Types of Medical Malpractice Compensation
Some states limit the amount of damages a victim of medical negligence can get. These caps typically cover measurable, specific losses such as the cost of medical bills and lost wages.
Medical malpractice cases often include non-economic damages like pain and suffering. The skilled attorneys at Sobo & Sobo will help you develop a claim for compensation in the following areas.
Potential loss of earnings
You can claim damages for lost earnings if the injury was caused by medical malpractice and impacts your ability to earn income. It can be difficult to prove the loss. You must demonstrate that the doctor's negligence was the direct cause of your injuries, not just a result of them. This can be a challenge especially when it comes to an existing condition that the medical professional misdiagnosed or ignored.
You could be entitled to both non-economic damages depending on the nature of the mistake. Non-economic damages are determined by the effect of the injuries on your quality or your life. Your attorney will use expert testimony as well as charts and graphs to demonstrate the consequences of negligence.
In some instances the
medical malpractice attorneys negligence could be so egregious that you can demand punitive damages. These damages are intended to penalize the healthcare provider who has engaged in a shocking behavior. This type of damages award is not uncommon, but it could be awarded if the healthcare provider was acting with recklessness or malice.
Medical malpractice cases are costly to pursue. There are court filing fees, medical records, and other costs for documentation which can quickly add up. Your lawyer will also have to engage experts to analyze your case and determine whether medical professionals have violated their obligation to you.
Permanent Disability
medical malpractice attorney malpractice cases are typically complicated, and there are many kinds of damages available. Compensation can cover expenses such as future
Medical Malpractice Attorneys procedures, ongoing care and treatment or lost wages in the event of an injury that caused an employee to be absent from work. It also covers non-economic damages like pain and discomfort.
The non-economic damage is harder to quantify in a dollar amount but they could include any loss in quality of life. They can also cover emotional and psychological distress as well as suffering and pain. The lawyer for the claimant will use the testimony of family and friends to assist jurors in understanding what impact the injury had on the victim's daily life.
A good NYC medical malpractice lawyer will carefully review the evidence to determine the worth of the claim. This includes a look at the medical malpractice statute of limitations, which sets a time limit on how long after an accident the plaintiff is allowed to pursue a lawsuit.
The value of a claim for medical malpractice will depend on the degree and severity of the injury. A higher settlement amount is reserved for more serious injuries. For instance, a physician might have misdiagnosed an individual suffering from a condition like cancer, which could be life-threatening. The most serious injuries are more likely to cause an indefinite disability. This increases the cost of an insurance claim.
Pain and Suffering
Medical malpractice victims may also seek compensation for the physical pain they've suffered as a result of a doctor's negligence. Physical pain can be based on an injury to the body, like broken bones, and can include loss of of motion, scarring, the inability to exercise or sleep as well as loss of sexual function; and other injuries that diminish the victim's quality of life.
Psychological pain and suffering can also be a part of the compensation awarded to victims of medical negligence. Psychiatric injuries, such as anxiety suicidal thoughts, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be incredibly debilitating and can cause physical pain as well. Additionally, the loss of mental health can also affect a person's ability to maintain healthy relationships and affect their general quality of life.
Damages can be divided into two types: economic or "special" damage, which is based on measurable losses and general or
medical Malpractice attorneys non-economic damages, such as discomfort and pain. It can be difficult to establish a fair amount for non-economic losses because they are not easily quantifiable in dollars.
There are different methods for formulating the value of a pain and suffering award including using a multiplier method which adds up the damages for special damages and multiplies that number by a specified amount that ranges from 1.5 to 5. Some states have caps on these types of awards, but in most cases, judges will not overturn a jury's decision.
Future earnings loss
Medical malpractice victims can claim a variety of damages including future earnings loss. This is the amount that a victim could have earned had they been employed at their previous job, or if a job available that was suitable for their impairment. This is a very complex type of damage, and often requires experts in economics to determine.
Calculating lost earnings is simple for those who earn on an hourly basis. A lawyer can multiply the hourly rate of a person by the number hours they missed to calculate their total lost earnings. If you earned a salary, you will have to consider the period that you could not work in addition to your salary and benefits.
While calculating lost income is fairly easy, future losses are much more complicated. An attorney must examine the costs of any future treatment, as well as any costs which are reasonably anticipated in light of the patient's current health.
In the event of seeking compensation for medical malpractice, it's crucial to have an experienced lawyer on your side. Our team at Weltchek Mallahan & Weltchek can help you determine how to most effectively pursue financial compensation. Call us today to arrange an initial consultation for free. Medical mistakes can be a serious issue that can cause significant damage. Our legal team is ready to look closely at your case and fight for the maximum compensation that you deserve.