Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Eagle Pass
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are as valuable today as ever before. When we feel bad, they diagnose us, care for us, and heal us. Unfortunately, however, medical professionals don’t always make the pain go away, and sometimes they can even make it worse.
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional commits a preventable error, through negligence or inaction, during medical treatment. This medical professional can be a doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist, hospice worker, psychiatrist, or anyone else who provides medical attention.
Medical errors can result in severe injury and even wrongful death. If you were injured due to medical negligence, you have grounds to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Medical Negligence and Its Effects in South Texas
How Frequently Does Medical Malpractice Occur?
Professionals disagree on precisely how many yearly injuries and deaths to attribute to medical malpractice. High estimates cite it as the third leading cause of death in the United States, with over 250,000 deaths per year, while other more reasonable estimates put that number somewhere between 44,000 and 98,000. Whatever the precise number, it is nevertheless true that medical negligence is a major cause of death in the United States, and the number of non-fatal injuries from medical practice is likely significantly higher.
Common Medical Errors
Every medical malpractice case is unique. The age and sex of the victims, types of care provided, and the cited medical errors can vary widely. Medical malpractice can also occur in any medical setting, such as in doctors’ offices, hospitals, ambulances, psychiatry clinics, pharmacies, birthing centers, nursing homes, hospices, and even at home with in-home health care.
Errors that are commonly cited in medical malpractice lawsuits include:
- Missed or late diagnosis
- Misdiagnosis
- Medication errors (inappropriate medication, dosage error, adverse reactions, anesthesia errors, etc.)
- Failure to inform patients of a known risk (duty of informed consent)
- Childbirth negligence, delivery errors, and birth injuries (to the pregnant person or the child)
- Surgical errors
- Fatal infections
- Premature discharge
- Poor aftercare
Did you suffer an injury or was someone you love killed because of a medical error? If so, contact our medical malpractice attorneys in Laredo today by calling (830) 445-2035 or sending a message. Our offices are located in Eagle Pass, Laredo, Brownsville, and Piedras Negras, Mexico. Se habla español!
Effects of Medical Negligence
Although some medical mistakes may be minor, others have the potential to be life-changing for the patient and their family. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may require further additional surgeries or even require long-term medical care, which can be highly emotional, costly, and time-consuming. You may have to miss work, or you can experience some sort of permanent disability and have to change careers or stop working entirely, which can result in significantly reduced income. If a family member was killed due to medical negligence, you may not only be left with their medical expenses, but you might also have to pay funerary costs. If the deceased family member was your spouse, you’ll also be losing an important source of household income.
These scenarios show how medical malpractice can be physically and emotionally painful, as well as enormously expensive.
Damages that can be recovered in medical malpractice cases include:
- Additional medical expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost wages and decreased earning potential
If you were injured because of medical negligence, schedule a consultation by calling (830) 445-2035 or sending a message. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers in Laredo are ready to aggressively pursue the compensation that you deserve.
Frequently Asked questions
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at (830) 445-2035 today!
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Do I still have a case if I received a traffic citation stating I cause of the accident?The situation depends if the accident was not completely your fault. You can still recover damages from the other driver for the portion of the accident that was his or her fault.
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Do I have to let my insurer know about the accident if the accident was not my fault?Yes, you need to inform your insurance company of the accident even if you weren't at fault.
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What if I don’t report the accident to my insurance company?If you do not report the accident, the insurance company may deny payment of any claims you file subsequently. Your insurance company must notify you within 30 days of receiving proper notice of the claim whether it will pay or deny your claim, or inform you that it is still in the investigation stage.
Pursuing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Laredo, Eagle Pass &South Texas
The state of Texas places certain limits on monetary amounts that can be pursued in medical malpractice lawsuits, depending on the type of damage (economic or non-economic) and who is being sued (a single medical provider, a health care institution, or multiple institutions). Texas also requires that medical malpractice cases be filed within two years of the medical error or, if treatment was ongoing, within two years after medical treatment ended. The laws can also vary based on who is filing the lawsuit, whether it’s a child or an adult and whether it’s a victim or a surviving family member.
Because the laws regarding medical negligence are complex and situational, and because health care professionals and their insurance agencies often have strong defense attorneys, it is essential to seek the advice of established medical malpractice lawyers in your area.
The medical malpractice attorneys at Gonzalez and Associates P.C. have years of experience practicing law in South Texas. We believe that if any members of our community have suffered at the hands of negligent medical professionals, it is our responsibility to pursue damages for their pain, suffering, and medical costs. We know what it takes to build a strong medical malpractice case in the state of Texas, and we will use every available resource to fight for justice for you and your family.