When medical professionals fail to properly treat a person’s injuries or ailments, or otherwise do their job correctly, the impact on patients could be devastating. If you or a loved one sustained injuries or worsened health because of a negligent health care provider, you may wish to contact a Gautier medical malpractice lawyer for advice. With the help of legal counsel, you may be able to determine whether you have a valid medical malpractice claim and your options for pursuing it.
Not every medical error results in a medical malpractice claim. These claims can be extremely complicated and may require a skilled personal injury lawyer who is accustomed to handling cases such as these. Speak to an attorney to learn about your legal rights and options.
Medical malpractice could take many forms. Doctors are not the only parties who can commit medical malpractice. Other healthcare providers, such as hospitals, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists, also can make errors that rise to the level of medical malpractice. When these medical providers fail to follow medical procedures or their level of care is insufficient, they may be liable for any harm to the affected patients that result.
Some of the most prevalent types of medical malpractice include the following:
If individuals suffered any injuries or exacerbation of existing medical conditions, they need to consult a medical malpractice lawyer in Gautier for advice.
Medical malpractice claims are based on a violation of the appropriate standard of care by medical providers. The standard of care is the reasonable level of treatment and care that medical practitioners in the same position would provide. What is reasonable may differ based on the role of the medical provider and the department or specialty in which the provider offers care.
All healthcare providers must give their patients quality treatment according to the applicable standard of care. When doctors or other medical professionals breach this standard of care, they may be liable for any injuries or harms that result. An experienced medical malpractice attorney in Gautier could be essential in helping injury victims effectively pursue their claims against all potentially responsible parties.
Most personal injury actions are subject to a three-year statute of limitations under Mississippi law. This means that injury victims generally must file their claims within three years of the date of the accident or injury. However, medical malpractice claims have a separate statute of limitations.
Under Mississippi Code § 15-1-36(2), individuals must file medical malpractice claims within two years of the date of the incident. Alternatively, they must file their claims within two years of the date that they discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, their injuries. Even then, individuals have no more than seven years from the date of their injuries in which to file their claims. A seasoned lawyer could help an injured victim file a claim within the statute of limitations.
Furthermore, individuals with potential medical malpractice claims must give notice of their intention to sue at least 60 days before they file suit. If they provide this notice less than 60 days before the expiration of the statute of limitations, then the deadline extends for another 60 days to allow notification to all potentially affected parties.
When you are sick or injured, you need to be able to rely on medical professionals and other healthcare providers to help you get well. In some cases, however, these professionals make careless errors that cause harm to patients. If you are in this situation and have suffered injuries, a Gautier medical malpractice lawyer may be able to help.
By pursuing medical malpractice claims, you can hold negligent parties responsible for their errors and prevent other patients from sustaining similar harms. Call today to get started on your claim.