Medical Malpractice
Healthcare providers are entrusted with their patients lives and perform a job that requires the highest level of skill, knowledge, and expertise. As a result even the slightest mistake or negligent act can result in the most serious of injuries and in some cases, even death. In 2009 it was estimated that over 200,000 Americans across the United States die every year from preventable medical errors. However, in most states doctors are not required to report medical errors including surgical errors if the error does not result in death. This means negligence in the medical field may be much more prevalent than patients realize.
The attorneys at Dann D. Sheffield & Associates have over 35 years of experience handling medical malpractice claims and have developed an extensive network of specialists that can help you determine the extent of your claim and whether your injuries were the result of a medical professionals negligence. If you believe you have suffered an injury as a result of a medical professional’s negligence, contacting an attorney is essential to ensuring that you receive full compensation for your injuries and losses. At the law office of Dann D. Sheffield & Associates our medical malpractice attorneys understand the difficulties and legal issues you face after suffering an injury due to medical negligence and can help you along the road to recovery.
Medical Malpractice Frequently Occurs when a Medical Professional:
- Fails to Properly Diagnose a Disease or Illness
- Failure to Properly Monitor a Patient
- Failure to Properly Treat a Diagnosed Disease
- Surgical Errors, including: Wrong-Site Surgery or Failure to Remove Foreign Objects
- Anesthesia Related Injuries
- Medical Errors Resulting in Birth Defects, including: Errors During Delivery, Anesthesia Errors, etc.
- Failure to Obtain Informed Consent (i.e. Inform Patients of the Risks Associated with certain Medical Procedures/Surgeries and Reasonable Alternatives)
- Wrongly or Negligently Prescribing Prescription Drugs
- Improper use of Medical Equipment or Implants
- Any other Act Resulting in a Breach of the Required Standard of Care.
Medical Malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider makes a mistake, omission, or negligent act which falls below the medical communities acceptable standard of care and causes injury to a patient. When a patient is injured as a result of a health care provider’s negligence or failure to act that patient may be entitled to seek redress in the form of a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Negligence can occur at any stage during a medical treatment process and can result in an individual medical provider or even an entire hospital being held liable.
Medical Malpractice can be committed by a number of different healthcare professionals; including:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Anesthesiologists
- Dentists
- Surgeons
- Therapists
- Any other Medical Professional
If you or a loved one has suffered from an injury that was the result of a negligent doctor, hospital, or other medical or healthcare provider you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Victims of medical negligence often struggle with serous injuries, medical bills, loss of wages, as well as emotional pain and suffering. Dann D. Sheffield & Associates is one of Washington States most experienced medical malpractice injury law firms. Whether your injury was caused by a surgical error or an improper prescription; if you are the victim of a medical professional’s negligence we can ensure that you recover the compensation you are entitled to receive. The attorneys at Dann D. Sheffield & Associates have over 35 years of experience representing victims of medical negligence. Our attorneys can help hold careless and irresponsible medical professionals accountable for their negligence.
What to do if You Have Been involved in a Auto Accident?
- Call 911 and insist on a police investigation. In many cases there are no witnesses to the accident, and without a police investigation, liability may be contested later even though liability was admitted at the scene. Physical evidence of how the accident occurred may be lost after the driver leaves the scene.
- Before you leave the scene of the accident, be certain you exchange information with all other drivers involved. Record the vehicle license number and drivers licenses of the other driver(s). Obtain the names of all witnesses. Witnesses can determine the outcome of your claim!
- Be certain to obtain the insurance information of the other driver(s).
- File an accident report with the State of Washington within 24 hours of the time of the accident if someone is injured or property damage exceeds $700.00. (If a collision is not investigated and reported by an officer, the operators of any involved vehicles must submit their own independent traffic collision report as stated in RCW 46.52.030 and WAC 446-85-010)
- Immediately contact your insurance representative. Your insurance representative will be of assistance in explaining the coverage(s) contained in your policy.
- Obtain an estimate to repair your vehicle and photograph the damage to your vehicle and the accident scene.
- Do NOT discuss your claim with anyone but your family, you insurance agent, your doctor, or a Attorney. Be certain not to sign any release forms or make recorded or written statements to the other driver’s insurance representative.
- If you were injured, be certain to go to the doctor as soon as possible. Explain to the doctor that your injuries were the result of an automobile accident, and take photographs of any visible injuries (i.e. cuts or bruises)
- Prior to any contact with the other driver’s insurance company, notify your attorney. The outcome of many cases is affected by obtaining competent legal advice prior to opening a claim.
You May Be Entitled To Recover For:
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Scarring
- Broken Bones
- Paralysis
- Psychological Damages
- Medical Expenses
- Wage Loss
- Punitive Damages
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