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Your First Meeting With A Medical Malpractice Lawyer: How To Prepare and What To Expect
Retaining a medical malpractice lawyer is vital when you have been the victim of medical negligence. Some people delay meeting with a medical malpractice lawyer because they feel intimidated or are overwhelmed dealing with their physical and emotional injuries, but time is of the essence. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare for your first meeting with a medical malpractice attorney can help. More ›
ShareCalculating Pain and Suffering in a Medical Malpractice Case: What You Need to Know
Medical malpractice happens when a patient is injured by the mistake of a healthcare professional. Medical providers are expected, by their patients and by the law, to provide a certain standard of care, and if they fall below that standard, they can be held liable for the harm that they cause. This includes paying financial compensation to the injured victim. In a medical malpractice case, compensation goes beyond the medical bills, lost wages, and other economic damages that can be calculated with receipts and invoices - it includes an amount for the pain and suffering of the victim. In many medical malpractice cases, pain and suffering is the biggest portion of the compensation award or settlement. More ›
ShareWhy and When Do You Need a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
Healthcare is essential, and we all rely on medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and cure us. We put our faith in these experts to improve our quality of life, and we expect nothing less than competent medical care. Unfortunately, in some cases, medical providers can harm or cause injury through unreasonable errors and improper care, and as a result, you may need to hire a medical malpractice lawyer to protect your rights. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional deviates from the accepted standard of care and causes the patient to suffer an injury. In this article, we discuss what you might need to know about medical malpractice lawyers and when you might need one. More ›
Share6 Common Reasons People Sue Their Medical Professionals
As medical malpractice attorneys, we have handled many lawsuits against healthcare providers. In our experience, the most common reasons for a patient to file a lawsuit are:
- wanting to prevent a similar harm to another patient
- wanting an explanation for how or why an injury occurred
- needing financial compensation to provide care for an injured person
- wanting to hold the medical professional accountable
But what events most commonly cause a patient to sue? More ›
ShareRecord-Setting Medical Malpractice Verdict in Philadelphia Birth Injury Case
On April 26, 2023, a Philadelphia jury awarded nearly $183 million to a mother and her child for birth-related injuries.* The verdict is believed to be a record for the highest verdict in a medical malpractice case in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The child was delivered at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (H.U.P.) but was born with severe brain injuries resulting in cerebral palsy (C.P.) As a result of the child’s medical conditions, he needs lifelong care and support. More ›
SharePrescription Errors
Prescription errors, unfortunately, are common. Every year, 7,000 to 9,000 people die as a result of medication errors in the United States, making it the third most common cause of death in the country after heart disease and cancer. It is estimated that many more people are injured from prescription errors that are never even reported. People who suffer from chronic diseases are at a greater risk of prescription errors. More ›
ShareFailure to Monitor
Healthcare providers owe patients a duty of care which includes the duty to monitor symptoms, behavior, treatment, or progress, as appropriate. A failure to monitor a patient can lead to catastrophic consequences - the new mother who suffers a stroke when her blood pressure goes unchecked and untreated, the baby born with cerebral palsy because the delivery team did not monitor fetal blood oxygen levels, or the high risk post-operative patient who suffers a pulmonary embolism (P.E.) when medical staff failed to monitor the patient’s movement, leg elevation, or use of compression stockings. If a medical provider fails to properly monitor a patient, the provider may be liable to the patient or family for the harm that they cause. A healthcare provider’s failure to monitor is one of many types of medical malpractice claims. More ›
ShareSurgical Errors
Surgeons train for years for the privilege of operating on another human being. When they or other members of their team fail to appropriately exercise this privilege, patients can be harmed. A surgical error can cause a patient to suffer infections, chronic pain, extended recovery time, additional procedures, disfigurement, and other painful outcomes. In some cases, a surgical error or the complications that arise from it can be fatal. More ›
ShareHow Long Does It Take to Resolve a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Medical malpractice claims are complex legal claims that often involve traumatic personal stories and complicated medical and legal issues. Every claim is different, and one unique fact in a case can have a significant impact on the length of time it takes to resolve a claim, whether through a settlement or jury verdict. A simple medical malpractice claim might resolve in less than one year, while a complicated or high value claim could last several years. More ›
ShareFailure to Follow Up
Medical negligence, also known as medical malpractice, is not always the result of a healthcare provider’s action – sometimes medical negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to act. When a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, or other medical provider does not appropriately follow up with a patient after a medical procedure, test, consultation, or other such appointment, the healthcare provider, and its employer, could be held legally responsible for medical negligence, and financially responsible for the physical, emotional, and financial harm that they caused as a result of that failure. A medical malpractice attorney can advise you on your legal rights to compensation, and help you to stand up to powerful healthcare systems and their insurers. More ›
ShareCan Medical Negligence Cause Cerebral Palsy?
The short answer is yes, medical negligence can cause cerebral palsy, and, when that happens, the law allows victims to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable. More ›
ShareChoosing the Right Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When you or a loved one have been the victim of medical malpractice, it is crucial that you find a medical malpractice lawyer that you trust and that will help you get justice and compensation. More ›
ShareHow To Prove Medical Malpractice, Birth Injury Claims
Medical malpractice claims are complex and contentious. On the plaintiff's side, there is a suffering victim or family who has put their trust in medical professionals only to suffer painful, traumatic, and sometimes life-changing consequences. On the other side is a healthcare provider or healthcare system fighting for their reputation and perhaps their livelihood. The stakes are high, and it is essential to be able to present a strong, evidence-backed case. More ›
ShareTen of the Largest Medical Malpractice Verdicts of 2022
2022 saw record-setting medical malpractice verdicts across the country. Juries have seen the pain and suffering caused by negligent healthcare providers, and are compensating innocent victims for both their financial and non-financial harm.
This list only includes cases that went to trial and highlights some of the largest medical malpractice verdicts from 2022. The majority of medical negligence cases are settled out of court, but the terms and settlement amounts are confidential and could not be included here. However, the medical malpractice attorneys at Morris James can guide you on the relevant factors in your case that could affect your right to compensation. Contact our experienced medical malpractice lawyers online or call us at 302.888.6857 for a free, no-obligation consultation. More ›
ShareBrachial Plexus Injuries FAQs
Brachial plexus injuries in infants are most commonly caused by trauma to the neck as it stretches away from the shoulders during birth. Unfortunately, these injuries can occur during the delivery of a baby and because of a physician’s medical malpractice. Though brachial plexus injuries are rare at birth, and while many brachial plexus injuries can heal on their own, a permanent brachial plexus injury can be devastating to the baby and his or her family members. This article discusses brachial plexus injuries and medical malpractice claims involving brachial plexus injuries caused at birth. More ›
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