Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “An adjuster for the at-fault driver’s insurance company has contacted me and has offered to settle my claim. Should I do this?”
When you or a loved one visits the doctor or enters the hospital you expect to feel better than you did before. You trust doctors and other medical professionals to take care of your needs and keep you safe from harm. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. Medical errors are more common than many people imagine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mistakes are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, only behind heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19. If you are the victim of a medical error, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
What are Medical Errors?
Many types of actions or inactions may be considered medical errors. Medical errors happen when a professional makes a mistake that causes harm to another. Medical mistakes can occur at any point during the treatment process. For example, a doctor fails to perform tests that could have provided the proper diagnosis. By failing to properly diagnose the patient’s condition, the doctor was unable to adequately treat the patient in a timely manner and this could have led to significant medical complications that could otherwise have been avoided. A pharmacist might make a mistake when filling a prescription and provide a patient with a harmful substance. A caregiver may give a patient the incorrect amount of medication. A surgeon might leave an implement inside of a patient during an operation. These are just a few of the many examples of medical mistakes.
Report Medical Mistakes
Each year, more than 200,000 people in the United States die due to medical errors and many more are hurt. That estimate is likely much lower than the actual number of deaths because many times medical errors are not properly reported. The North Carolina Medical Practice Act protects people against medical harm. If you experienced a medical mistake or other problem with a medical professional, report it to the North Carolina Medical Board. They review complaints and provide resolution. However, they do not handle monetary claims. When a medical professional acts in a negligent manner and causes harm, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Seek Legal Guidance
Reporting medical errors is just one of the steps you can take. Another critical step is to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. One reason why many people hesitate to take legal action is because they are unsure of how to prove that a doctor or other medical professional was negligent. An experienced injury attorney understands medical mistake complaints and knows how to evaluate and investigate these types of claims. It is helpful to act quickly because the longer you wait the more difficult it can be to locate important documents and data to prove your case. An attorney will review your situation and help determine your options. In some situations, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the medical professional or organization if they were negligent. You might be able to get money for your damages such as medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages that resulted from the mistake.
Many such lawsuits can be resolved through negotiation and settlement before they get to court. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video, phone or in-person consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/surgeon-3-1504757
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Medical Mistakes: More Common Than You Realize