Key Factors to Consider Before Filing a Medical Lawsuit

A medical lawsuit is necessary when a patient’s health and wellness have been compromised due to negligence. Such developments are classed as a breach of duty of care to the patient or victim by the medical facility or professional involved.

However, not every case wherein the patient feels mistreated qualifies as a medical malpractice case. In fact, there are specific instances where a patient can claim to have been a victim of medical negligence. This article sheds light on the key factors to consider before filing a medical lawsuit.

To file a medical lawsuit, you must be able to answer these questions;

Did the Doctor or Healthcare Facility Fail to Honor Their Duty of Care?

Medical professionals, including ERs, nurses, doctors, and surgeons, as well as medical facilities, have a duty of care for each patient. This duty of care ensures that they are doing their very best to address complaints and problems presented by the patient.

However, a patient may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit when their doctors or medical facility has failed to honor the guiding and binding rules of their contract or relationship.

Such breaches may be presented in the form of misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, emergency room errors, surgical errors, infections, mistreatments, and others. 

If you have a reason to believe your doctor or healthcare facility has not honored the contractual agreement between you and them, then you may have grounds to file a medical lawsuit.

Was There an Injury Caused by a Breach of Duty?

Breaching the duty of care in the medical world often results in injuries and health complications. So, it’s not enough to establish that the duty of care was breached but to also prove that you had suffered significant damages or injuries as a result.

For example, surgical errors like being sewn up with a tool inside of you can further compromise your health and recovery. This may lead to complications as well as another surgical session to correct the mistake. Such an occurrence, amongst others, establishes medical negligence and how it has impacted your health and quality of life.

Did You Suffer Damages Due to the Negligence?

The third element of a medical malpractice case is establishing that the negligence indeed caused you damages. As in the example above, damages may be in the form of pain and suffering caused by corrective surgery, lost wages or earning capacity, prolonged recovery period, health complications, and others.

After establishing the above elements, then you should consider the factors below, as they can also affect your case and its outcome.

How Much Evidence Do You Have?

Proving a medical malpractice case can be tough, especially because you’re required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the medical professional or facility had a duty of care that was breached and caused damages.

Proving such requires evidence gathering in the form of medical records, medical expert witness testimonies, and more. You’ll also need to carefully investigate the matter to ensure that you aren’t making any mistakes that could jeopardize your chances.

Who Should Be Sued?

Determining the at-fault party in a medical lawsuit can be a tough feat. Some cases may require naming more than one party to blame for your damages.

It is important to carefully consider your case, the actors, and who should be sued to increase your chances of recovering losses.

Consulting with a knowledgeable and skilled medical malpractice attorney can make this process easier and more straightforward. Your attorney can help determine whether the medical staff are to blame or it’s the facility. The lawyer can also determine whether there are multiple at-fault parties and how to proceed.

How Soon Should You Sue?

Injury cases have an expiry period stipulated in the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations helps to ensure that evidence is protected and preserved for relevancy in injury cases.

Medical malpractice and negligence victims must know how soon they can sue the at-fault parties in their case to ensure they get the appropriate outcome.

Knowing how soon to sue is also just as important as knowing when to sue. Depending on the injury, your medical malpractice lawyer may aim to file a lawsuit when you’ve achieved maximum recovery. This is often aimed at estimating the true worth of your losses as well as future medical costs you may need.

Cost of Filing a Medical Lawsuit

The legal costs required to file a medical lawsuit may be high, depending on the attorney you’ve hired. However, most medical malpractice lawyers offer a contingency-fee–based service that absolves the victim of any upfront costs until the case is won.

You may wish to consider such an arrangement to reduce your upfront costs.

Considering the above factors can guide you in making the right decision for yourself and your case.