Cherry Hill, NJ, Medical Malpractice Lawyer

How Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Cherry Hill, NJ, Works for You

Why Choose Us?

Medical malpractice cases are complicated; they deal with complex issues stemming from New Jersey laws and our convoluted healthcare industry. Because symptoms change over time and evidence and witnesses disappear, it is important to contact an attorney experienced in medical malpractice as soon as possible.

At Wapner Newman, we know how to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for the harm they’ve caused our clients. When our Cherry Hill medical malpractice lawyer accepts a case, we will:

• Investigate the circumstances and potential causes of your injury or illness and gather evidence by obtaining medical records, photographs and videos, and eyewitness statements
• Determine who was responsible for the harm you’ve suffered
• Verify how much you are owed by calculating the many damages you’ve experienced
• File all paperwork in accordance with deadlines and court requirements
• Work with expert witnesses to determine where there was malpractice
• Deal aggressively with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and other attorneys to negotiate a favorable settlement
• Build a case based on our research, Pennsylvania law, and similar cases and take it to trial if necessary.

We know how to get results for our clients. Wapner Newman attorneys have won a case of medical malpractice for a woman who suffered irreversible brain damage. The settlement amounted to $8.4 million. We also won a $5.8 million obstetrical malpractice claim. In another medical malpractice lawsuit, our client was awarded a $7 million settlement for a baby who was born brain damaged because the mother, during labor, suffered from a lack of oxygen.

The skilled and experienced Cherry Hill medical malpractice lawyer at Wapner Newman is committed to giving your case individual attention and getting the best settlement possible. We will be there for you throughout the entire process, keeping you informed and addressing your concerns.

Here’s What Our Clients Have to Say

“I needed an experienced lawyer who understood all of the medical issues. Wapner Newman provided the experience that was required to win the case. I always felt my son’s future was in good hands during all phases of the case through settlement.” – Dwight W.

“They got me justice. I will always be grateful for the time and attention that they paid to my wife and I during this terrible time.” – Sam N.

Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Cherry Hill Must Prove Negligence

Negligence Is More Than a Mistake

Medical malpractice is the area of law that covers negligence committed by healthcare providers which results in harm to patients. Not everything that goes wrong medically is malpractice, however.

To show that a healthcare provider was negligent, the plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) needs to show what the standard of care was in the case and that the defendant (the party being sued) breached or violated that duty, causing harm. If there was a doctor-patient relationship, the doctor violated the standard of care, and the patient suffered injury as a result, medical negligence has taken place that may warrant a lawsuit.

The standard of care is the watchfulness, attention, caution, and prudence that a reasonable person in the circumstances would exercise. The standard of care in a medical malpractice situation depends on the type of healthcare provider at issue, and, for example, is different for a family doctor and a surgeon.

What makes medical malpractice lawsuits so complicated is that additional proof is needed, and that is where we come in. In medical malpractice cases, the law requires additional proof as a means of protecting healthcare providers from false claims, and this may require the opinion of a medical expert.

In addition, there are times a claim may be brought against someone other than a doctor. In situations where there was negligence in connection with use of medical devices or pharmaceuticals, parties such as a manufacturer or retail sales representative who recommended the device may be held accountable.

Damage Awards in a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Cherry Hill

In a successful medical malpractice lawsuit, our Cherry Hill lawyer may win a damage award that covers the following:

Economic damages, for monetary costs and losses, including:

• Past, present, and future medical expenses such as costs for rehabilitation, therapy, and corrective surgeries
• Lost wages and earnings and reduced or lost potential future earnings
• Funeral costs, in case of a death.

Non-economic damages,for intangiblequality-of-life losses that do not have a specific dollar value, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and trauma
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of consortium, companionship and life’s pleasures due to pain, suffering, disability and disfigurement.

Punitive damages. In some unusual cases, where a medical professional acted in ways that are deemed intentional or with a reckless disregard of the consequences, you may also be awarded punitive damages. These punitive damages are meant (1) to punish a defendant that acted in a willful, malicious way with a wanton disregard for others’ safety and (2) to discourage similar situations from happening again.

In New Jersey, there is a cap on medical malpractice awards for punitive damages at two times the amount of actual damages in the case. However, economic and non-economic damages are not limited or capped.

