When a doctor, nurse, technician, or other health care provider fails to meet the professional standard of care and causes harm, they are liable for those actions or inactions. Patients may suffer worsening conditions or new injuries resulting from treatments, medication, or surgical procedures.
If you sustained injuries while in the care of a doctor or provider, you must hold them responsible. Reach out to the Helms Law Firm to schedule a consultation with a proficient health care malpractice attorney who is experienced in establishing liability in Homerville medical malpractice claims.
Liable parties for medical malpractice may include physicians who treated the patients, nurses, and health care facilities, depending on the specifics of the case. Some examples of negligence that lead to liability include:
A knowledgeable lawyer could help establish liability in Homerville medical malpractice lawsuits, answer client questions and concerns, and guide the overall process.
State laws define medical malpractice as any wrongful or negligent action or lack of action by a doctor or other health care professional that directly relates to injuries sustained by patients. To win an award for damages, a case must show that the four elements of liability exist.
The first step is establishing that a provider owed the plaintiff a duty of care. A Homerville attorney needs to provide evidence of a doctor-patient relationship to properly prove that there was medical malpractice to be liable for.
The second step is proving that the defendant deviated from what another reasonably prudent provider in a similar situation would do, which caused a breach. An example is presenting evidence to show that you expressed concerns to the doctor, but they failed to identify specific symptoms and administer the appropriate tests.
The third component is causation, which is the direct link from their medical error to the injuries sustained by the patient. This is often proven through medical records of the injuries or worsened condition of the patient.
Finally, the last element is demonstrating that actual damages resulted from the malpractice, which may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Georgia courts award compensation in two categories. The first is the tangible financial damages, including:
The second group, called non-economic damages, is the non-monetary losses, such as loss of the enjoyment of life, disfigurement, chronic pain and suffering, psychological and mental anguish, and emotional distress. A lawyer skilled in establishing liability in medical malpractice cases in Homerville could advocate for the best potential outcome.
Nobody expects to go to the doctor to improve their health and instead suffer injuries while in their care. When mistakes happen because they failed to follow protocol or skipped steps and deviated from accepted standards, a civil court will hold them financially accountable.
A settlement could cover all of your financial losses and non-monetary damages sustained as a result of the procedure or care you received from the provider. Contact our lawyers to review the details and learn more about liability in Homerville medical malpractice claims.
