Why You Need a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A Seattle medical malpractice lawyer is needed when someone has been harmed by the negligence of healthcare professionals. This type of claim involves complex issues involving the legal system, healthcare system and insurance systems. An experienced attorney will be able to help navigate these complexities and fight for maximum compensation for victims.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice happens when a doctor or other healthcare professional fails to uphold the standard of care for his or her profession. This failure results in injuries to a patient and may also lead to death. Malpractice claims are more complicated than personal injury cases because they involve medical records and the expert testimony of other medical professionals.

Some common types of medical malpractice include birth-related injuries and misdiagnoses. When a doctor misdiagnoses, it can cause serious injuries like brain damage or wrongful death. A doctor must make an accurate diagnosis based on the symptoms presented by the patient and he or she must provide appropriate treatment. In many cases, a doctor will miss a diagnosis because of a combination of factors, such as insufficient testing or misinterpreting information on a patient’s medical chart.

An experienced Seattle medical malpractice lawyer can help injured patients pursue fair compensation from the responsible party. Those who have been harmed by healthcare professionals can file a lawsuit against them to recover damages for their medical expenses, loss of income, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and more. In some cases, a victim might be able to receive punitive damages.