Amounts of Settlements

There is no average settlement amount for medical malpractice cases in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Instead, there are a wide range of amounts possible, from the thousands to the millions of dollars, depending on the circumstances of the case. More severe injuries, such as brain and spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis and require lifetime care, or those that result in death may bring multimillion-dollar settlements.

The skill and negotiating power of your attorney is also a factor in determining settlement amounts. Rest assured that our Cherry Hill medical malpractice attorney will fight for the maximum compensation possible for your individual situation.

Our Cherry Hill Medical Malpractice Attorney Answers FAQs

Medical malpractice is upsetting and complicated, so it’s natural for you to have questions and concerns. The best place to get answers is at your free consultation, but to get you started, here are answers to some questions our Cherry Hill medical malpractice lawyer is often asked:

Are there time limits for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit?

Yes, according to New Jersey law, the statute of limitations (the deadline to file a legal claim) on most medical malpractice claims is two years. There are exceptions if the victim is a minor or child or the victim is unaware of the malpractice despite a reasonable investigation as to whether the injury was caused by malpractice (but this can be no longer than seven years after the injury). If the patient was a child at the time of the malpractice, the deadline to file a lawsuit is before s/he turns 20 years old.

Do I need to file a certificate of merit?

Yes, you will need a certificate of merit when filing a medical malpractice complaint in Cherry Hill.

What is a “certificate of merit?”

A certificate of merit is a document, signed by medical malpractice attorneys in Cherry Hill, NJ, that must be filed within 60 days of filing a medical malpractice complaint. The attorney’s statement must state that an expert has provided a written statement that one of the following exists:

• There is a reasonable probability of breached standard of care; or
• The defendant was responsible for the person who breached the standard of care; or
• There are circumstances where expert testimony is not needed to pursue the claim.

What if a loved one has died as a result of medical malpractice?

When a family loses a loved one because of medical malpractice, our attorney can file a wrongful death claim to seek payment for damages. This includes compensation for burial and funeral expenses, lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, in addition to other consequences of malpractice.

These claims don’t right the wrongs of a negligent healthcare provider, but they help ensure that a family won’t unjustly bear the costs of their loss. They also offer some degree of accountability on the part of the negligent medical professional.

Who can you sue in a medical malpractice lawsuit?

You have the legal right to sue the doctor involved in your case and third parties such as manufacturers of medical devices and tools, retail sales representatives, or pharmaceutical companies.

An example of this is a doctor who failed to diagnose cancer and the patient’s death could have been prevented.

Our medical malpractice lawyer in Cherry Hill, NJ, will keep you updated throughout the entire process of your Cherry Hill medical malpractice lawsuit.

What are common injuries from medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice during pregnancy or birth could result in a birth injury like cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, brachial palsy, or facial paralysis. Injuries caused by negligence during surgery, including anesthesia errors, can include blindness, partial or complete paralysis, punctured organs, brain injuries, infections, and internal bleeding. Injuries due to improper diagnosis for serious conditions such as cancer include the actual condition’s progressing to the point that it can’t be treated, as well as harm done by unnecessary treatments or procedures. Prescription errors can cause serious health complications for patients and result in longer hospital stays, and, in some serious instances, lead to death.

Prescription errors include incorrectly administered dosages, incorrect medication, failure to take into account other medications that don’t interact well, or a failure to properly explain all risks and side effects of the medication.

Our Cherry Hill medical malpractice attorney is here to answer all your questions. Our team will be there for you throughout the entire legal process to deal with your concerns as they arise.

If you or one of your loved ones has experienced problems stemming from medical malpractice, our experienced medical malpractice attorney in Cherry Hill, NJ, will do everything he can to assist you.

Get Help from Our Cherry Hill Medical Malpractice Lawyer

While everyone can make a mistake, medical professionals are expected to abide by a higher standard—and to understand how their actions or inaction could lead to serious injuries both emotional and physical.

If you or a family member has been injured or someone has died because of a medical mistake, our experienced Cherry Hill medical malpractice attorney will do everything possible to look out for your best interests and fight for the compensation you deserve. Pursuing a claim of medical malpractice could help you recover from your losses, as well as protect other people from dangerous or careless doctors.

Don’t delay. Call the skilled Cherry Hill medical malpractice lawyer at Wapner Newman today at (215) 569-0900 for your free consultation. There are no fees unless and until we win your case. We serve clients throughout the Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas.