More than 4,000 surgical errors occur across the United States every year. That means more than 4,000 patients suffer complications that could have been prevented.
Because medicine is not an exact science, it can be challenging to determine when malpractice has occurred and when the patient has merely suffered from a known risk of the procedure. If you’re recovering from an operation and there’s a chance your surgeon made a mistake, however, it’s wise to seek legal counsel.
If it turns out your complications could have been prevented had your medical team followed the standard of care, you probably have grounds for action. To give your subsequent claim the best chance of success, start by taking the following steps:
When issues arise following surgery, patients are instructed to reach out to their medical team. If you think your surgeon is to blame for the complications, though, you have every right to visit someone else for a second opinion. However, there is risk in not following the orders of the treating physician. This complicated analysis is best done under the guidance of an experienced medal negligence attorney.
Save all documentation associated with both your surgery and the subsequent complications. This includes hospital admission forms, diagnostic images, prescriptions, and nursing logs.
It’s also wise to keep track of every appointment. Write down the date and time of each visit, as well as which providers you saw and what kinds of tests or treatments they performed during it.
You’re going to have to present receipts, invoices, and other documentation for the economic damages you end up seeking. Such damages might include medical bills, replacement services, and lost wages.
As for recording non-economic damages like pain and suffering, start a personal injury journal. Daily entries about how the complications are hurting your overall quality of life will help contextualize the trauma you’ve experienced.
Medical malpractice claims are inherently complex. Conducting a thorough investigation that yields enough evidence of liability demands a lot of resources, not to mention access to a host of various experts.
While it’s possible to represent yourself during these proceedings, doing so is unadvisable and analogous to attempting to perform your own surgery.
Health care providers have special protections under the law, including risk identified in informed consent paperwork and various other laws. What’s more, the insurance adjusters who review malpractice claims have all kinds of strategies for arguing cause to deny or at least devalue cases.
By hiring an experienced, trial-tested, medical malpractice attorney, you can focus your personal efforts on making a full recovery. You will also have peace of mind knowing you’ve essentially leveled the playing field, and your claim is in good hands.
At Hodge & Langley Law Firm, we’re proud to advocate for patients who have been wronged by their health care providers. If you suffered serious complications because your medical team failed you, we’ll help you gather the evidence needed to hold them accountable. Call 864-585-3873 or complete our Contact Form to schedule a free initial consultation with a medical malpractice attorney in South Carolina.
Submission of information in this contact form does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In order to establish such a relationship with our firm we require a direct meeting with the attorney.
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