In 2012, the Journal of the American Medical Association or JAMA cited medical negligence as the third leading cause of death in the U.S.—right alongside heart disease and cancer. Over $3 billion were allocated for malpractice payouts that year. If you break that down, that’s one payout for every 43 minutes, says Forbes, with 45 percent of payouts going to inpatient cases and 41 percent to outpatient ones.
Common Injuries in Malpractice Claims
Common causes of filing for a claim include death, lifelong injury, injuries that result in brain damage, being quadriplegic, needing lifetime care, emotional injury, major temporary injuries, minor temporary injuries and more. Any errors in diagnosis, treatment, surgery, obstetrics, medication, monitoring and anesthesia are also sufficient grounds for filing a lawsuit and seeing a hospital for negligence.
Getting Legal Help
So if you or someone you love finds yourself being a victim of any medical malpractice, you have the right to ask for compensation you duly deserve. But trying to manage all the legal details could only stress you out further. To make sure matters don’t grow worse and that your stress levels stay low, you can hire a lawyer to help you out.
Why Legal Help Matters
A medical malpractice lawyer can easily guide you through the whole process. That should make the experience of filing for a claim less stressful. Also, someone who knows how the law works is your best bet in winning your case. From negotiating for a better rate to ensuring you are well and duly compensated for your injuries, lost wages and treatment costs, having a lawyer by your side is indispensable. If you see a long legal battle ahead, don’t do it alone. Get a lawyer to assist you and represent your rights in court. With a legal counsel, you greatly improve the odds in your favor.