West Virginia citizens know that when they don’t feel well, they go to the doctor to get the treatment they need to get healthy again. But sometimes, the medical care provider makes a mistake that causes the patient more health complications. If this has happened to you or a loved one, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. When you’re holding a medical professional accountable for their actions, it can be very difficult to do so on your own. You need trusted representation at your side. DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC has a skilled Huntington, WV medical malpractice lawyer who can help you get justice.
What Kinds of Medical Errors Can Occur?
When building your medical malpractice case, your attorneys in Huntington will need to determine what happened to you. There are myriad medical errors that can occur that lead to injuries. Let’s take a look at some of the common ways medical professionals bring harm to patients:
- Surgical Errors. A negligent surgeon could perform a surgery on the wrong area, accidentally cut arteries or organs, or leave tools or sponges inside the patient. The patient can experience severe pain and may be at risk of infection if something goes wrong during surgery.
- Anesthesia Errors. It’s common for patients to have anesthesia if they’re undergoing a procedure. If the anesthesiologist gives the incorrect dosage, the patient could be in danger of waking up and feeling pain during the surgery or could suffer brain damage and struggle to wake up afterward.
- Missed/Failed Diagnosis. When you tell the doctor your symptoms, they are supposed to go through tests to figure out what’s ailing you. If they arrive at the wrong conclusion, it could result in a misdiagnosis or not diagnosing it at all. This could mean you start treatment for something you don’t have, and you don’t treat the real problem.
- Emergency Room Errors. People experiencing all kinds of symptoms go to the ER. They could go if they hurt their wrist or if they’re having chest pains. Those in the ER need to recognize symptoms of a potentially serious health event, like stroke or heart attack. If they don’t treat someone having those symptoms immediately, they could fail to prevent a possibly life-threatening health event.
- Medication Errors. If you’re given the incorrect medication or the wrong dosage of your medication, you could suffer from an allergic reaction or other health complications.
- Birth Injuries. If someone on the delivery team acts negligently, the baby could suffer from injuries that affect them for the rest of their life.
After experiencing a mistake like the ones listed above, you’ll likely need further treatment to regain your health. The recovery time you had planned for your original ailment could lengthen, which can be stressful. A long recovery time can mean missing work while you’re incurring more medical bills. With our Huntington, WV medical malpractice attorneys at your side, we’ll fight for you to recover these economic losses, as well as your noneconomic losses.
Noneconomic damages cover items that don’t have a monetary value, but still affect you as a result of your injuries. One of the most common noneconomic losses is pain and suffering. Your injuries and treatment to correct those injuries that happened because of a medical error may have been painful and prevented you from living your life. When you’re unable to take part in activities you used to enjoy, you can seek compensation for loss of enjoyment of life. Your Huntington attorney will carefully evaluate your losses after medical negligence, and we’ll do everything we can to get you the compensation that covers your losses.
How Does Medical Malpractice in West Virginia Happen?
After you learn you’ve been hurt because of the negligent actions of a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider, you may be wondering how this happened to you. It can be difficult to deal with putting your trust in someone to care for your health, only to have that trust broken and you’re dealing with more health complications. There are a few reasons why this may happen. Our medical malpractice lawyers in Huntington, WV have seen the following:
- Lack of Training. The medical professional may be inexperienced or asked to do something out of their field, which could lead to mistakes.
- Protocols/Safety Measures. Hospitals are supposed to have safety protocols that prevent things, like surgical tools being left in patients, from happening. A hospital without these measures could lead to a mistake.
- Fatigue. Staff that work long hours or double shifts could make mistakes out of exhaustion. They could make an incorrect or illegible notation on a patient’s chart, forget to administer medication, or give the wrong dosage.
- Substance Abuse. While it’s true that medical staff have stressful jobs, they’re still expected to be alert and ready when they’re on the clock. Unfortunately, some may turn to substances to deal with the hectic day to day responsibilities of a health care provider.
As we investigate your case, we’ll determine who acted negligently and how your injuries occurred. You deserve to get justice for what you’ve been through. Our lawyers will fight for you to get the compensation you deserve.
Have You Been Injured in Huntington, West Virginia?
If you’ve suffered because of the negligence of a medical professional, you may not know who to turn to. While legal claims can be complex, that’s why we’re here. Our medical malpractice lawyers know how overwhelming it can be to deal with injuries, hospital bills, and the cost of future care all at once. We can help lift that burden by getting you the compensation you deserve.
DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC is dedicated to helping those who sustained injuries through no fault of their own. We’ll hold the right party accountable and fight for you to recover what you’ve lost. When we’re at your side, you’ll be able to focus on your recovery. You’ll have peace of mind that our attorneys are here for you. It’s important to get started on these claims as soon as possible to maximize your chances of recovery. Give our office a call today.
