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While going to the emergency room is hardly an enjoyable experience under any circumstances, you should be able to trust that you will receive high-quality treatment from compassionate and qualified physicians. Unfortunately, as you may have recently learned, not everyone who works in emergency care meets the “standard of care” expected of them.
If you believe you sustained a preventable injury or illness or had your condition worsen while in the ER, you may have grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim. Whether you just need to cover short-term medical bills or are dealing with life-altering trauma as a result of a doctor’s misconduct, your dedicated Bala Cynwyd emergency room error lawyer could work tirelessly to get you paid fairly for your losses.
When Does an ER Error Justify a Lawsuit?
When taking legal action over an emergency room error, it is important to understand that medical professionals are not held to the same definition of “negligence” as the average defendant in a personal injury claim. Rather than a general “duty” to act in a reasonable and lawful way, medical professionals are expected to provide the same “standard of care” that any equally qualified physician would under similar or identical circumstances. Given how hectic emergency rooms can be, healthcare providers who work there may be cut some slack for small mistakes.
That being said, ER personnel are still expected to make every possible effort to correctly diagnose, treat, and provide follow-up care to every patient they see. Errors that a reasonable and skilled physician would not be expected to make are potential grounds for a settlement demand or lawsuit. Examples of ER mistakes that could justify litigation include:
- Prematurely discharging a patient
- Making mistakes during emergency surgical procedure
- Leaving a patient unattended for an unreasonable amount of time
- Incorrectly diagnosing or failing to diagnose a patient’s condition
- Failing to check a patient’s medical records for pre-existing conditions
- Miscommunications between ER staff members leading to any of the mistakes listed above
A Bala Cynwyd ER error attorney can determine whether a particular situation might warrant taking legal action during a private initial meeting.
Recovering for All Available Damages
Both economic and non-economic consequences of an ER error should be factored into an ensuing civil claim. For example, an injured patient can pursue compensation for the medical expenses necessary to treat a resulting injury as well as the pain and suffering resulting from that injury. Our attorneys advise potential plaintiffs to account for expected future losses that may not have manifested by the time legal proceedings conclude. Compensation can cover the costs of future rehabilitative care, lost working capacity due to a long-term disability, and various forms of psychological trauma.
No matter how serious a patient’s injury or illness is, they typically have two years after discovering they were harmed by malpractice to begin filing suit. An emergency room error lawyer in Bala Cynwyd can build a strong claim accounting for all of a plaintiff’s losses within this filing deadline.
Work With a Bala Cynwyd Emergency Room Error Attorney
Medical mistakes are always dangerous, but they can be especially catastrophic when they impact a patient who already needs emergency care. If you are dealing with the aftermath of an ER mistake, you have help available from seasoned legal professionals with a track record of achieving positive results.
Working with a Bala Cynwyd emergency room error lawyer can help you understand your options and proactively pursue the restitution you deserve. Call Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys, today to learn more.
