It can be difficult to ignore when a patient has experienced a surgical error, but many insurance companies and hospitals will try to do so. Ideally, you should start working with a surgical error lawyer in Baltimore from the moment you become aware that an error took place. If you’ve informed the hospital of the error but haven’t contacted a lawyer yet, then there are several reasons to contact one ASAP.
5 Signs You Should Call a Surgical Error Lawyer in Baltimore ASAP
1. You’ve Been Offered a Settlement
Sometimes the fact that you’ve experienced a surgical error is indisputable. In these cases, you may be offered a settlement. However, that doesn’t mean the settlement will actually cover the full extent of your damages. You should always contact an attorney after being offered a settlement, as your attorney can evaluate the settlement against what they believe you may be entitled to based on your situation.
Your attorney can let you know whether you should accept or decline the offer. If they believe you should decline, then they may be willing to take on your case and help you win a larger sum.
2. The Hospital Won’t Accept Liability
Sometimes hospitals don’t want to tarnish their good reputation by getting mixed up in a medical malpractice case. They may do several things to try and avoid accepting liability. They might say your illness or injury was caused by something else, they could claim you attended a different hospital, or they might claim you were warned about this potential error occurring even though you weren’t.
Never try to convince a stubborn physician or team of physicians on your own. Contact an attorney, as your attorney can open an investigation to prove the hospital’s claims are false and your claims are true. Learn more about your rights by seeking counsel from a medical malpractice attorney.
3. The Error Left You Disabled
Some surgical errors can leave you with a lifelong disability or a long-term health condition. Situations like these can complicate the case, and you may be entitled to a very large sum to cover your future medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, lost earning potential, and much more. Consulting an attorney to see what kind of compensation you can win in your case is vital.
Your life has been changed forever, and you should never attempt to navigate a situation like this without somebody who knows medical malpractice law inside and out.
4. Your Condition Is Worsening
If you’ve already been compensated for a surgical error, but your condition is worsening even though the case is closed, then you should get back in contact with your attorney. You may be able to reopen your case and win further compensation. Whether or not you can reopen your case depends on a few factors, such as if the statute of limitations has run out yet. The statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases is three years.
You may be able to reopen your case or file a new lawsuit regardless of whether or not the statute of limitations has run out, but nobody can say for sure until you consult an attorney and give them the details of your case. The law is incredibly strict, and only somebody with a lot of experience in medical malpractice law can tell you whether or not you can win further compensation.
5. You Receive a Late Diagnosis
Late diagnosis is another area of medical malpractice, but sometimes this is classed as a surgical error. Let’s say you underwent a procedure where, if performed correctly, the surgeon would’ve noticed you have a severe medical condition that impacts one of your organs. A few years later, you’re diagnosed with this condition by a different, more competent physician.
Your new physician may state that the previous physician should’ve noticed the medical condition while they were operating on you. This can be classed as a surgical error, and you should speak to an attorney for advice.
What Can I Be Compensated for in a Medical Malpractice Case?
Some of the things you can win compensation for are already listed above, such as pain and suffering, future medical expenses, and future lost income. You can also be compensated for any income you’ve already missed out on while taking time off work while injured/ill. Your medical expenses associated with your treatment and hospital stay at the time the error occurred will also be covered.
You should start working with an attorney from the moment you realize you’ve experienced a surgical error. Contacting an attorney if you’re experiencing any of the situations above is even more vital. Working with an experienced attorney is the best way to ensure all your damages are covered after experiencing medical negligence.