Were you injured when a medical professional acted negligently? Medical malpractice takes place when a healthcare provider’s actions—or lack thereof—cause harm to patients. If you were hurt in a situation like this, know that you’re not alone.
With the help of a Bridgeport medical malpractice lawyer, you’ll have the opportunity to build a case on your behalf, pursue compensation that covers the damages you sustained, and seek justice for your injuries. You deserve to be compensated for what you went through.
At Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers, we have experience recovering more than $500 million for our clients. As your Bridgeport personal injury lawyers, we’re here to help you explore your legal options and hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for their behavior.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice does not always look the same from one case to another. It can take many different forms, including:
- Surgical errors: Sometimes, medical professionals can engage in malpractice by making errors while performing surgery. Examples of this include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside patients by accident, or causing damage to someone’s internal organs.
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis: Failing to diagnose someone’s condition accurately or causing delays in the diagnosis process are two examples of ways medical malpractice can lead to worsening conditions or unnecessary treatments.
- Medication errors: This category of medical malpractice can look like prescribing the wrong medication, telling someone to take an unsafe dosage, or failing to recognize when certain drugs won’t interact well together.
- Birth injuries: Medical malpractice can also entail preventable injuries sustained by newborns or mothers during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
- Anesthesia errors: Administering the wrong amount of anesthesia can result in serious complications and, in some cases, fatalities.
- Failure to obtain informed consent: Performing medical procedures without properly informing the patient of the risks or alternative options can be viewed as medical malpractice because informed consent was not obtained.
Statute of Limitations
In Connecticut, victims often have two years to file a claim. This statute of limitations typically goes into effect on the day you sustain your injuries—or from the day you should have reasonably discovered your injuries.
However, there is an overall statute of repose of three years as well. This means claims cannot be filed more than three years after the date of the negligent act, regardless of when the injury was discovered.
Proving Medical Malpractice in Bridgeport
As your legal counsel, your medical malpractice lawyer in Bridgeport will take on the responsibility of proving the at-fault party should be held liable for the harm they caused you. Here’s what your attorney will need to prove:
- Duty of care: Your Bridgeport medical malpractice attorney will demonstrate that the healthcare provider owed you a duty of care as their patient.
- Breach of duty: From there, your lawyer will need to show that the provider breached their duty of care by failing to provide you with the accepted standard of care.
- Causation: Your lawyer will then look into ways to show that your healthcare provider’s negligence directly caused your injury.
- Damages: Once causation has been established, your attorney will showcase the extent of your damages, including any medical bills, pain and suffering, or loss of income you endured as a result of the medical malpractice you experienced.
Liability in Medical Malpractice Cases
Multiple different parties can be held liable in a medical malpractice case, though the people who share liability for your injuries will depend on the circumstances surrounding your case. These are some examples of potentially responsible parties:
- Doctors and surgeons who make diagnostic or surgical errors
- Hospitals and medical facilities responsible for inadequate staff training
- Institutions that allow unsanitary conditions or negligent hiring practices
- Nurses and medical staff who fail to administer proper care or medication
- Pharmacists responsible for dispensing incorrect medications or dosages
Medical Malpractice Compensation in Connecticut
If you are the victim of medical negligence, you might be eligible to pursue compensation for a wide range of damages:
- Costs of surgeries, hospital stays, medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages due to the time you missed away from work
- Future earnings that you could have earned if you were not injured
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, or a reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death damages if medical malpractice results in death
Contact Us Today to Learn How Our Bridgeport Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help You
If you or a loved one has suffered due to medical negligence, our Bridgeport medical malpractice attorneys are here to help. At Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers, we will evaluate your case, gather evidence on your behalf, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers all have a duty to offer safe and competent care that doesn’t put their patients in harm’s way. When negligence results in injuries or damages for their patients, victims have the right to seek compensation through a medical malpractice claim.
If you are the victim of medical malpractice, know that you’re not alone. The sooner you reach out for legal advice, the sooner we can help you build a case and pursue justice in your case.