If you are thinking about filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against a physician or hospital, keep in mind that you will have to prove three things to even pursue your case:
- liability
- damages
- who is responsible for paying damages.
The Basics of Medical Malpractice
To determine if a party is legally responsible for your injuries, you need to ascertain if a health care provider was negligent and, if so, whether that negligence caused your injury. Because you had a less than satisfactory result does NOT mean that anyone was negligent. A key factor in determining negligence is the ‘accepted standard of care’ and if that standard was followed. Even if this standard was not followed, it still must be proved that not following the standard of care actually caused the injury.
Outcomes of a Medical Malpractice Suit
If you and your legal team establish liability, you are entitled to damages, which can include compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. Often, the amount of damages you receive depends on how the injury affects your earning potential and quality of life.
Help with Your Medical Malpractice Suit
If you feel that you have been injured due to medical malpractice, please call Fitzpatrick Law Firm to speak with an experienced and compassionate medical malpractice attorney in Chicago at 312-553-2200.