Medical Malpractice Accident Lawyer
When you enter the hospital for treatment or a surgical procedure, you place your trust – perhaps even your life – in the hands of not only your doctor, but also all the people who make up your health care team. You expect that each of them will have the necessary education, training and experience to do their respective jobs competently. You do not expect that any of them will make a mistake that injures you or makes your medical condition worse.
Unfortunately, as a medical malpractice accident lawyer from Cohen Injury Law Group, P.C. has seen many times before, medical malpractice is a major problem in the US. In fact, medical errors are the second leading cause of death. If someone on your health care team provides you with negligent treatment or care, you may wish to consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against them and/or the medical facility.
Who You Might Sue
Keep in mind that medical malpractice applies to staff personnel as well as to physicians. You may be able to sue the hospital itself if the negligent staff member is one of its employees or was at the time you sustained your injury. For instance, you may be able to sue one or more of the following:
- A nurse who failed to properly monitor you
- A lab technician who improperly administered a test or misread its results
- A pharmacist who improperly filled your prescription
- An orderly who injured you while transporting you
- A maintenance worker who failed to properly dry a floor after mopping
Employee Status
In order to be able to sue the hospital, the negligent doctor or staff member must have actually worked for the hospital at the time your injury occurred. Not all medical staff or others are categorized as employees simply because they work in the hospital. They could be independent contractors or work for other agencies that contract with the hospital for specified services.
In general, a hospital is not liable for the negligent acts of its contract workers. Consequently, one of the most important things your medical malpractice lawyer can do for you is to determine each person’s employment status. Even if you can’t sue the hospital because the presumed employee who committed negligence turns out to be a contractor, you may be able to sue them personally if they are an independent contractor or sue the company or agency for which they work.
Medical malpractice is a very complicated area of the law, with many moving parts to consider. This is why obtaining the assistance of an experienced local medical malpractice lawyer is so important. By understanding your rights and options in seeking restitution for a medical professional’s error or oversight, you will have a better idea of when it’s time to take action and recruit help from a legal team.
Medical Malpractice Accident Lawyer
When you enter the hospital for treatment or a surgical procedure, you place your trust – perhaps even your life – in the hands of not only your doctor, but also all the people who make up your health care team. You expect that each of them will have the necessary education, training and experience to do their respective jobs competently. You do not expect that any of them will make a mistake that injures you or makes your medical condition worse.
Unfortunately, as a Los Angeles, CA medical malpractice accident lawyer from Cohen Injury Law Group, P.C. has seen many times before, medical malpractice is a major problem in the US. In fact, medical errors are the second leading cause of death. If someone on your health care team provides you with negligent treatment or care, you may wish to consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against them and/or the medical facility.
Who You Might Sue
Keep in mind that medical malpractice applies to staff personnel as well as to physicians. You may be able to sue the hospital itself if the negligent staff member is one of its employees or was at the time you sustained your injury. For instance, you may be able to sue one or more of the following:
- A nurse who failed to properly monitor you
- A lab technician who improperly administered a test or misread its results
- A pharmacist who improperly filled your prescription
- An orderly who injured you while transporting you
- A maintenance worker who failed to properly dry a floor after mopping
Employee Status
In order to be able to sue the hospital, the negligent doctor or staff member must have actually worked for the hospital at the time your injury occurred. Not all medical staff or others are categorized as employees simply because they work in the hospital. They could be independent contractors or work for other agencies that contract with the hospital for specified services.
In general, a hospital is not liable for the negligent acts of its contract workers. Consequently, one of the most important things your medical malpractice lawyer can do for you is to determine each person’s employment status. Even if you can’t sue the hospital because the presumed employee who committed negligence turns out to be a contractor, you may be able to sue them personally if they are an independent contractor or sue the company or agency for which they work.
Medical malpractice is a very complicated area of the law, with many moving parts to consider. This is why obtaining the assistance of an experienced local medical malpractice lawyer is so important. By understanding your rights and options in seeking restitution for a medical professional’s error or oversight, you will have a better idea of when it’s time to take action and recruit help from a legal team.
