Sayre Medical Malpractice Attorneys Helping You Get Fair Compensation
Doctors and other medical professionals undergo years of education and training to provide the best possible medical treatment available. Hospitals and other medical facilities establish detailed protocols to ensure that they provide safe and effective health care. Despite these factors, mistakes still happen, mistakes that can result in serious harm to the patient and even death. Many of these mistakes are, unfortunately, the result of medical malpractice. If you believe that you have suffered as a result of medical malpractice, the Sayre medical malpractice attorneys from Proudfoot Law Firm can review your case and help you understand your options.
What We Want Victims of Medical Malpractice to Know
Unfortunately, medical malpractice claims are among the most complex and difficult cases to pursue, especially for non-lawyers. Here are some of the factors that make medical malpractice claims uniquely challenging:
- There are no guarantees of success. The fact that your treatment did not cure your illness or heal your injury does not by itself mean that you are the victim of medical malpractice.
- Medical treatment often comes with known risks and side effects. This is why doctors and other health care providers are obligated to disclose any known risks or potential side-effects associated with your treatment. If the harm you suffered following treatment was not disclosed, you may have a medical malpractice claim.
- Medical malpractice cases are judged according to a different standard than other personal injury cases. Malpractice cases are not judged by a simple negligence standard. Instead, they are judged according to the “standard of care.” The standard of care is determined by what a doctor with similar training and experience would have done in the same case.
- Medical malpractice cases are highly technical. Medical terminology is the first obstacle to overcome in order to simply understand what happened and how it led to the harm that you suffered. Most medical malpractice cases require testimony from an expert witness in order to identify how the standard of care was violated and make sense of the technical aspects of your case.
This is why it is so important to talk to a lawyer if you suspect you are the victim of medical malpractice. The Sayre medical malpractice attorneys at Proudfoot Law Firm have the knowledge and experience to determine whether you have a claim.
What Are the Statutes of Limitations in a Medical Malpractice Claim?
As with any personal injury claim, medical malpractice cases are subject to a statute of limitations whereby you must file your claim or you lose all of your rights. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations is two years from the date you discovered or should have discovered that you were the victim of medical malpractice.
The fact that the statute begins to run from the date of discovery is helpful to medical malpractice victims because malpractice isn’t always immediately obvious. That said, there can be considerable disagreement as to when you “should have known” that you suffered as a result of medical malpractice. To that end, Pennsylvania requires that all medical malpractice cases be brought within seven years of the date you received treatment.
This is why it is so important to seek immediate guidance if you suspect that you are the victim of medical malpractice. Our Sayre medical malpractice attorneys can help you protect your rights before you lose them.
Contact the Sayre Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Proudfoot Law Firm Today
If you believe that you have suffered harm as a result of medical malpractice, you need to take immediate action. To speak with one of our Sayre medical malpractice attorneys about your case, contact us today at 607-734-3400 to schedule a free consultation.