Medical malpractice lawsuits against negligent doctors may be settled for anywhere between $10,000 and several million dollars. Average settlements and trial verdicts fall within the range of $250,000 to $500,000 in the United States. However, each medical malpractice claim involves different circumstances that play a role in how much compensation a patient is entitled to.
Healthcare providers and the facilities they work for have a duty to provide the highest level of medical care to the patients that turn to them for help. While a doctor can make mistakes and injuries can happen even inside a hospital, the idea is to take any and every precaution to avoid harming the patient.
Unfortunately, deviating from a professional standard of care occurs in many hospitals and clinics throughout California. Those who are affected by medical malpractice can choose to file a lawsuit and seek monetary damages, such as:
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Medical expenses
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Lost wages
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Pain and suffering
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Emotional distress
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Punitive damages
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Legal fees
If you have a family member that died because of malpractice by a medical professional, you may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. This is a legal action where the victim’s family or spouse can ask for funeral expenses, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and other applicable damages.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
How Much can You Receive if a Doctor Injured You?
As a victim of careless or reckless conduct by a doctor, you clearly have many questions on your mind regarding your legal rights. However, the following issue probably stands out in your mind above all else: How much is a physician malpractice case worth?
This is a complicated question that has to be answered on an individual basis. Numerous factors must be examined before we can determine how much your case will settle for. Though we can’t cover them all, here are some of the most important elements of a case where someone is injured by a doctor’s mistake:
- Type of malpractice:
case values will vary depending on the category of malpractice committed by the physician, which include surgical errors, injuries during birth, misdiagnosis, and medication errors, just to name a few.
- Severity of injury:
is the injury permanent, and will it lead to long-term complications that require lifetime medical care?
- Age / health of the patient:
patients who are younger may receive bigger settlements depending on how the injuries caused by medical malpractice impact their earning potential.
- Punitive damages:
in cases where negligence by the doctor / facility was egregious, a jury may award the victim punitive damages on top of the compensation they are legally owed.
Categories of Doctor Malpractice
Medical malpractice involves numerous forms of negligence by a medical provider, and this can have a significant impact on the amount of compensation from a lawsuit. A lawyer with experience in doctor negligence injury claims can determine which category of malpractice caused harm to you or your loved one:
- Surgical Errors:
doctors can make mistakes in terms of removing the wrong body part or removing a limb unnecessarily. Errors during surgery can happen because of inexperience, carelessness, transcription mistakes, and other kinds of negligence..
- Wrong Diagnosis:
a misdiagnosis of missed diagnosis can have devastating consequences, including death from a lack of treatment or the wrong treatments.
- Medication Errors:
doctors can overprescribe medications or fail to pay attention to allergies and other negative reactions experienced by the patient. Addictions, death by overdose, and organ damage are just a few of the problems associated with medication errors.
- Unsanitized Equipment:
there is strict protocol of cleaning and sanitation that applies to anything that’s used on a patient. Using improperly sanitized tools, devices, and equipment can lead to all sorts of infections and illnesses that compromise the patient’s life.
- Wrongful Death:
a doctor’s failure to adhere to certain practices can cause the patient to die under their care. The physician and hospital can face a negligent death lawsuit from the patient’s loved ones under these circumstances.
Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Case Values
The process of figuring out the case value for a medical malpractice claim will vary somewhat from one case to another. However, all cases begin with an insurance claim, and the company providing malpractice coverage to the doctor will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of injury. In addition, they need to figure out how the injury will affect the patient’s life (if the patient can continue their job, for example).
There is, unfortunately, no calculator where we can plug in a bunch of numbers and come up with a neat and definitive value. However, it’s safe to say that insurance companies are looking to settle the case for the lowest possible amount. With that in mind, they will try to offer you the minimum in categories like medical expenses and lost income. Furthermore, they will attempt to avoid paying certain damages altogether, like pain and suffering.
In essence, the insurance company is not your advocate when you have been harmed by a doctor failing in their duty of care. With that in mind, it’s imperative that you hire a medical malpractice lawyer right away, who can conduct their own investigation. Afterwards, they will come up with their own settlement value and negotiate with the insurance company to maximize your payout from a medical malpractice claim.
There is no denying that medical malpractice lawsuits can result in 6 to 7 figure awards, especially if they are tried in court and the jury orders the defendant to pay punitive damages. So, it’s fair to say that the amount you receive for injuries caused by a doctor can reach $1,000,000 and above. However, it’s best not to assume when it comes to a case value. Instead, reach out to our legal team 24/7 if you have any questions about your rights and legal options.
We can Provide You with a Free Second Opinion
Some people who are looking up information on case values already have a lawyer that’s representing them in a medical malpractice lawsuit. But they are interested in verifying how much their lawsuit is worth, and this is where a second opinion can be of help.
A free second opinion is just a phone call away here at Normandie Law Firm. This is a complimentary consultation where you can discuss any concerns that you have about your case. Perhaps you have doubts about what your lawyer is telling you, or feel that your case is not getting the attention it deserves. Our goal is to provide you with an honest assessment, thereby allowing you to decide if it’s best to stay with your current attorney or switch to another law firm that specializes in medical malpractice cases.
We are happy to help no matter where you are with the legal process, but rest assured that a second opinion with us is completely free of charge. Don’t hesitate to contact our office for advice on a pending doctor malpractice insurance claim or lawsuit.
Contact Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys
A doctor cannot be perfect and free of mistakes for their entire career, but a professional code of conduct and patient care exists for a reason. Where there is a failure to uphold those standards, injured patients or people who have lost a loved one deserve justice and high quality legal representation.
Here at Normandie, we operate under a system known as the Zero Fee Guarantee. We handle your case on contingency, meaning that we do not get paid until you receive compensation from the responsible party. As a result, you are not responsible for any legal fees if the case is not settled in your favor. This offer is available to all clients, including those who decide to transfer their case to us from another law firm.
Please contact us today and schedule a free case review or free second opinion consultation.
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