Doctors in the U.S. swear an oath to do no harm. Because of this, you trust your doctors with your health, even in circumstances where their decisions could potentially be devastating if wrong. But what happens when a doctor abuses this trust? What can you do when your doctor is negligent, causing more damage than they cure? When that happens, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm you suffered at their hands.
A Drexel Hill medical malpractice lawyer from Wapner Newman can help you understand your legal options when the medical field fails to protect you.
Do You Have a Medical Malpractice Case?
Ask a Drexel Hill Medical Malpractice Attorney
Identifying medical malpractice is rarely simple. The average person has very little medical knowledge. This means that you may not be able to differentiate between a reasonable medical decision that unfortunately had adverse results and an act of negligence. A Wapner Newman medical malpractice lawyer in Drexel Hill has the experience to differentiate between those situations. If you have any reason to suspect you are the victim of medical malpractice, you should contact our law firm as soon as possible to get an informed evaluation of your claim. Watch for the following signs of medical malpractice and act quickly when you identify them.
An experienced Drexel Hill medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your case to determine whether you have a legitimate claim.
Symptoms Worsen With Treatment
While specific conditions take longer to respond to treatment than others (and some are resistant), typically you should start to feel better after receiving treatment for a condition. If the opposite occurs, something probably went wrong. Usually, this means you were misdiagnosed and given treatment for the wrong condition. It may also mean the doctor failed to identify a bad interaction between the drugs you are taking or didn’t account for conditions that would make a certain treatment unsafe. All of these actions are potentially negligent.
If your symptoms get worse during treatment, contact a medical malpractice attorney in Drexel Hill immediately.
You Experience Unexplained Pain After a Surgical Experience
Some pain after surgery is expected. After all, a surgeon cut into your body while you slept. However, that pain should subside after a relatively well-understood period and should typically subside at a steady pace. If you experience any type of unexplained or out-of-place pain, that likely means the surgeon made a mistake. In the worst-case scenario, they may have made incisions they shouldn’t have made or left some surgical equipment inside your body. You may require expensive emergency surgery to correct these errors and prevent them from being fatal. If these errors were due to negligence, you would be eligible for compensation for this harm.
Your Child Has Developmental Issues After Complications During Birth
The most vulnerable time in a person’s life is the moment they are being born. Medical personnel should be extra careful when assisting with the birth of a child. Unfortunately, many doctors, nurses, and medical staff don’t put in the care they should. If you believe your child is exhibiting developmental issues, it may be due to the negligent actions of a medical professional during the birth. The longer you wait to speak with a Drexel Hill medical malpractice lawyer, the more difficult it will be to prove that a doctor’s negligence caused birth injuries to your child.
Medical malpractice can have devastating effects on you and your family. Don’t let a doctor, nurse, or hospital get away with causing you harm. Contact a Wapner Newman medical malpractice lawyer in Drexel Hill at (215) 569-0900 today.
Why Choose Wapner Newman?
Drexel Hill Medical Malpractice Attorneys With a Record of Success
At Wapner Newman, we always put the client first. We understand how devastating it can be when you or a loved one is the victim of medical malpractice. You may be looking at years of medical bills, suffering almost unbearable pain, or even mourning the unnecessary loss of a loved one. Our attorneys work to minimize this pain. You don’t need to come into our office if it would be any type of burden. Our lawyers will travel to your home or a hospital to meet with you at a time and location that is best for you.
When Wapner Newman represents you, you won’t find yourself talking to a random attorney. Your case will be assigned to a principal partner who has decades of experience with medical malpractice claims. That lawyer is then supported by a robust legal team that will investigate your claim, document it thoroughly, and handle all legal paperwork. Our goal is to make sure that we are always making progress and keeping you fully informed every step of the way. Getting results while helping you recover is the top priority of our law firm.
You will get to know your assigned medical malpractice lawyer in Drexel Hill — and their team — personally throughout the claim process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fair compensation from a medical malpractice claim can mean the difference between a quick recovery and decades of drowning in medical bills. But how can you know what type of compensation is fair given the circumstances of your case? At Wapner Newman, we answer all your questions as completely as possible so you fully understand your legal options.
Do I need a doctor to support my medical malpractice claim?
Yes. In Pennsylvania, you need a doctor to provide you with a certificate of merit before you can file a medical malpractice claim. This certificate is a statement by a medical professional that the defendant deviated from acceptable professional standards when providing care. Your Wapner Newman attorney has contacts in the medical field who will provide a certificate if your claim merits one.
How long do I have to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
According to the Pennsylvania statute of limitations, starting from the date you were injured, you have two years to submit a medical malpractice lawsuit. However, if you weren’t initially aware of the harm, the clock for this deadline won’t start until you discover — or reasonably should have discovered — that you were harmed.
Does the same time limit apply to children who are victims of medical malpractice?
No, when a child is injured, the time limit is different. The child has either seven years from the date of the injury or until their 20th birthday, whichever comes later, to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Should I accept a settlement from the insurance company?
Typically, you should never accept a settlement until your Wapner Newman medical malpractice attorney has approved it. Insurance companies often make lowball settlement offers to get rid of potentially expensive claims. Our legal team will examine any offer to ensure it is fair.
Did this answer all your questions about medical malpractice claims? If it didn’t, your principal attorney will be happy to answer any other questions during your free case evaluation.
Contact a Drexel Hill Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
Were you or a family member hurt or killed because of medical negligence? You may be eligible for compensation for that harm.
Contact Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 immediately to schedule a free consultation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney.