Southlake Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When you are sick or need medical treatment, you should be able to trust that the doctor, nurse, and other healthcare professional caring for you will keep you safe. Professionals must act with the highest level of care when treating patients. When a medical provider breaches the applicable standard of care, resulting in an injury or death, you could have a claim for compensation.
Medical malpractice is more common than most people think, which is why Texas has strict rules for suing a healthcare professional for negligence. A Southlake medical malpractice lawyer can help determine if you have a case and advise you of your legal rights. Do not hesitate to contact our skilled personal injury attorneys if you have been injured under a physician’s care.
What is Healthcare Negligence?
Medical malpractice happens when a patient suffers an injury due to the negligence of a healthcare professional, as well as a hospital or office’s policies and employment practices. A healthcare professional could include a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, paramedic, anesthesiologist, or anyone overseeing the patient’s care. The professional could commit negligence through diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, or health management errors.
In Texas, someone alleging medical malpractice must prove: (1) a duty of care between the health care provider and the patient; (2) breach of the applicable duty of care; (3) the patient suffered injury due to the breath; and (4) the patient suffered damages as a result. Common examples of medical malpractice include:
- Surgical errors
- Birth injuries
- Medication errors
- Failure to treat or diagnose
- Foreign objects left behind
- Misdiagnosis
- Infections
- Emergency room errors
When treating patients, healthcare providers must use the utmost caution. There are so many ways a person can be injured if their provider does not closely follow safety regulations. An experienced attorney in Southlake could identify whether medical malpractice occurred and explain the best legal recourse available.
Recoverable Damages for Medical Malpractice
With the help of a Colleyville lawyer, injured patients can recover economic and non-economic damages for their injuries and other losses resulting from healthcare negligence. Economic damages could include past and future medical treatment, lost income, reduced earning capacity, or other quantifiable losses.
Non-economic damages are more challenging to calculate since they are not tangible losses, such as compensation for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of consortium, or disfigurement. In Texas, punitive damages are available in cases involving gross negligence.
There are damage caps to remember when pursuing a medical malpractice claim. For example, plaintiffs who file a claim against a single healthcare provider can only collect up to $250,000 of non-economic damages. Likewise, plaintiffs who file a claim against multiple defendants can only collect $250,000 of non-economic damages or up to $500,000 per plaintiff.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Southlake for Help
Patients alleging medical malpractice in Texas have two years to file their claim. Therefore, beginning your case immediately is crucial. Medical malpractice cases can be complex as they involve proving that a professional breached their duty of care. When you retain a Southlake medical malpractice lawyer, they can hire expert witnesses to prove that your doctor breached the duty of care in your treatment.
Through your medical negligence lawsuit, you have the right to question your treatment and let our dedicated legal professionals pursue compensation on your behalf. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation.