While most people do not enjoy going to the doctor, it’s a necessary part of living the healthiest life possible. You should be able to trust that any medical professional you seek care from will treat you with nothing but compassion and respect. As many people unfortunately learn, not every healthcare provider can be trusted to provide high-quality care to all their patients. Sometimes, that substandard care has life-changing or even life-threatening consequences.
If you’ve been hurt by your doctor’s negligence, you may be able to sue them and their employer over the negative effects their misconduct has had and will have on your life. If you want a fair shot at getting paid through this sort of claim, you need help from a Mt Laurel medical malpractice lawyer. Our personal injury attorneys have years of experience fighting—and winning—cases just like yours.
Special Rules for Lawsuits Against Healthcare Professionals
Courts won’t just take your word for it that you’ve been hurt by a medical professional’s negligence. Doctors play such a crucial role in the lives of millions of people, and the law gives them a few protections from frivolous lawsuits that regular people don’t have. There’s a higher burden of proof you need to clear in order to get your case started in the first place.
Most notably, you need to have an affidavit of merit, which—as your Mt Laurel medical malpractice attorney can further explain—is a statement written and signed under oath by another medical expert confirming they’ve reviewed the evidence for your case and believe you have valid grounds to sue. The only exception to this requirement is if a doctor’s error is so obvious that any average person could identify it as negligent care—for example, if a surgeon leaves a medical tool inside your body after finishing a surgical procedure.
What Damages Can You Demand Compensation For?
Fortunately, New Jersey law doesn’t cap or artificially limit the maximum amount of money someone injured by a doctor’s negligence can demand through a medical malpractice lawsuit. It’s possible to demand money through a successful malpractice claim for the full value of all past and future losses you’ll experience because of your doctor’s misconduct, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and trauma
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Medical bills for additional care you need to treat injuries or illnesses caused by your previous doctor’s negligence
- Disability-related costs for things like wheelchairs, home modifications, and in-home assistance
- Lost working ability and work income
It can still be vital to have help from a skilled lawyer with identifying and assigning a fair value to all the damages you need to recover through your medical malpractice case in Mt Laurel.
Consider Working with a Mt Laurel Medical Malpractice Attorney
The idea of filing a lawsuit against a doctor you trusted to take good care of you can be tough to stomach, especially if that doctor has been treating you for years already. However, if you’ve suffered serious harm because a medical professional didn’t give you the high-quality care you deserve, enforcing your right to civil recovery might be vital to protecting your best interests both now and well into the future.
A Mt Laurel medical malpractice lawyer can provide the custom-tailored legal guidance you need to get the best possible outcome from your unique claim. Learn more by calling today.
