Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional's act or omission results in a patient’s injury or death. Even with advances in science and technology, mistakes by physicians do happen and might rise to the level of medical malpractice. Doctors, other medical professionals, hospitals, government-run health care facilities or any such combination can be held accountable for their actions in such cases with the help of an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
Medical malpractice lawsuits are complex, time-consuming and costly to pursue. While also understanding the devastating effects associated with medical malpractice cases, the top Chicago medical malpractice attorneys of Meyers & Flowers use their knowledge, experience and work with the best medical experts to overcome these obstacles and attain full and just compensation for families devastated by medical malpractice.
What has to be proven for a healthcare provider to be held responsible for injuries sustained?
Four things have to be proven in order for a patient to recover against a healthcare provider.
The first requirement is the healthcare provider owed a duty to the injured person. This is usually established by showing a provider-patient relationship.
The next requirement is to show the healthcare provider acted negligently. This is proven by evidence that the healthcare provider did not exercise the appropriate care in providing treatment. In order to prove this, expert testimony is almost always required.
The third requirement is to demonstrate the patient sustained substantial injuries.
The final requirement is that the healthcare provider's failure to exercise appropriate care in providing treatment caused the injuries sustained. As with the second requirement, expert testimony is almost always required to prove this element.
Who can I sue for medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice lawsuits can be brought against any healthcare provider who was involved in providing healthcare services to you and whose failure to meet the standard of care caused injury. This typically includes, but is not limited to, physicians, hospitals, nurses, physical therapists and hospital technicians.
How do I know if the injuries sustained may be as a result of medical malpractice?
The only way to determine if your or a loved one's injuries were a result of medical malpractice is to consult with a medical malpractice attorney experienced in handling such cases. As mentioned earlier, expert consultation is almost always required to determine if the injuries involved were caused by the failure of a physician or hospital to exercise appropriate care and to determine the nature and extent of a person's resulting injuries. If you suspect medical negligence, a top Chicago medical malpractice attorney at Meyers & Flowers can help.
How much compensation can I recover for my injuries?
As with all types of personal injuries, the amount of compensation a person is entitled to is entirely dependent upon the circumstances of their case. Generally, however, the more severe the injuries, the greater the compensation a person is entitled to. This includes consideration of pain and suffering, any permanent disabilities, and loss of enjoyment of life. Other factors considered in determining the amount of compensation include past and future medical costs and past and future lost wages.
How long does a medical malpractice lawsuit take?
While a number of factors affect the length of time it takes to resolve a medical malpractice claim, such as the nature of the injuries involved, the type of medical procedures involved, and the place in which the suit is brought, generally these suits take at least two years for a full resolution. Some cases will settle prior to trial, reducing the time to resolve the claim. If your case does go to trial, however, this may add anywhere from six months to several years to the time it takes to fully resolve your claim.
For more information about medical malpractice claims, contact the offices of Meyers & Flowers and discuss your case with some of the best medical malpractice lawyers Chicago has to offer.
It costs nothing to meet with our top medical malpractice attorneys for a free consultation. There will be no fee unless we win your case.