other hand, not filing a lawsuit will induce a high level of stress that will negatively impact your health. Constantly being behind on bills, worrying about bankruptcy, home foreclosure, and trying to feed yourself while you’re out of work will keep you in a state of anxiety. Your blood pressure will be high, you might get headaches, and you could put yourself at risk for a stroke.
Stress affects everyone in different ways, but the most common symptoms of stress include:
You can avoid intense stress by hiring an attorney to file a medical malpractice suit against the negligent provider(s) who caused you harm.
Don’t pursue justice alone
The road to recovery might be long, but it doesn’t need to be lonely. Don’t pursue legal justice alone. Contact an attorney in your area to fight on your behalf.
A good medical malpractice attorney will negotiate on your behalf and represent you in court if your case goes to trial. Most cases settle out of court, but it requires fierce legal negotiating skills.
Whether your case settles out of court or goes to trial, a skilled attorney will help you recover the compensation you and your family deserve.