Finding Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Los Angeles
Have you experienced a failed medical procedure or any other medical complication? You might be able to file a claim.
Read about the importance of hiring medical malpractice lawyers in Los Angeles.
Introduction
When we are injured or ill, we find comfort in the fact that a doctor is always available should we need to see one. This could be in private practice, urgent care, hospitals, and more. There are so many reasons we seek out these medical professionals. We rely on them and we trust them, accepting their knowledge as the expertise that we don’t have.
So, what happens when something goes wrong?
Sometimes things happen. Sure, it’s how life is. But what happens when something goes wrong at the hands of a medical professional when it comes to matters of your health? If our life is altered unnecessarily at the hands of someone we trust, whether intentionally or not, should there be compensation?
Medical malpractice happens more frequently than you’d imagine. If you find yourself a victim at the hands of a medical professional, it is time to find an attorney that specializes in getting justice for individuals like you.
Medical Malpractice Defined
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, hospital, or any healthcare professional for that matter fails to competently perform professional duties. It is a broad term that encompasses all areas of the medical field. According to an article by Johns Hopkins Medicine, deaths from medical errors happen more than 250,000 times each year. This could technically make it the third leading cause of death in the United States – right behind heart disease and cancer.
Sounds a bit scary, doesn’t it? These medical professionals are held to high regard – and we depend on them. Just like anything, though, human error, for one reason or another, can happen. Even when you are dealing with life.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice happens in all aspects of the medical field when negligence, error, or omission occur. In all these instances, there are a few common categories, per se, in which most claims can be filed.
They include:
- Providing improper treatment or patient care.
Doctors have a duty to provide appropriate medical care to their patients. However, when a doctor treats a patient in a manner that other competent, reputable doctors would, you could encounter malpractice. This same holds true if the doctor provides appropriate medical care but does so inappropriately.
- Misdiagnosis or no diagnosis at all.
Doctors have a duty to take the proper steps and measures to ensure a correct diagnosis is given so that the appropriate treatment can be sought. When this doesn’t happen, the misdiagnosis or no diagnosis at all results in the inability of the patient to obtain treatment that would provide a better outcome.
- Failure to warn of risks.
Most medical procedures come with some level of risk. It is up to the doctor or medical professional to warn patients of these risks before a course of action takes place. A patient who would have elected not to go through with treatment if she/he had been informed of risks may have a case for malpractice.
To clarify even further, below are a few examples of medical malpractice.
- Failure to recognize symptoms.
- Unnecessary surgical procedures.
- Failure to diagnose.
- Misdiagnoses.
- Staph infections and/or bed sores.
- Performing the wrong surgical procedure – or on the wrong site.
- Prescribed wrong medication or dosage.
- Incomplete records including a patient’s medical history.
- Premature discharge after a procedure.
- Failure to order property testing and labs.
The Role of a Medical Malpractice Attorney
There are many complex rules and regulations that govern the medical industry. When it comes to filing a medical malpractice claim, it is important that you have a deep understanding of these.
This is where your medical malpractice attorney steps in. He or she knows the laws and knows the system. Things like special notices, required expert testimony, limits on damage awards, review boards, and the statute of limitations can make filing a claim difficult if you decide to go per se.
The role of a medical malpractice lawyer is to take the necessary steps to ensure the best compensation possible. This is done by collecting evidence and proving that the medical malpractice claim is valid.
How Do You Know If You Have a Malpractice Claim?
There are so many medical procedures, doctor visits, filled prescriptions that take place every day. The individuals who suffer as a result of one of these (or any other area of healthcare) may have a legal claim. Generally, you may have a claim if…
- The standard of care you received did not meet those standards of care expected within the medical field.
- Negligence is found on behalf of your medical team.
- Significant damages occur at the hands of a medical professional.
Of course, the best way to know if you have a malpractice claim is to speak to an attorney. The world of medical malpractice can be a bit tricky and overwhelming, but a lawyer who specializes in this area can advise you on whether you have a case, the legal action you have available to you, and an idea of what the outcome could be.
Finding Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Los Angeles
There are many lawyers to choose from – especially if you are looking for medical malpractice lawyers in Los Angeles. This is why it is so important to find an attorney that is going to successfully take you through all the proper steps of filing a medical malpractice claim, from your first consultation to the verdict at your jury trial.
Suffering at the hands of a medical professional can leave you beaten down and angry. Not to mention that your trust in the medical profession may have been violated. This leaves you feeling vulnerable to those in other professions, too. Finding the right medical malpractice lawyer will help you move forward with trust, confidence, and strength.
Conclusion
Remember, hospitals, doctors, and various medical facilities are often fully represented by an experienced legal team. And, they hold their own benefits as a top priority. If you feel you have suffered as the result of your medical team’s error, then you need an attorney on your side.
Are you in search for a certified attorney to represent you?
Let us help you find one today!