Lansdowne, PA, Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers In Lansdowne Are Here To Help Victims Of Negligence

If a medical professional has caused you harm, you are not alone. Medical malpractice is an unfortunately common occurrence in Pennsylvania and other states. Fortunately, victims can seek compensation through the representation of an experienced Lansdowne medical malpractice lawyer.

Why Choose Us?

Results You Need

At Wapner Newman, our medical malpractice attorneys know how to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for the harm they’ve caused our clients. When our Lansdowne medical malpractice attorneys accept 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
• Determine how much you are owed by calculating the damages you’ve experienced
• File all paperwork in accordance with deadlines and court requirements
• Work with expert witnesses to prove 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.

The skilled and experienced Lansdowne medical malpractice lawyers at Wapner Newman are 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.

Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania

Medical malpractice involves the negligent treatment and subsequent harm of patients by licensed healthcare professionals. Basic, common errors, however, do not count as malpractice, which is a departure from recognized standards of care.

Medical malpractice causes significant injuries and losses. Patients often face years of recovery, and some even pass away. These losses, fortunately, are compensable under the law. Patients may seek compensation for:

• Hospital and medical bills
• Lost income and wages
• Pain and suffering and emotional distress
• Other non-pecuniary damages.

When gross negligence or intentional conduct is involved, an award for punitive damages may be a possibility. Punitive damages are awarded to punish and deter bad conduct, but they are rare.

Diagnosis Errors

Diagnosis errors make up a large percentage of the medical malpractice pie. Doctors have the duty to arrive at reasonable diagnoses when treating patients. However, cases continue to arise involving diagnostic failures in the medical system, such as:

• Misdiagnosis: Diagnosis of the wrong condition or injury
• Missed Diagnosis: Missing a condition that should have been identified
• Delayed Diagnosis: A diagnosis that occurs long after it should have.

It is important to keep in mind that a failure to diagnose is not, in and of itself, medical malpractice. Current medical knowledge and experience can only reasonably diagnose certain diseases under certain circumstances. There are numerous diseases and conditions that reasonably go undiagnosed for months or years. The issue is whether the failure to properly diagnose was unreasonable according to medical standards.

Failure to Treat

As the name suggests, failure to treat involves not treating an injury or condition. It can refer to an outright failure to treat or a failure to treat properly. For example, improper treatment might involve prescribing antacids to an emergency room patient when heart attack measures are more appropriate.

Prescription Medication Malpractice

Prescription medication saves lives but can kill when not managed properly. Medical malpractice involving medication can manifest in various ways, including:

• Erroneous dosage
• Erroneous administration of medication
• Poor medication charting and record-keeping.

Insufficient or erroneous knowledge of the effects of combining drugs is another example of a situation that can lead to patient harm. Patients’ allergies to medications should also be known by all involved in providing patients with medication.

Injuries During Birth

Fragile mothers and children are susceptible to various negative consequences during birth. Medical professionals are well-prepared and trained to deal with the majority of issues that may arise. It is often only when medical negligence takes place that harm occurs, and that’s when you will need a medical malpractice lawyer.

Common birth injuries include:

• Brachial plexus palsy
• Caput succedaneum, which is swelling under the scalp of the baby
• Cephalohematoma, which causes blood to gather under the scalp
• Facial paralysis
• Fractures
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage
• Oxygen-deprivation injuries.

Medical malpractice during birth also affects mothers. Pulmonary embolisms, infections, hypertension, and many more conditions may arise and must be treated according to clear medical standards.

Medical Malpractice Liability

Who’s to blame when medical malpractice occurs? The answer is that it depends. In Pennsylvania, licensed medical professionals can be sued for medical malpractice, including:

• Physicians
• Anesthesiologists
• Nurses
• Midwives and doulas
• Therapists
• Psychiatrists
• Medical technicians and other licensed medical professionals.

The employers of medical professionals may also be held liable for the negligence of their employees. For example, a hospital can be sued if one of its nurses commits malpractice and harms a patient.

Certificate of Merit

To prevent frivolous lawsuits, Pennsylvania law requires lawyers to obtain a certificate of merit when filing a lawsuit. This document contains the signature of an appropriate licensed medical professional who attests to the validity of the claim of medical negligence. The certificate is not proof of malpractice but a validation of the reasonable existence of a valid claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Medical malpractice issues are complicated. Our attorneys have provided brief answers to frequently asked questions below. Contact us today if you have questions you would like to ask our medical malpractice lawyers.

How long do I have to file a medical malpractice case in Pennsylvania?

There is a two-year window for medical malpractice claims. The two years begin when the malpractice has been or should have been discovered. Those who are minors when affected by malpractice have two years from their 18th birthday to file suit.

What is the average time it takes to resolve medical malpractice cases?

There is no average time to reach a settlement in medical malpractice cases. Each case has unique issues and circumstances that prevent predicting an average time. Cases may be resolved within several months or take a few years.

How much do Lansdowne medical malpractice lawyers charge?

Lansdowne medical malpractice lawyers charge a percentage of the damages compensation. Depending on the complexity and the length of the case, this percentage could be between 33 ⅓ and 40%. Medical malpractice patients should also be aware of certain costs associated with lawsuits, such as costs to hire expert witnesses and filing and court costs. These costs are not due until a settlement or verdict is reached. In other words, clients owe no money upfront and nothing unless their Lansdowne medical malpractice lawyer wins for them.

What should I do if I believe medical malpractice has occurred?

You are strongly advised to call an experienced Lansdowne medical malpractice attorney for guidance and representation. Medical malpractice patients need immediate legal representation from a medical malpractice lawyer in Lansdowne who understands how to protect their right to compensation and recover the sums they need.

Do you have more medical malpractice questions? We’re happy to answer them. Call our office to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer in Lansdowne today.

Speak With a Lansdowne Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today

Justice Can Be Yours

You deserve justice through compensation if a medical provider has harmed you. An experienced Lansdowne medical malpractice attorney can help you recover what you need from the professionals who harmed you.