Whether you’re going in for a basic checkup or getting emergency care at a hospital, you expect high-quality care from medical professionals. Unfortunately, negligence in the healthcare system leads to severe injuries and illnesses each year. Patients in these situations have the right to hold the wrongdoers accountable.
Filing a lawsuit against a doctor, nurse, or another medical professional for misconduct is a complicated process. Getting a positive result from your claim without a seasoned personal injury attorney’s help can be next to impossible. If you want the best chance of securing the compensation you deserve, speak with a Reading medical malpractice lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today.
When Can You Sue a Doctor?
One of the many things that make medical malpractice lawsuits challenging to pursue in Pennsylvania is the high standard for proving “negligence” by healthcare providers. If you do something reckless or careless while driving, for example, you might be legally liable to pay for the effects of any injuries caused by an ensuing accident. This is because you have a broad “duty” to act responsibly and safely around other people.
Standard of Care
Rather than a general “duty of care,” doctors have a professional “standard of care” they must meet. This is based on what another equally qualified doctor would’ve done in a specific situation. If you have a bad outcome from medical treatment, you can only sue if you and your Reading attorney can prove the doctor did something that no other competent medical professional would’ve done. The existence of the injury alone isn’t enough to justify a case.
Certificate of Merit
Additionally, civil courts establish other requirements when suing a doctor for negligence. Before filing a lawsuit, you will need to have at least one qualified medical expert sign a “certificate of merit” stating that, based on the evidence they reviewed, they believe the doctor violated the standard of care. Our skilled medical malpractice attorneys in Reading can help with this requirement.
Damages in Medical Negligence Cases
If you and your lawyer can prove that a doctor was negligent, you can hold them and/or their employer liable to pay for your losses, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Extra medical expenses
- Mental anguish
- Lost work wages and/or ability to work
- Loss of life’s pleasures
Pennsylvania law doesn’t set any caps on the amount of compensation a person can demand in a medical negligence claim. The winning Reading attorneys at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will fight for the full value of the losses you suffered due to a doctor’s malpractice. In a local case, we recovered a $1,300,000 pre-trial settlement for a client injured when a doctor cut a nerve in her shoulder while performing a routine biopsy on her skin.
Get in Touch with a Reading Medical Malpractice Attorney
Negligent treatment from a healthcare professional can change your life. Unfortunately, holding a doctor legally liable for the harm they caused can be next to impossible if you try to file a lawsuit or make a settlement proposal on your own.
At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we will give you the legal support and tenacious representation you need to get paid fairly for your losses. Contact us at no cost to speak with a Reading medical malpractice lawyer about your case today.
