Columbus Misdiagnosis Lawyer
Patients rely on their doctors to advocate for their health and provide the correct diagnosis for their condition. If a patient receives an incorrect diagnosis, he or she may undergo unnecessary treatment and endure needless pain and suffering, as well as additional medical expenses.
If you were misdiagnosed, you may be overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed. However, you have a legal right to seek compensation that a dedicated medical malpractice attorney could help you explore. Instead of navigating the claims process alone, consider contacting an experienced Columbus misdiagnosis lawyer.
The Expert Affidavit Requirement
In order for a misdiagnosis claim to be valid, Georgia requires that all injured individuals seeking compensation submit an expert affidavit at the time of their case filing. Pursuant to Georgia Code § 9-11-9.1 O.C.G.A., there may be a 45-day extension to this deadline available under specific circumstances.
The affidavit must be completed by a medical expert who is qualified to testify under Georgia law and give a factual basis for the filing of the claim. A Columbus misdiagnosis attorney could help a victim seek out a medical expert knowledgeable about his or her injury and ensure he or she delivers the required affidavit.
Recoverable Damages in Columbus
Legally speaking, damages are the various ways in which a victim has suffered financially, physically, and emotionally following an injury. The settlement or jury award that an injured person may receive after filing a claim is based on the types and severity of these damages.
Economic damages, for example, are those that can be calculated based on objective information such as:
- Lost wages;
- Medical expenses;
- Loss of future earning capacity due to an injury; and
- Rehabilitation costs.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are less concrete and more subjective damages. These may include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life. A skilled attorney could help an injured victim calculate damages in order to recover the compensation he or she deserves.
Are There Compensation Caps in Misdiagnosis Claims?
In recent decades, it has become common practice for state laws to limit the amount of compensation a victim can receive in a civil suit. However, since 2010, caps on noneconomic damages no longer exist for Georgia civil claims. Essentially, it is up to the victim and their legal counsel to request what they believe is adequate compensation.
Because a large portion of requested compensation is usually based on subjective, non-economic damages, it may be difficult for a victim to determine or estimate how much he or she should request following an incorrect medical diagnosis. In light of this, the counsel of a meticulous misdiagnosis lawyer in Columbus could be essential.
Retain a Columbus Misdiagnosis Attorney to Help Build a Claim
If you were injured due to a misdiagnosed condition, you may face medical bills for unnecessary treatments, as well as the persisting damages of the condition itself. When a medical professional is negligent in his or her care, you have a legal right to seek compensation and could benefit from the counsel of a Columbus misdiagnosis lawyer.
A well-versed attorney could work to identify the at-fault parties—including doctors, nurses, laboratory staff, hospitals, and their insurance companies—in order to request adequate compensation. For a free case review, call a legal professional today.
