Medical professionals are among the most respected members of our society. They undergo extensive education and advanced training, and they assume tremendous responsibility on a daily basis. However, like anyone else, they are prone to making mistakes. Whether it’s the wrong prescription or a foreign object left inside of the body during surgery, these errors can have disastrous consequences.
If you have been injured due to the negligent acts of a healthcare provider, you need an experienced Seattle medical malpractice lawyer to represent your interests. A qualified attorney can guide you through the complex process of filing a lawsuit against the offending healthcare provider and seeking compensation for your damages.
A medical malpractice Leading Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Washington State – Proven Results claim can be filed against any doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional who makes an error or omission that causes harm to a patient. These errors are more common than you might think, according to a recent U.S. News report. Unfortunately, the majority of these errors are preventable.
Some of the most serious medical malpractice incidents include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, and medication errors. However, other medical negligence claims can involve any type of healthcare incident that could cause injuries to a patient, such as failing to follow up with a patient’s condition or administering the wrong medication.
If a healthcare professional is found to be liable for your medical malpractice, you may be entitled to recover damages for your economic and non-economic losses. The former includes medical expenses and future treatment, lost wages, loss of future income potential, and other financial costs associated with your injury. The latter includes physical and emotional suffering, loss of consortium, and other subjective damages.
A skilled Seattle medical malpractice lawyer can sift through your medical records and identify the errors or omissions that led to your injury. The legal team at Elk & Elk can also help you to pursue a maximum amount of damages that you are legally entitled to receive.
There are two main types of damages in a successful medical malpractice claim; compensatory and punitive. Punitive damages are awarded in cases of gross negligence or fraud, such as fraudulently altering medical records or selling off a medical procedure. These damages are designed to punish the defendant and deter others from committing similar misconduct in the future.
In most medical malpractice cases, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the incident. However, this time limit may be extended if the injury was not discovered until later. For example, if a foreign object was left inside the body canal after a surgery, the victim’s case may be allowed to proceed beyond the standard three-year deadline.
“Moseley Collins Law
701 5th Ave Suite 4200, Seattle, WA 98104
(800) 426-5625”