Augusta Medical Malpractice Lawyer
After suffering from the negligence—whether malicious or passive—of a Georgia healthcare professional, contacting an experienced personal injury attorney should be high on your priority list. An Augusta medical malpractice lawyer from our frim could help you resolve your case with state-of-the-art courtroom technology and a client-centered approach. Once retained, we could evaluate your case and determine the best course action, what compensation you could recover, and how to effectively pursue and resolve malpractice litigation.
Standard of Care for Medical Malpractice Cases
Claims may hold both a hospital and a medical care professional responsible for a doctor’s negligence even though most doctors are hired as independent contractors. Under Georgia state law, a medical professional has violated a standard of care when he or she acts or fails to act in a reasonable manner.
What constitutes a “reasonable manner” is based on what another medical professional in the same field would have done under the same or similar circumstances. Upon determining a breach in the duty owed to a victim, an Augusta medical malpractice attorney could then help a malpractice victim pursue compensation from his or her negligent doctor through either a private settlement or a court case.
Calculating the Impact of a Medical Malpractice Case
One of the biggest challenges in a medical malpractice case is determining the financial impact caused by the wrongdoer. By filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, injured individuals and their families may be able to recover out-of-pocket costs associated with an instance of medical malpractice.
Economic Damages in Medical Malpractice Cases
O.C.G.A. §51-13-1 establishes recoverable economic expenses as including but not being limited to:
- Past health care costs,
- Rehabilitation expenses,
- Lost wages, and
- Home health care.
Economic damages are typically easy to quantify since they have an objective financial value associated with them. However, it is important to examine each medical malpractice case independently, because there is often a future impact to injuries and losses suffered by victims. In many cases, medical malpractice affects injured individuals and their families for years to come.
Non-Economic Damages in Medical Malpractice Claims
By working closely with a medical malpractice lawyer in Augusta, individuals may be able to recover compensation for intangible, non-economic losses like:
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Emotional distress.
Unfortunately, these damages can be challenging to demonstrate without the help of an experienced attorney, given that they are all conceptual in nature. However, it is important for potential claim holders to note that in 2010, the Georgia Supreme Court held that legislation capping the amount an injured victim can recover was unconstitutional. Talking with legal counsel is a good way to better understand the options available to a victim of malpractice.
Reach Out to an Augusta Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
When the intentional or negligent behavior of doctors or medical professionals cause injury to you as their patient, you should review your options with a legal team that put your needs at the forefront of your case. A team of trusted legal professionals and in-house doctors could assess your needs and help build a case against a careless medical professional. Call today to schedule a free case review with an Augusta medical malpractice lawyer.