When Can I Make a Medical Malpractice Claim?

The line “trust me, I’m a doctor!” has been immortalized for good reason – doctors and other medical professionals should be amongst the most trustworthy individuals any of us encounter during our lifetimes. For the most part, they are, and there is no denying the excellent work those in the medical profession do when the rest of us are unwell, not to mention the amazing treatments and cures they develop. However, as with any other profession, those working in medicine make mistakes from time to time – the difference is that these mistakes can leave patients seriously ill, permanently disabled, or even lead to wrongful death. When this happens, it is known as medical malpractice.

Types of Medical Malpractice in California

Medical mistakes leading to medical malpractice suits can arise for many reasons – perhaps an ER doctor is overworked due to a staff shortage and long hours, or perhaps an anesthetist was distracted. Whatever the reason behind the mistake, and the resulting injury or illness, an experienced California medical malpractice attorney could help you recover the compensation you deserve.

The types of medical malpractice lawsuits a California attorney regularly encounters include:

• Birth or labor injuries, resulting in an infant’s death or brain damage, permanent disability, long-term illness, or injury or death of the mother
• Elder abuse, including physical or emotional pain inflicted on a resident at a care facility, or sexual abuse while under the care of a medical practitioner or facility
• Prescription drug injuries, resulting from an incorrect dosage of a prescribed drug, a defective prescription drug, or dependency or addiction caused by irresponsible prescribing of a drug
• Surgical injuries, including injuries sustained during surgery, or the death of a patient while undergoing surgery

This is not an exhaustive list of the potential causes of medical malpractice so, if you believe you may have a case, speak to a California medical malpractice lawyer immediately to identify how best to proceed.

How a California Medical Malpractice Attorney Could Help You?

When you, or a loved one, has been injured due to medical malpractice, you could be entitled to claim compensation for the medical treatment you have required and will require in the future, due to the injury. You may also be able to claim compensation for loss of earnings, and the pain and suffering you have experienced.

However, even where you are entitled to compensation, you must be aware that there is a strict time limit applicable to your claim and, if you miss it, you cannot file a medical malpractice lawsuit later. As such, it is strongly recommended that you speak to an experienced California medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you become aware of the injury.

As every medical malpractice is different, your California attorney will need to discuss the details with you before advising on the best way to proceed. To enable us to get started, schedule your free consultation today by calling Mancini & Associates today on 818-783-5757.