Medical malpractice can have devastating consequences for victims and their families. When a healthcare provider’s negligence leads to serious injury or death, it’s important to understand your rights and options.
At Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, we are dedicated to helping victims of medical malpractice in California seek justice and compensation for their suffering. If you or a loved one has been harmed due to medical negligence, our experienced attorneys can guide you through the complex legal process.
Why Choose Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys’s California Medical Malpractice Attorneys?
Medical malpractice cases are notoriously complex, often requiring extensive legal and medical knowledge. At Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, we offer the following:
- Experienced Representation: Our firm has a proven track record of success in medical malpractice cases. We know the strategies needed to build a strong case and secure compensation.
- Client-Centered Approach: We tailor our legal strategies to each client’s unique situation, ensuring personalized attention and care.
- Aggressive Advocacy: Whether negotiating a settlement or taking your case to trial, we are prepared to fight for your best interests.
- No Fees Unless We Win: We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
What Constitutes Medical Malpractice in California?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional fails to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. This negligence can take many forms, and common examples include:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Surgical errors
- Medication mistakes
- Birth injuries
- Failure to obtain informed consent
- Anesthesia errors
For a successful medical malpractice claim in California, the plaintiff must prove that the healthcare provider’s negligence directly caused their injuries. This requires demonstrating that there was a breach of the duty of care, causation, and resulting damages.
California Medical Malpractice Laws and Regulations
California has specific laws that govern medical malpractice cases, and understanding these regulations is crucial when pursuing a claim.
- Statute of Limitations: In California, a medical malpractice lawsuit must be filed within one year from the date the patient discovered the injury or within three years of the injury date, whichever occurs first.
- MICRA Cap on Non-Economic Damages: The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) limits non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, to $250,000. This cap does not affect compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or other economic losses.
- Notice of Intent to Sue: Before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, California law requires patients to give the healthcare provider at least 90 days’ notice of their intent to file a claim.
- Expert Testimony Requirement: To prove a case, medical expert testimony is generally required to establish that the healthcare provider acted negligently.
Navigating these laws can be complicated, but Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys have the expertise to ensure your case is filed correctly and within the necessary deadlines.
Proving a Medical Malpractice Case
To win a medical malpractice case in California, you must establish four key elements:
- Duty of Care: The healthcare provider owes the patient a duty to adhere to the accepted standard of care, which is based on what a reasonably competent provider would do in a similar situation. This duty creates the foundation of the relationship between the patient and the provider, requiring the provider to deliver care that meets professional standards.
- Breach of Duty: The provider failed to meet this standard, acting negligently, either through an action or omission that falls below the expected level of care. This failure can take many forms, such as making an incorrect diagnosis, administering the wrong treatment, or failing to inform the patient of potential risks.
- Causation: The breach of duty caused the patient’s injury or worsened their condition, linking the provider’s actions directly to the harm experienced by the patient. In medical malpractice cases, this step is often complex and requires proving that the injury would not have occurred if the provider had acted according to the standard of care.
- Damages: The patient suffered actual harm—whether physical, emotional, or financial—due to the provider’s actions, and these damages must be quantifiable in order to justify compensation. This harm can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other economic and non-economic impacts of the malpractice.
Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys work with medical experts to evaluate the circumstances of your case and gather the evidence needed to prove these elements. This process may involve reviewing medical records, consulting specialists, and collecting witness testimony.
Types of Compensation in Medical Accident Cases
Victims of medical malpractice are entitled to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. These may include:
- Economic Damages: Medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and future medical care.
- Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement.
- Punitive Damages: In rare cases where extreme negligence or misconduct is involved, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar actions in the future.
While California’s MICRA law limits non-economic damages, the attorneys at Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys will fight to ensure you receive the maximum compensation allowed under the law.
Steps to Take if You Suspect Medical Malpractice
If you suspect you have been a victim of medical malpractice, taking the right steps early can protect your legal rights:
Get a Second Opinion
If you believe you have suffered due to medical malpractice, one of the first steps is to seek a second opinion from another medical professional. This ensures that your condition is properly evaluated, providing confirmation of whether the initial treatment or diagnosis was faulty.
A second opinion can help determine if the original healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care and if that failure contributed to your injury. Additionally, this step allows you to receive proper treatment going forward, which can prevent further harm.
Securing this second evaluation is crucial not only for your health but also for building a strong medical malpractice claim. If the second healthcare provider identifies errors in your original care, their findings can serve as critical evidence in your case.
Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys can assist in finding reputable medical experts who can provide thorough evaluations and expert testimony to support your claim.
Obtain Medical Records
Obtaining your medical records as soon as possible is essential if you suspect medical malpractice. Medical records are the foundation of any malpractice case, as they contain details of your diagnosis, treatment, test results, medications, and interactions with healthcare providers.
These records serve as objective documentation of the care you received and can help determine whether there was a deviation from the accepted standard of care.
Request complete copies of your medical records from all relevant providers, including hospitals, clinics, and specialists. This documentation should include diagnostic test results, surgical reports, prescriptions, and any other relevant medical data.
Medical records can also help prevent healthcare providers from altering or tampering with information once a lawsuit is on the horizon.
Document Everything
Detailed and consistent documentation is critical in medical malpractice cases. In addition to your medical records, keeping a personal record of your experiences, symptoms, and treatments will strengthen your case.
Document all aspects of your medical condition, including the progression of your injury, pain levels, and any side effects or complications from treatment. This log will help establish how the malpractice has affected your daily life.
Also, keep track of all interactions with healthcare providers, including any communications or instructions you receive, whether in person, by phone, or electronically. This will ensure you have a clear record of what was said and done during your treatment, which can help demonstrate any negligence or miscommunication.
Contact an Attorney
The most important step you can take if you suspect medical malpractice is to contact an attorney as soon as possible. Medical malpractice cases are legally complex, and the laws surrounding these claims are strict, especially when it comes to filing deadlines and proving negligence.
Speaking with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer early on will help you avoid mistakes and ensure your case is handled appropriately.
An attorney can help preserve critical evidence, such as expert medical opinions, and will ensure that your claim is filed within the statute of limitations. They can also guide you through each stage of the legal process, from gathering additional medical records to negotiating with insurance companies or taking the case to trial.
With the help of a skilled attorney, you can maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation for your injuries.
At Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, our team has the experience needed to handle complex medical malpractice cases. We are committed to securing justice for victims of medical negligence, and we work tirelessly to ensure that our clients’ rights are protected throughout the legal process.
When You Need a California Medical Malpractice Law Firm, Choose Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, you don’t have to face the legal process alone. Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys offer free consultations to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
There are no upfront fees, and you only pay if we win your case.
Contact us today at (855) 604-4641 to schedule your consultation and start the process of seeking justice.
