Seattle Medical Lawsuit Help combine legal expertise and a passion for seeking justice for injured patients. Depending on the circumstances, victims can recover damages to cover expenses related to follow-up care and improve their quality of life.

Healthcare professionals have a duty to treat patients according to accepted standards of care. When they don’t, they can be held accountable for their negligence through a medical malpractice claim.

1. Consult a Lawyer

The best way to get the legal help you need to recover damages for medical malpractice is to consult a Seattle lawyer who handles these cases. Malpractice claims are complex and require attorneys with extensive knowledge of medicine, healthcare systems and insurance laws. When choosing a lawyer, ask what percentage of their practice is devoted to medical malpractice and how many years they have handled these cases.

A medical malpractice case involves proving that a healthcare provider breached their duty to treat patients using accepted, proven methods and the breach directly caused injuries. To prove these elements, an attorney must review thousands of pages of medical records, imaging reports, physician orders, prescriptions, admission and discharge paperwork, electronic communications like emails, and more. The attorney must also contact similar providers to have their opinions on any breaches of care, promises, or consent and have a medical expert take another look at the case. It can be difficult and time-consuming to do a thorough inquiry into a medical malpractice claim, but this is vital to winning compensation.

2. Identify the At-Fault Party

If you or someone close to you suffered an injury because of medical negligence, it’s important to identify who was at fault. This is a critical step for filing a claim and can be easier with the help of your lawyer.

To file a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that your healthcare provider owed you or your loved one a professional duty of care. That means that the provider was obligated to act in a reasonably skilled and careful manner given their education, training, and the situation’s circumstances. The provider breached this duty by acting negligently, leading to an injury or death.

In some states, such as Washington, before a case can be filed, the claimant must deliver a notice of intent to the healthcare providers that they intend to sue. This gives the provider(s) an opportunity to settle before trial, potentially saving everyone involved time and money. If the parties can’t reach a settlement, mediation is often required before the case can go to court.

3. Gather Evidence

A successful medical malpractice claim requires a great deal of documentation. This includes documents that detail the impact of the injury and how it relates to your quality of life, including medical bills, insurance statements, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses, missed work, and pain and suffering.

Physical evidence like photographs, witness testimony, and official records are also necessary. A lawyer can help you compile this information and ensure it stays organized for easy review.

In addition to medical records, expert witnesses are also critical in malpractice cases. These professionals compare the defendant’s actions to Washington’s standard of care, highlighting where negligence occurred. Additionally, they can provide opinions on damages, as well as whether punitive damages are applicable for egregious conduct. They can also help navigate hospital defenses, such as arguing that complications were a known risk or caused by other factors. They can also help you understand the time limitations and deadlines for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.

4. Schedule a Consultation

Whether you need help navigating insurance paperwork or fighting for the compensation you deserve after a medical mistake, we are ready to provide the support you need. Our team has extensive experience with medical malpractice claims and we understand the complex, nuanced details of these types of cases.

To win a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that your health care provider did not deliver the standard of care for his or her profession. This could include a misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes, medication errors, or other forms of negligence that lead to injury. We can analyze your medical history, partner with experts to build a strong case, and help you seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial harm you have suffered.

Our Seattle hospital malpractice lawyers can also help you file a lawsuit against a negligent healthcare professional and the institution where he or she works. We are experienced at showing that hospitals may be liable for the actions of non-employee health care professionals, such as contractors and visiting physicians, if they fail to conduct background checks on these providers or monitor their work, among other issues.