Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries

3rd Leading Cause of Death

Published on Dec 3, 2018 at 11:29 pm in Medical Malpractice.

It’s an interesting comparison – medical malpractice lawsuits are fairly rare in the grand scheme of things, however medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in America. If so many lives are ended due to the malpractice or negligence of a healthcare professional or institution, why aren’t there more lawsuits seen in court? There are an infinite number of reasons that a person or family may choose not to file a lawsuit against their doctor or healthcare company. To name a few:

  • Reluctance
    • Most people go into surgery or receive a diagnosis without suspicion. They believe that their doctor or healthcare professional is trustworthy and that there is little room for error. If they do find out they did not receive proper care or the right diagnosis, they feel uncomfortable suing their doctor.
  • Statute of Limitations
    • Oftentimes, sadly, a medical malpractice case does not make it to court simply due to the fact that the person or family decided to do so too late. Each state has their own statute of limitations, though many state require a malpractice case to be filed within 1 to 3 years of the incident. When families bring their cases to an attorney, only to find out that they missed the deadline, there is little to nothing that can be done at that point.

Some of the main medical malpractice cases that happen are:

  • Medication Errors
    • Whether as an at-home prescription or as a follow-up medication to surgery taken in a hospital, incorrect medication is a huge reason for medical malpractice cases. When people are essentially misdiagnosed or wrongfully medicated, then they are at risk for a number of adverse side effects. If a medication is harmful enough, a person may file for a medical malpractice.
  • Surgical Errors
    • More often than people would like to think, doctors sometimes perform surgery on the wrong body part. They may also leave surgical tools inside of people by accident. Whenever something major such as surgical errors occur, it is imperative that the person bring the case to a professional attorney’s attention immediately.
  • Lack of Informed Consent
    • A lot of the time, a doctor does not spend an adequate amount of time with their patients to discuss the risks of the procedure or surgery they are considering enduring. For example, if a doctor brushes over or fails to give full disclosure on the risks of a surgery, and then something goes wrong, they may be sued for lack of informed consent.

If you believe you have a medical malpractice case on your hands, or are concerned about the timeframe of a current malpractice or negligence case, call our offices today for a free consultation.

Meet Your Team

Free Legal Consultation

Call us or fill out the form below to tell us about your potential case and a personal injury lawyer will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Legal & Firm News

Common Spine Injuries From Car Accidents

Soreness is a common sensation to experience following a car accident. But don’t mistake what you’re feeling for routine aches and pains—if your back is hurting, you’re experiencing any loss of movement, or suffering respiratory distress, you may have suffered a back injury. Signs and symptoms of common spine injuries from car accidents are not […]

Read More

What Are Coup and Contrecoup Brain Injuries?

Brain injuries, even those considered minor, almost always have an intense, unignorable impact on a person’s life. Doctors have a number of different ways to classify traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) based on factors like severity, location, and whether the injury penetrated the skull or was considered a closed-head injury. Among closed-head injuries, coup and contrecoup […]

Read More

What Is Considered Patient Abuse or Elderly Abuse?

Many New Mexico families find themselves between a rock and a hard place. They can’t provide their incapacitated, aging, or otherwise vulnerable loved one with the around-the-clock care they need because they have to work or have other obligations, yet this attention is imperative to ensure their loved one’s wellbeing. This need often ends with […]

Read More