A severe injury or death that results from negligence of a hospital or medical provider can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved. You put your trust in health care professionals to provide you with the necessary treatment to keep you healthy. If a health care worker’s negligence causes severe injuries, you may be entitled to hold the hospital and other at-fault parties liable for their actions.
Medical injury claims could be challenging without an experienced personal injury attorney by your side because of the large companies involved in a lawsuit like this. An experienced Lynnwood medical malpractice lawyer understands the complexities of a claim and the evidence necessary to pursue a successful case.
What is Medical Negligence in Lynnwood?
Health care malpractice occurs when carelessness by a provider results in harm to a patient. These cases can be complex to prove in court, so a legal professional may be able to help establish a successful case. Under state law, specific elements must be established to make a claim like this.
The first element that an injured plaintiff must establish is a doctor-patient relationship between the medical provider and themselves. Next, the medical worker must have failed to exercise the appropriate care that a reasonable provider would have performed under similar circumstances. Finally, an injured party must show that the failure caused the damages that would not have occurred otherwise.
Using Experts to Determine Carelessness
Under state law, there is no presumption of carelessness by a health care provider in a medical malpractice claim. For that reason, a health care expert is often necessary to prove a case. A Lynnwood medical malpractice attorney could investigate a case to determine whether a provider deviated from the relevant standards of care.
Common Health Care Mistakes that May Give Rise to a Claim
Unfortunately, medical mistakes and negligent acts occur fairly often and not every negative outcome gives rise to recoverable damages. A successful malpractice case requires a mistake or negligent act that reasonable health care providers would not have done under similar circumstances.
Although health care errors can take many different forms, there are some actions or inactions that typically give rise to a claim. Common examples of medical mistakes include the following:
- Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose
- Failure to warn of potential side effects
- Surgical errors
- Medication errors
- Errors in anesthesia
- Birth injuries
- Incompetent care
If an injury occurs because of a medical worker’s actions, proving the negligence can be difficult without an experienced legal professional. A seasoned negligence attorney in Lynnwood has experience working with health care providers to determine whether a claim is viable based on the circumstance of an incident.
Contact a Lynnwood Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
If you are injured or sick, you typically turn to health care professionals to help you with the proper care and treatment. You do not expect to become injured or ill because of the actions or inactions of the doctors that are supposed to be helping you.
A Lynnwood medical malpractice lawyer could provide the necessary assistance in filing a claim against the responsible parties. Schedule your case consultation today to help determine your legal options.