When you trust a medical professional with your health, it’s only natural that you want to believe that they are competent and will do their best to treat you. However, no one is immune to mistakes.
When a doctor or other healthcare professional breaches their duty of care and causes harm, the victim may be entitled to compensation. Depending on the circumstances, this compensation could include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
But pursuing such claims isn’t easy. In addition to strict statutes of limitations (which are set-in-stone legal deadlines) there are also laws determining how much compensation a victim can receive for different damage types.
A skilled New York Medical malpractice lawyer will understand these nuances and help you pursue fair compensation for your losses.
In order to win a medical malpractice case, you must prove that the defendant breached their duty of care. In most cases this will require expert testimony from an experienced medical malpractice attorney, who can explain to a jury that the defendant’s actions or lack thereof fell below what would be expected of a healthcare professional with similar training and experience in the same or similar situation.
Your medical malpractice lawyer will also know what type of damages to request. In addition to reimbursement for actual medical costs incurred because of the injury, your lawyer will also ask that you be awarded for any anticipated future medical costs. They will work with experts to help estimate these future costs, which will be added to the compensatory damages you are awarded.
Another type of damage you can seek is loss of consortium. This relates to the fact that a medical error may have made it impossible for you to maintain a healthy relationship with your spouse or significant other. This is a highly personal and emotional type of damage, but it can be awarded if you can show that your injuries have affected the quality of your life with your loved ones.
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo is dedicated to helping victims of medical malpractice get the compensation they deserve. Whether it’s an injury caused by surgical negligence or errors during delivery, our team of experienced attorneys will fight to ensure you are fairly compensated.
It’s important to contact a qualified New York medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. The earlier you hire a lawyer, the more time they will have to investigate and build a strong case on your behalf. In addition, they can use their knowledge and skills to get more information from the hospital, clinic, or physician involved in your care, which can strengthen your claim. In one recent example, Phil Russotti secured a $6,300,000 settlement for a client who suffered brain damage after a doctor failed to diagnose and treat a fractured elbow. Contact our firm today to find out more about how we can help you. We can answer any questions you might have or schedule a free consultation.