A Seattle Medical Injury Lawyer can help you get compensation for your medical expenses, property damage, and other damages if another party’s negligence or wrongdoing caused them. They can also file an appeal if your claim is denied.
To have a successful Seattle medical malpractice claim, you must prove that your doctor or healthcare provider breached their duty of care and that the breach caused real harm.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is a complex area of personal injury law. It can involve proving several different elements including: duty of care, breach of that duty, and causation.
Healthcare professionals are obligated to treat patients in accordance with accepted medical practices. Unfortunately, mistakes do occur and when they do they can cause lasting harm.
Proving medical negligence requires evidence that the healthcare professional owed the patient a duty of care, that the healthcare professional breached that duty, and that the breach caused the victim’s injuries.
Depending on who was at fault, anyone from independently contracted physicians to hospitals with vicarious liability may be responsible for the patient’s damages. Identifying the responsible parties can be complicated but is easier with the help of an experienced Seattle medical malpractice attorney.
Anesthesia Errors
Surgical errors can lead to serious injuries and even death. These medical mistakes are preventable. Anesthesia errors include failing to inform the patient of risks associated with a procedure, administering anesthesia that exceeds a safe limit, misreading vital signs, improper intubation, mechanical failures and more.
Doctors, nurses, hospitals and other healthcare professionals all have a duty to provide patients with quality care that is in accordance with accepted medical standards. When they fail to do so and you are injured, they may be liable for your damages.
To pursue a successful claim, your Seattle lawyer must work with medical experts to prove that the healthcare provider breached their duty of care and caused your injury or loss. Medical negligence claims must be filed within three years of the date of injury or one year of when you discovered (or should have reasonably discovered) the injury.
Birth Injuries
Injuries that occur during pregnancy, labor, and delivery are often preventable if healthcare providers follow medical standards of care. Whether caused by surgical missteps or negligence in prenatal monitoring, birth injuries can have devastating consequences for families and their children.
Examples of common birth injuries include brain damage, spinal cord injury, and fractures. Cerebral palsy, for example, is a neurological disorder that affects muscle movement and control. It can result from injury to the brachial plexus during labor or delivery, and it may also be caused by medical tools such as forceps.
To win a birth injury claim, a lawyer must prove that a doctor breached his or her duty of care to the mother. This can be done by presenting expert testimony that establishes the standard of care a reasonable medical professional would have followed in a similar situation.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can change a victim’s motor function, cognitive abilities, speech and communication, emotional functioning, and behavior patterns. It can also cause serious medical expenses, and often leaves victims permanently disabled or in need of ongoing therapy. When another person’s negligence or wrongdoing causes a TBI, the victim may be eligible for compensation for past and future medical bills, lost income, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and more.
TBIs can range from mild (like concussions) to severe, causing extended hospitalization or permanent disability. If another person’s carelessness caused your TBI, a Seattle brain injury attorney at Emerald City Law Group can help you recover financial compensation for your losses. Our team has the knowledge and experience to handle a wide variety of personal injury cases.
Wrongful Death
If the negligence of a doctor or other health care provider caused the death of your loved one, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The law sets a statute of limitations of three years to do so, but you should contact a Seattle medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to begin the investigation and avoid missing any crucial deadlines.
A Seattle wrongful death lawyer will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and gather evidence such as police reports, medical records, witness testimonies, and expert opinions. They will develop a legal strategy and navigate the complex legal procedures, ensuring your case is filed correctly and efficiently within the time frame required by law.
Wrongful death claims can cover a range of damages. Your Seattle wrongful death lawyer will work to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.