Do you suspect that you have been a victim of medical malpractice in Dundalk, MD? You may be entitled to significant compensation–but recovering a fair settlement won’t be easy. An experienced Dundalk medical malpractice lawyer at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for fair compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering.
With over 100 years of combined experience in personal injury law, our lawyers are well-prepared to handle every aspect of your case. We’ve already helped our injured clients recover tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
If you have questions about your legal options, contact our law offices in Dundalk call us at (410) 970-3080, Maryland to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Can WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Help Me If I Was a Victim of Medical Malpractice in Dundalk, MD?
In many ways, patients are at the mercy of their medical providers. Without medical training, you’re forced to rely on their reputation and expertise. Unfortunately, doctors make mistakes all the time. Holding them accountable can be a challenge.
An experienced Dundalk personal injury attorney at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Our team has been successfully fighting for clients like you since 1977.
When you hire our team to represent you, you’ll gain a lawyer who will:
- Investigate and gather evidence to support your claim
- Identify all parties who are legally responsible for your damages
- Calculate the fair value of your claim for compensation
- Hire medical experts to testify on your behalf, as required by law
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a fair settlement deal
- Represent you in court if necessary
Many injured patients don’t hire a lawyer because they want to avoid a trial. In reality, our Dundalk personal injury lawyers settle most claims with insurance companies out of court. We know how insurance companies work, so you’re much more likely to get a fair settlement with a lawyer in your corner.
Facing off against a major hospital or trusted doctor can be intimidating. Our attorneys are here to handle the legal battle for you. To get started, contact us today for a free consultation.
How Common is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice happens much too often. According to a widely-cited study published by Johns Hopkins Medical Center, medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the United States.
In addition to the potential to be deadly, medical errors are expensive. Insurance companies pay out billions of dollars to settle medical malpractice claims each year.
Overview of Maryland’s Medical Malpractice Laws
Doctors, nurses, and other medical providers must all provide a certain level of care. Medical malpractice occurs when the level of care you receive does not adhere to the required medical standard of care.
Medical errors happen in a variety of situations. Any healthcare provider can be held liable for malpractice.
At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of medical malpractice cases, including those involving:
- Surgical errors
- Medication errors
- Failure to diagnose cancer and other diseases
- Emergency room errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Birth injuries
- Nursing negligence
- Hospital negligence
- Pharmacy errors
- Radiology errors
- Hospital-acquired infections
No two medical malpractice cases are exactly the same. Healthcare professionals must often make decisions quickly. Even if a decision causes a patient harm, that patient doesn’t automatically have a medical malpractice claim. The relevant question is whether the decision was reasonable based on the standard of care.
What is My Dundalk Medical Malpractice Case Worth?
The value of your medical malpractice claim depends on many different factors. There is no “one size fits all” approach to assessing the value of an injury claim.
Examples of the types of considerations our Maryland medical malpractice lawyers will evaluate include:
- The nature of the injury or harm you have suffered
- The nature of the medical provider’s mistake
- Your financial costs, including the cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation, etc.
- Whether you will make a full recovery or suffer a long-term disability
- How the medical mistake will impact your future earnings
- The emotional damage you have suffered due to the error
- How the mistake will impact your quality of life
You don’t have to rely on the insurance company’s estimate of your case value. While an insurance adjuster may seem sympathetic, they aren’t looking out for your best interests. Protecting your best interests is your lawyer’s job.
You can learn more about how much compensation you really deserve by scheduling a free consultation with an experienced attorney today.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Victims of Medical Mistakes in Dundalk, MD?
Victims of medical mistakes can seek compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.
If your case is successful, your settlement or verdict should cover all past and future expenses associated with the mistake, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Reduced future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Surgeries
- Nursing care
- Medical devices and medications
- Counseling
Victims of medical malpractice can also pursue compensation for non-financial losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced life expectancy
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- PTSD
- Fear
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Damage to relationships
- Loss of consortium
However, these non-economic damages are subject to a statewide cap. In 2023, the cap on non-economic damages in Maryland medical malpractice cases is $875,000. That cap increases by $15,000 each year.
Our Dundalk Medical Malpractice Attorneys Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Losses
Medical malpractice victims are often left to struggle with severe long-term consequences.
Examples of the severe consequences of medical negligence include:
- A worsened underlying condition
- Infections
- Development of new medical conditions
- Shortened life expectancy
- Depression and other mental health disorders
- Damage to personal relationships
- Loss of the ability to work
- Blood clots
- Stroke
- Sepsis
- Internal organ damage
- Brain damage
- Wrongful death
At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll fight to recover full compensation for all of your losses. To learn more about how we can help you prove your case, call our law firm for a free case review today.
What Are the Leading Causes of Medical Errors in Dundalk, Maryland?
Some of the most common causes of medical malpractice include:
- Failure to properly train and supervise medical staff
- Understaffing, which can cause physician burnout and fatigue
- Unsanitary conditions
- Negligent hiring practices
- Failure to order the appropriate diagnostic tests
- Misinterpreting diagnostic tests
- Failure to take a complete patient medical history
- Wrong-site surgery
- Mistaken patient identities
- Charting errors
- Failure to communicate
- Inexperienced medical professionals
- Adverse drug interactions
- Overtreatment
- Undertreatment
- Defective medical devices
- Failure to recognize the patient’s symptoms
- Failure to refer the patient to a specialist when appropriate
Our Dundalk medical malpractice attorneys offer a free case review so that you can learn more about your legal options without risk. Give us a call to schedule yours today.
How Do I Prove That My Doctor Was Negligent in Maryland?
Identifying the cause of the error is the first step toward recovering fair compensation. However, you will have to satisfy certain specific requirements to establish medical malpractice in the state of Maryland.
To prove medical negligence, you must establish:
- The medical provider owed you a duty of care (meaning that you were their patient)
- They breached their duty by deviating from generally accepted medical practices
- The breach directly caused the harm you suffered
- The damages you suffered as a result
Victims of medical malpractice must establish the standard of care. In other words, you must point to the level of care you should have received under the circumstances.
That standard can depend on:
- The type of injury or medical condition involved
- Your age and overall health prior to the procedure or treatment
- The healthcare provider’s level of training and expertise
- The geographic location and facility’s resources
Under Maryland medical malpractice laws, victims must provide a certificate from a qualified medical expert. The expert witness in your case must state that the defendant did not meet the medical standard of care.
How Long Do I Have to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Maryland?
Under Maryland law, the statute of limitations in medical malpractice cases depends on two factors:
- The date the medical mistake occurred
- The date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury
Generally, you must file a lawsuit before the earlier of:
- Five years from the date the medical malpractice occurred, or
- Three years from the date you discover or reasonably should have discovered the injury
The bottom line is that you lose your right to compensation if you wait too long to take legal action. If you suspect you were a victim of medical negligence, contact our law firm today. We can help you get the ball rolling so you don’t lose your right to sue for damages.
Contact a Dundalk Medical Malpractice Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation
Medical errors can cause significant and irreversible damage. If you were a victim, an experienced Dundalk medical malpractice lawyer can help you fight for justice. Contact our team at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about your legal options today.
