When you have to go to the emergency room, you are putting all of your trust in medical professionals. Most of the time, that trust is warranted, but all too often, the people who are supposed to be taking care of you commit errors that put your life at risk. If you have suffered injuries because of a medical professional’s mistake in a Pennsylvania ER, you need to hire an emergency room error lawyer.
At Wapner Newman Attorneys at Law, we can help you file a medical malpractice claim so that you can get compensation to cover medical bills and other losses you have experienced. With a team of experienced emergency room mistake lawyers representing you, you can focus on healing from the physical and emotional trauma you have undergone while we do the legal work.
Why Choose Us?
Compassionate and Reliable Emergency Room Error Lawyers
After suffering injuries because of medical negligence, it can be difficult to put your trust in others to help you. At Wapner Newman Attorneys at Law, we understand what you are struggling with. We will be compassionate advocates of your rights. When dealing with medical malpractice claims, our ER error lawyers can help you by:
- Offering a free consultation
- Assessing your claim
- Investigating the accident
- Gathering medical records and other evidence
- Negotiating with insurers and other parties
- Filing a lawsuit
- Representing you in court.
For years, we have been providing representation throughout Pennsylvania for people struggling with injuries, mounting medical bills, and a variety of other losses that are the result of someone else’s negligence. We can help you, too.
Contact Wapner Newman Attorneys at Law by calling our emergency room error lawyers at (215) 569-0900.
Most Common Types of Emergency Room Errors
Many types of errors can occur in emergency rooms, but the following are some of the most common ones our team of ER error attorneys encounter.
Misdiagnoses
Annually, in the United States, there are 139.8 million emergency room visits. Of these, 5.7% result in a misdiagnosis. Often, the people who go to the ER are not sure what is wrong with them, and they depend on medical professionals to diagnose the problem and offer the right treatment. If medical personnel rush through an examination and do not take the time to check your medical history or speak with you at length, it can result in getting the wrong diagnosis.
If you are not diagnosed correctly, you do not receive appropriate care. That can make injuries or illnesses worse and put your life at risk.
Delayed Treatment
When you receive the wrong diagnosis or your care team takes too long to make a treatment decision, you can suffer adverse consequences. The condition can worsen, and there can be an increased risk of complications. Unfortunately, the busy nature of ERs means long wait times that can leave you without care for hours.
Improper Performance of a Procedure
In the rush of a typical emergency room, procedure mistakes can occur. Common ones are:
- Incorrect surgical procedure
- Wrong-site surgery
- Incorrectly administered stitches
- Improper handling of medical devices
- Improperly executed surgical procedure.
Not only can any of these errors put your life at risk, but they can lead to disabilities and chronic conditions that have life-altering consequences.
Improper Discharge
A common issue our emergency room error attorneys see is ERs that discharge patients before they are stable, because they need the beds. Often, patients are sent home before receiving the full treatment they need or before getting all of the information they require to continue healing at home. In the most serious cases, they are sent home before they even get a diagnosis.
Medication Errors
Patients who receive the wrong medications or wrong dosages can suffer all kinds of adverse consequences, including life-threatening allergic reactions. These errors may occur because of communication issues in the busy ER, a doctor’s illegible handwriting, and medical professionals who are distracted or overburdened.
Our team of emergency room error lawyers have recently helped the family of a man who died because of an ER’s failure to diagnose a heart attack. They recovered $2.25 million.
How Pennsylvania Emergency Room Mistake Attorneys Can Help
Why You Should Never File a Claim Alone
One of the biggest challenges of medical malpractice claims is establishing liability. That is because there is a high burden of proof for the plaintiff.
To prove liability in an ER error, you first have to demonstrate that there was a patient-provider relationship. That is relatively easy to do since the moment a nurse or doctor examines you, that action establishes a relationship. To prove this, all you have to do is show that you were admitted into the ER.
The next step is more difficult to prove, and it is what makes ER mistake lawyers vital. You have to show that the ER staff failed to meet standards of care. This refers to the level of care a similarly trained and competent healthcare professional would have provided in identical circumstances. To prove this point, our lawyers rely on expert testimony from medical professionals.
The last thing you need to show is that you were harmed as a result of the ER staff’s actions. This, too, requires expert testimony to demonstrate that you would not have suffered the injuries or worsening of conditions if you had received appropriate care.
Added to all of these complications is the fact that you have to deal with a hospital’s insurers. They can be ruthless and could try anything to keep from paying you. Without ER mistake attorneys helping you, you could easily lose the claim.
Emergency Room Error FAQs
After suffering injuries because of a medical professional’s error, there is help available. Get more answers from our emergency room error lawyers.
What damages can I claim after an emergency room error?
If you sustain injuries, you can get economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate you for the financial losses you suffered because of the error. They include medical expenses that cover hospital stays, medications, and even future care you may need. If you missed work because of your injuries, you can also claim lost wages.
Non-economic damages compensate you for non-financial losses, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium if a loved one suffered a wrongful death.
How long do I have to file a medical malpractice claim?
Most people have only two years from the moment the malpractice occurred to file a claim. If the patient dies, however, the clock starts running from the moment of their death. There may be factors that influence the time you have, so it is crucial that you turn to lawyers for emergency room errors.
Do I have to pay upfront fees for representation?
When you hire Wapner Newman Attorneys at Law, you do not have to pay upfront fees. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we get paid only if you win. This allows those who need help to get it without worrying about an additional financial burden.
What is my emergency room error claim worth?
The worth of your claim will depend on the severity of the injuries you sustained, how long it will take you to recover, and many other factors. To have a better idea of what to expect, schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers.
Do you have more questions about the process of filing a personal injury claim? Contact our firm to speak with experienced attorneys.
Get Help From an Emergency Room Error Lawyer
You do not have to struggle through the aftermath of medical malpractice on your own. At Wapner Newman Attorneys at Law, we offer representation throughout Pennsylvania to those who have suffered because of someone else’s negligence.
Contact our emergency room error lawyers by calling (215) 569-0900.