Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals have a duty to provide medical care that meets certain standards. When they fail to do so, patients can suffer devastating injuries. If you or someone you love has suffered from medical negligence, our Seattle Hospital Error Lawyer can help. We can handle the complexities of these claims to build a strong case that maximizes your compensation. This can include economic and noneconomic damages such as further medical bills, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and lost enjoyment of life.
NBC News recently learned that many hospital malpractice victims who settle with their institutions have confidentiality agreements that prevent them from speaking out publicly. Some of these victims have declined our request to share their stories.
Medical Malpractice
When people go to the hospital, they expect that their doctors and nurses will treat them with respect and abide by accepted medical practices. However, these healthcare professionals make preventable mistakes every day that can have catastrophic consequences for their patients.
To file a medical malpractice claim, you must demonstrate that:
Your healthcare provider had a duty to provide treatment to you
They breached this duty by failing to act as another reasonably skilled and careful health care professional would have under similar circumstances
The breach caused injury to you
For example, your doctor misdiagnosed you, leading to complications that could have been prevented if the original diagnosis had been correct
Surgical Errors
A surgical error is a terrifying event for any patient to endure. While surgeries come with some risk, there are also risks that can be largely prevented through medical protocol. These risks include operating on the wrong body part, leaving a foreign object inside of you, and administering an excessive dosage of anesthesia.
Surgeons who deviate from the standard of care during a procedure may be found guilty of malpractice. Surgical errors are typically considered medical negligence because they go beyond the known risks of surgery and cause severe harm to patients.
Many surgeons are very busy and have to work long shifts. This can lead to fatigue, which is a common cause of surgical errors. It is important for doctors and nurses to have effective strategies for avoiding fatigued-related mistakes. One of those strategies is to count sponges and tools before and after the surgery. Often, these are forgotten and left inside the patient, which can result in serious injury or even wrongful death.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death occurs when a person dies as the result of another’s reckless or negligent actions. In such cases, the victim’s family may file a lawsuit seeking compensation for their loss. Wrongful death claims can be filed against doctors, hospitals, trucking companies, and more. Common wrongful death cases include medical malpractice, misdiagnoses, and surgical errors.
A Seattle wrongful death lawyer can help grieving families through this difficult time by establishing what happened and who is responsible for the accident. He or she will investigate the cause of your loved one’s death and gather evidence such as police reports, witness testimony, and expert opinions.
Your attorney will also work to secure compensation for your losses. This can cover tangible expenses such as funeral costs and lost wages, as well as intangible losses like emotional distress and the diminished value of your loved one’s life. He or she will negotiate with insurance companies and the defendant’s legal team to get you a fair settlement.
Premises Liability
In many personal injury cases, negligence is at the heart of a claim. The same is true for premises liability claims, which typically involve injuries that are a result of unsafe or defective conditions on another person’s property.
These cases can involve anything from slip and fall accidents to amusement park or swimming pool injuries. However, it is important to know that in order to win a claim for damages based on a premises liability case, you must be able to prove that the defendant breached their duty to exercise ordinary care in keeping the property safe and did not warn guests of dangers.
This duty can vary depending on whether you are considered a licensee, an invitee, or a trespasser, and it also depends on the nature of your visit to the property. Our Seattle premises liability lawyers are highly experienced in handling these types of cases, and they are committed to helping you get the compensation you deserve.