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Free ConsultationDoctors have an important job. Every day, they work to care for us, and we trust them to treat our illnesses and prioritize our well-being. Unfortunately, like many of us, doctors sometimes make mistakes. While a small slip-up may seem relatively harmless, when it comes to our health, even a minor error can have serious consequences.
If a doctor’s mistake has caused you lasting harm, a Philadelphia physician errors lawyer at Lowenthal & Abrams can help you hold them accountable. Our skilled medical malpractice attorneys can assess your case, discuss your legal options, and help you seek financial compensation.
Medical Errors and Their Effects
Medical malpractice is a special area of personal injury law. If you sustain injuries in a car accident, you can recover damages from the other driver if you can prove that they were in violation of their duty of reasonable care and caused the crash. This same idea applies to healthcare professionals, but medical malpractice cases can be more complex than ordinary personal injury cases.
Doctors and other medical workers, such as nurses and anesthesiologists, owe their patients a duty of care, and they must adhere to strict medical standards. If they fail to do so and cause you harm as a result, they can be liable for your injuries.
There are several ways that a doctor can violate their duty of care, including:
- Failing to correctly diagnose an illness or condition
- Prescribing incorrect medication or administering the wrong dosage
- Performing surgery on the wrong part of the body, or even the wrong patient
- Cutting or causing damage to another body part during surgery
These errors can result in potentially long-term harm and adversely affect your health. For instance, a misdiagnosis could prevent you from receiving the treatment you need to heal, and many illnesses can worsen if left untreated. Surgical accidents can cause damage inside the body, which can require additional procedures to correct. An experienced Philadelphia attorney can help you recover compensation if your doctor’s mistake has caused you further harm.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim?
State law sets a specific timeframe within which you must file a personal injury claim. Under 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 5524(2), this deadline is two years from the day the injury occurred.
Medical malpractice claims, however, can be more complicated because injuries may not be apparent until well after you have received treatment. In these cases, the two-year period starts from the day you discovered the injury. There are also special rules for cases involving children under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5533(b). This allows them to file a claim within two years of their 18th birthday if the injury happened while they were young.
Although these exceptions can give you some leeway, it is best to seek legal advice from a skilled lawyer as soon as possible if a physician’s error has caused you harm in Philadelphia. Acting early can ensure that your case meets the filing deadline and prevents you from losing your chance to claim the compensation you deserve.
Call Our Philadelphia Lawyers if a Doctor’s Negligence Has Caused You Harm
Healthcare professionals are human, which means they are not infallible. However, that does not mean you have to pay for their mistakes. A Philadelphia physician errors lawyer can help you hold the negligent parties accountable and seek compensation for your injuries.
Whether it is negotiating with the doctor’s malpractice insurance provider or taking the case to court, an attorney from Lowenthal & Abrams will be by your side through every phase of your claim. Contact our office today to schedule a free case consultation.
