Types of Medical Malpractice Compensation
A lot of states limit the amount of damages that a victim of medical malpractice could get. The caps typically only cover specific, quantifiable losses, like medical bills and lost wages.
However medical malpractice cases typically involve non-economic losses such as suffering and pain. The experienced attorneys at Sobo & Sobo can help to build a strong case to claim compensation for these damages in the following areas.
Loss of Earnings Potential
If an injury caused by medical malpractice hinders your ability to earn income you can claim compensation for lost wages. However, proving these losses is not easy. You must demonstrate that the doctor’s negligence was a direct cause of your injuries, and not being merely related to them. This can be a difficult task particularly when it is involving a pre-existing condition that the medical professional failed to recognize or misdiagnose.
You could be eligible for both economic and non-economic damages depending on the nature of the mistake. Non-economic damages are determined by the effect of the injuries on your quality of life or your life. Your attorney will use expert testimony graphs, charts, and other graphics to illustrate the effects of negligence.
In some instances the medical error could be so egregious that you could demand punitive damages. These are meant to punish the healthcare provider for their outrageous behaviour. This type of damages award is not uncommon, but it could be awarded when the healthcare provider was acting with recklessness or malice.
medical malpractice attorney malpractice claims can be expensive to pursue. The costs of court filings, medical records, and other records can quickly increase. Your lawyer will need to engage experts to review your case to determine whether medical professionals have breached their duty of care towards you.
Permanent Disability
Medical malpractice cases can be complex and can involve a variety of types of damages. Compensation can cover costs like future medical procedures, ongoing medical treatment, or lost wages, when an injury has caused the person to be off work. It also covers non-economic damages such as discomfort and pain.
Non-economic damages are difficult to quantify, but could include any decrease in the quality of life. They can also include suffering and pain, medical malpractice Attorneys emotional and psychological stress. The lawyer representing the claimant will use testimony from family members and friends members to help a jury to understand the impact of the injury on the victim’s life.
A reputable NYC medical malpractice lawyer will take a close look at the evidence to determine the worth of the claim. This includes reviewing the medical malpractice statute of limitations, which puts a limit on how long after an accident plaintiff can pursue a lawsuit.
The value of a medical malpractice claim will depend on the severity of the incident, with higher settlement amounts tend to be reserved for more severe injuries. For instance, a physician might have mistakenly diagnosed an individual suffering from a condition like cancer, which could be life-threatening. The most serious injuries are more likely to cause an indefinite disability. This will increase the cost of an insurance claim.
Suffering and Pain
medical Malpractice Attorneys malpractice victims can also seek compensation for the physical pain they have experienced as a result of negligence by a doctor. Physical pain may be based on an injury to the body, like broken bones. This can include loss of range of motion, scarring, the inability to exercise or sleep and sexual dysfunction and other injuries that affect the victim’s quality of life.
The psychological pain and suffering of patients can also be a component of the compensation offered to victims of medical negligence. Psychiatric injuries such as depression, anxiety thoughts of suicide and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) are frequently debilitating and cause physical pain. Additionally, the loss of mental health may also impact a victim’s ability to maintain healthy relationships, and impact their overall quality of life.
Damages are usually divided into two categories one being economic or «special» damages, which are based on calculable financial losses as well as general or «non-economic» damages, such as suffering and pain. Non-economic damages are hard to quantify in dollars, and so it can be difficult to determine the right amount.
There are a variety of methods for Medical malpractice Attorneys formulating the value of an award for pain and loss including using a multiplier method, which adds up the damages for special damages and multiplies that amount by a specific amount ranging from 1.5 to 5. Certain states have limits on these types of awards, however in many instances, judges cannot overturn the jury’s decision.
Loss of future earnings
Medical negligence victims are entitled to various damages, including future earnings loss. This is the amount a victim could have earned if able to work at their old job or if they had a job accessible to them that was suited to their condition. This is a complicated type of damage that typically requires the assistance of an expert economist to determine.
Calculating lost earnings is simple if the victim was working at an hourly rate. A lawyer can multiply the hourly rate of a person by the number hours they missed to calculate their total lost earnings. An individual who was employed on a salary will have to consider the amount of time they were not able to work, as well as their pay and benefits.
The process of calculating lost income is simple, but future losses may be more complex. An attorney must take into account the cost of any future treatment, in addition to any costs which are reasonably anticipated in light of the patient’s current state of health.
It is essential to have an experienced lawyer on your side when seeking compensation for medical negligence. At Weltchek Mallahan & Weltchek, our team can help you determine the best method to pursue financial compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Medical errors are a grave problem that could cause severe harm. Our legal team will look over your case thoroughly and fight for the justice you deserve.