If you live in the Terre Haute region and believe medical malpractice injured you, an Indiana injury lawyer can help you file a successful claim. Although these claims are relatively common, it is usually unwise to proceed without legal guidance.
What is medical malpractice?
A general yet accurate way of defining malpractice is substandard or inferior medical care resulting in an injury. Four examples of medical malpractice include:
1. Misdiagnosis. Delayed, incorrect or absent diagnoses of conditions
2. Errors. Avoidable mistakes made by medical providers, facilities or hospitals
3. Drugs. Prescribing the wrong medicine, dosage or failing to explain potentially harmful side effects
4. Procedures. Unnecessary surgeries, operating on incorrect body parts or operating on the wrong patient
When a medical professional makes mistakes, it often results in a worsening condition or even death.
What basic legal steps should you take when injured by malpractice?
Filing a malpractice claim is the proper response after suffering a medical care-related injury. However, it is vital to take the appropriate steps before filing. Doing so ensures you have made no errors and sets you up for success with your claim.
· Reach out to the medical provider or facility that caused your harm to show you attempted to find a solution before resorting to the law. In some cases, the doctor or hospital can remedy your situation without the need for further action.
· Contact the medical licensing board if your efforts to find a solution fail. Taking this step will not provide you with compensation, but the board may discipline the medical provider for making dangerous mistakes.
· Seek a second or third medical opinion about your condition and how the injury occurred. Doing so helps you prove you have a valid medical malpractice claim.
· Finally, do not discount the benefits of acquiring attorney guidance with your claim. For example, a lawyer can help you decide whether to accept an out-of-court settlement or take your case to trial.
It is also wise to learn as much as you can about the medical malpractice laws in Indiana. An attorney can help you with this goal, too.
