If your health has been compromised because physicians and medical staff failed to perform their duties properly, our Lakewood personal injury lawyers can guide you through the process of filing a claim. Negligent physicians can also endanger other patients, and filing a claim ensures accountability. These cases can be highly complex, which is why it is essential to hire an attorney to fight for you.
At Tittle & Perlmuter, we navigate legal requirements and medical regulations to help you take action against healthcare professionals who have damaged or jeopardized your health. We relentlessly fight for you so you have an advocate on your side and can have peace of mind that you are protected and can get the most favorable results possible in your case.
We take on Goliaths every day, whether they be insurance companies, hospitals, or other powerful interests. Let us do the work for you. For a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer in Lakewood, contact our Ohio law firm today.
What Constitutes Medical Malpractice Under Ohio Law?
When you go to the doctor, you expect to be listened to, have your condition properly examined, and receive answers, treatments, procedures, or medications that are recommended based on your condition and medical history. You trust that the doctors and staff handling your care are experienced and can provide accurate recommendations to improve your condition.Â
However, when physicians, nurses, and facility staff do not provide this level of care because they fail to follow standard medical practices, they can cause patients lasting harm. Medical negligence can result in injuries, illnesses, and fatalities that could have been avoided if proper care and procedures had been followed.Â
How Mistakes and Errors in Judgment Happen in the Medical Field
Given the quantity of patients that physicians see on a regular basis, exhaustion and poor communication can contribute to errors in judgment and reduced capacity to treat patients. It is also not uncommon for hospitals to be understaffed, creating a heavier load for existing doctors and staff. Poor training is also a problem that can put patients at risk of harm.Â
Identifying and verifying that malpractice occurred is critical for understanding your condition and your right to pursue a medical malpractice action. A hospital negligence attorney in Lakewood can provide insight into your options during a free consultation.Â
Common Types of Medical Malpractice Claims in Lakewood and Cuyahoga County
There are many causes of medical malpractice, which means these claims can vary widely. The type of claim you can file depends on the cause(s) that contributed to your injury, illness, or a deterioration of your condition. To fully understand your situation and what type of malpractice claim you can file, speak with a Lakewood medical negligence attorney soon after you begin experiencing symptoms.
Some common examples of medical malpractice include:
- Incorrectly diagnosing your conditions or delaying/missing your diagnosis altogetherÂ
- Errors in prescribing the correct medication or the correct dosage
- Surgery errors, such as unnecessary or delayed procedures, incorrect operation site, poorly administered anesthesia, and leaving surgical tools inside the body
- Medical equipment that is defective or used incorrectly
- Poor facility hygiene that can cause an infection
- Acting without consent
The Consequences of a Healthcare Professional’s Error
These and other acts of medical negligence in Cuyahoga County can cause complications that can cause your health to suffer. In some situations, you may experience temporary discomfort, illness, or a mild reaction, whereas other situations could trigger permanent damage, allow a condition like cancer or heart issues to progress and deteriorate, or result in a reduced lifespan or death.Â
If you have been the victim of medical malpractice, you can file a complaint with the State Medical Board of Ohio, as well as hire a misdiagnosis lawyer near you to pursue a legal claim.Â
The Role of Expert Medical Witnesses in Ohio Malpractice Cases
Expert medical witnesses are important in malpractice cases and impact your rights to file a claim. These witnesses are generally medical professionals themselves and can provide key insights into your case as well as issue an Affidavit of Merit.
What Attorneys Consider When Seeking an Expert Medical Witness
When seeking an expert medical witness, lawyers often choose an individual who is currently practicing medicine in the same field as the doctor you are filing a claim against. This means that if you received a cancer misdiagnosis, you should seek out an experienced oncologist who can provide a second opinion and medical information about how the misdiagnosis occurred.Â
A Lakewood medical malpractice lawyer can get an expert’s statement and discuss the details of what happened to you. They can also work with the medical expert to secure the necessary evidence needed to proceed with and strengthen your medical malpractice claim.Â
Understanding Ohio’s Statute of Limitations and Affidavit of Merit Requirements
Ohio’s statute of limitations and Affidavit of Merit Requirements are integral to your rights and the legal requirements you must meet during a medical malpractice case. You can navigate these processes with confidence with the help of a medical negligence attorney.Â
The Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice and Negligence
Statutes of limitations provide overall direction on how long you have to act after an injury caused by medical negligence.
According to Ohio Revised Code § 2305.113, you have one year to file a medical malpractice claim from the time you were injured or discovered your injury. However, no claim can be filed at any point after four years, which is calculated from the time the original injury occurred.Â
What Is an Affidavit of Merit?
Once your claim has been initiated, an Affidavit of Merit (Ohio Revised Code § 2323.451) is required to move forward with your claim.
An Affidavit of Merit is a document that demonstrates that you have sought outside medical insight to determine whether your condition was caused by negligence. The document also demonstrates how your original physician may have departed from the standard of care they were supposed to provide.
In basic terms, an Affidavit of Merit is designed to save time by ensuring that a case exists before moving forward.
How Our Lakewood Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help You
When you retain the services of Tittle & Perlmuter, we work hard for you. Our Lakewood medical malpractice attorneys manage the demands of your case, from strict deadlines and logistical support to calculating your losses and negotiating a settlement. These cases can be lengthy as investigations are conducted, liability is determined, and negotiations take place.Â
Peace of Mind When Medical Negligence Claims Get Complicated
A Lakewood medical negligence lawyer is also equipped to help you navigate some common challenges in medical malpractice cases.
For example, some acts of negligence can be harder to demonstrate than others. This can be particularly common when some time has passed since the injury, or another condition is making it hard to determine malpractice. Additionally, defensive claims by the defendant can make establishing liability more difficult.Â
Experience That Evens the Odds Against Powerful Interests
Our team has been practicing personal injury and medical malpractice law for years, and we are skilled at taking proactive measures in your case, customizing our strategies to develop a sound case, and countering various defense tactics. We embrace our ability to level the playing field with powerful interests, whether it’s an insurance company, a medical facility, or hospital administrators.
We aggressively protect your rights and fight for you so you can secure the compensation you require for your additional medical care and other losses.Â
Contact a Lakewood Medical Malpractice Attorney Near You
Tittle & Perlmuter help you fight for justice through your medical malpractice case. We protect your rights and speak on your behalf so your voice is heard and taken seriously by opposing medical parties. Put us to work for you. For a free consultation with a local medical malpractice lawyer in Lakewood, contact our law firm today.
