Advocate for Your Health with the Help of Medical Malpractice Attorney
Note these alarming facts: The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) counts negligence—right behind cancer and heart disease—as the third leading cause of death in the United States. In 2012 alone, over $3 billion was paid out for medical malpractice, which averages at a payout every 43 minutes.
If you’ve ever been under the care of a medical professional, these are troubling numbers indeed. While you can do your best to avoid being the victim of medical negligence, it never hurts to know the basics of medical malpractice should you, or someone close to you, experience this life-altering event.
The Legal Definition of Medical Malpractice
Legally speaking, medical malpractice occurs when a health-care provider digressed from the established standard of care when treating a patient. In this case, “standard of care” is defined as what a sensible health-care provider would have done or avoided when faced with similar circumstances. You are then eligible for compensation if the court finds that the provider was negligent during the course of your treatment.
How to Know if You are a Victim of Medical Malpractice
You might have such a case on your hands if a health-care provider’s negligence causes damages or injury to a patient. Yet, be aware that not all bad outcomes constitute medical negligence. The best way to know for sure if you have a medical malpractice case is to consult an Oklahoma City medical malpractice lawyer.
A Note on Filing a Medical Malpractice Suit
If you believe you’ve been a victim of medical negligence, you are surely suffering through a difficult time. However, it is important to note that medical malpractice cases have a high rate of failure, and they can be stressful, expensive, and time-consuming. In fact, out of an average of 200,000 fatalities due to malpractice errors annually, around 15% of those are actually prosecuted successfully.
In some cases, insurance companies may contact you directly to settle privately before the extent of your injuries are discovered. Your health-care provider might go with an apology to appease you and avoid a lawsuit. While it is entirely your choice how to proceed, know that it is possible to get proper and full compensation if you are a victim of medical negligence.
Be Armed with Legal Representation
In case you want to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit, consult an Oklahoma medical malpractice attorney as soon as you are able to. This helps protects your rights and shields your from lowball offers. Your attorney can help guide you through the first steps of filing a suit, and be a valuable source of support through these challenging times.
For more information contact one of our highly qualified Attorneys in the Oklahoma City area call (405) 253-4478 or our main office in Ardmore (580) 798-0447.
Sources:
10 Things You Want To Know About Medical Malpractice, forbes.com
Diagnosis Dilemmas: What You Must Know Before Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, lenpenzo.com