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Tacoma Medical Malpractice Lawyer
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Tacoma Medical Malpractice Attorney
When you experience health issues, you naturally rely on healthcare facilities or hospitals for treatment. Unfortunately, when medical professionals fail to uphold their duties, the consequences can be severe, resulting in injuries that may permanently alter your life.
Medical malpractice is a multifaceted issue involving the identification of negligence and the accountability of responsible parties. At Goldberg & Loren, our Tacoma medical malpractice lawyers are dedicated to achieving justice for you and securing the maximum compensation you are entitled to for your medical malpractice case.
Call (253) 259-3276 today to set up a free consultation with our Tacoma medical malpractice attorneys.
What is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice arises when a healthcare professional fails to deliver proper treatment, neglects necessary actions, or provides inadequate care, leading to harm, injury, or even death of a patient.
The negligence usually involves a medical error involving one of the following areas: [1]
- Diagnosis
- Medication dosage
- Surgical errors
- Patient management
- Preatment mistakes
- Follow-up care
What are The Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases in Tacoma?
There are several common scenarios in which malpractice cases arise, each a different form of negligence by medical professionals.
Here are some common types of medical malpractice:
- Medical Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: A doctor’s failure to correctly diagnose a condition or delay in doing so can result in a lack of necessary treatment, worsening your condition.
- Surgical Errors: Mistakes during surgical operations, such as operating on the wrong body part or leaving surgical instruments or foreign objects inside you, can lead to serious health complications.
- Medication Errors: It occurs when you receive the wrong medication or dosage, leading to adverse side effects or a lack of treatment for your condition.
- Anesthesia Errors: Incorrect administration of anesthesia can cause significant harm, ranging from brain damage to death.
- Childbirth Injuries: Negligence during childbirth can result in injuries to the mother or the baby, such as fractures, brain damage, or other serious conditions.
- Failure to Treat: When healthcare providers recognize a medical condition but fail to recommend or provide the appropriate treatment, it can exacerbate your situation.
Between 2018 and 2022, Washington state witnessed 3,286 reported medical malpractice claims. [2]
What Injuries Can Occur Due to Medical Malpractice?
Medical errors can cause a wide range of injuries, including:
- Worsening of existing health conditions
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Brain damage resulting from surgical or anesthesia errors
- Birth defects or injuries to newborns and mothers
- Severe infections or complications post-surgery
- Adverse reactions from incorrect medications
- Unnecessary pain and suffering due to untreated or mistreated conditions
- Emotional and psychological distress stemming from negligent medical care
Table of Contents
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Tacoma Medical Malpractice Attorney
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What is Medical Malpractice?
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What are The Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases in Tacoma?
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What Injuries Can Occur Due to Medical Malpractice?What Injuries Can Occur Due to Medical Malpractice?
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Who Can Be Held Responsible For Medical Negligence Claims in Tacoma?
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Statute of Limitations for Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim in Washington
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Compensation Available in Tacoma for Your Medical Malpractice Claim
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Why Choose Our Tacoma Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
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FAQs
Tacoma Practice Areas
Who Can Be Held Responsible For Medical Negligence Claims in Tacoma?
There are multiple professionals held accountable for medical negligence, depending on the specifics of the case and how the negligence occurred. Here are the potential parties that may be held liable:
- Doctors and Surgeons: If a physician or surgeon fails to provide the standard of care expected in their field, they can be held liable for any resulting harm to the patient. It includes errors in diagnostic mistakes, treatment, surgical procedures, or patient management.
- Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals: Nurses can be held accountable for negligence if their actions or inactions lead to patient harm. It includes incorrect medication administration, failure to monitor a patient’s condition, or failure to communicate critical information to doctors.
- Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities: Sometimes, hospital negligence might be the root cause. They can be held liable, particularly when systemic issues are at the root of the problem, such as inadequate staffing levels, emergency room errors, insufficient training programs, or poor maintenance of medical equipment.
- Pharmaceutical Companies: If a medication error is traced back to pharmaceutical errors, perhaps due to mislabeled drugs or contaminated products, they could be held responsible for any resulting injuries.
- Medical Device Manufacturers: When injuries are caused by a defective medical device, the manufacturer may be liable, especially if the device had inherent design flaws, manufacturing defects, or lacked adequate warnings and instructions.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim in Washington
In Tacoma, Washington, medical claims are subject to a specific Statute of Limitations. You must file a claim within three years from the date of the negligent act or omission. Certain exceptions may apply, and complex cases may require interpretation by legal professionals. RCW 4.16.350
Compensation Available in Tacoma for Your Medical Malpractice Claim
If you have suffered due to a medical professional’s negligence in Tacoma, you deserve to be fairly compensated for the physical, emotional, and financial burdens they’ve endured. The compensation sought often aims to address both tangible and intangible losses resulting from medical errors.
- Economic Damages are typically the easiest to quantify and relate directly to financial losses incurred because of the malpractice. They include medical expenses such as hospital bills, ongoing treatment costs, and future medical care. Lost wages, resulting from being unable to work due to the injury, also fall under economic damages.
- Non-Economic Damages cover the less tangible but equally significant effects of medical malpractice. These include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of your life. Unlike economic damages, these are more subjective but are essential for addressing the complete impact of the malpractice on your life.
- Punitive Damages may be awarded in cases where the health care provider’s conduct was particularly reckless or malicious. Punitive damages are not as common and are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar misconduct in the future, rather than compensate the victim directly.
- Wrongful Death Damages can be sought in medical malpractice cases when medical negligence results in death. These damages can help pay for the funeral and burial as well as the ongoing loss of income.
Why Choose Our Tacoma Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
When faced with medical negligence, finding reliable representation is vital. Our local medical malpractice attorneys at Goldberg & Loren stand out for commitment and experience. We specialize in personal injury cases related to surgical errors, medication errors, and birth injuries, ensuring that you receive the justice and fair compensation.
Reasons to choose us:
- Experience: With over 120 years combined experience in handling malpractice claims in Washington State, we understand the complexities involved.
- Medical Experts: Our top-rated medical malpractice lawyers collaborate with leading medical professionals to build a robust case.
- Free Consultation: Benefit from an initial assessment at no cost to discuss your case details.
- Contingency Fee Basis: A contingency basis means you pay no fees unless we win your case, ensuring our interests are aligned with yours.
- Comprehensive Support: From gathering medical records to dealing with insurance companies, we manage all aspects.
We want to help you seek justice. Contact us for a free consultation. Meet with us in person, schedule an online meeting, or we can come to you in the hospital if needed. Someone else should pay for the mistakes made, not you. Call us today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice in Tacoma
To successfully prove a medical malpractice claim, you must demonstrate that a doctor-patient relationship existed, the healthcare provider was negligent, it caused your injury, and you suffered damages due to this injury.
Washington State does not have a cap on economic damages or non-economic damages like pain, suffering, and emotional distress. However, calculating these damages can be complex and often requires the expertise of an experienced attorney.
Most medical malpractice lawyers, including those in Tacoma, work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay any attorney fees unless your lawyer successfully recovers compensation for you. It ensures that legal services are accessible to those who need it.
Sources:
[1] Brazier, Y. (2023, June 8). What is medical malpractice? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248175
[2] Kreidler, M. (2023). 2023 medical malpractice annual report. In Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Washington State. https://www.insurance.wa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2023-med-mal-report.pdf
Our Tacoma medical malpractice lawyers how devastating the consequences of medical malpractice can be. That's why we want to help you get the justice you deserve.
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