Dolton Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When patients select a medical provider, they are looking for a doctor to address their ailments and help them heal from their injuries. Unfortunately, medical professionals can and do make mistakes and commit errors in judgment, which may cause a patient’s injuries to become much worse.

If you or a loved one were injured due to the negligence of a medical provider, an experienced Dolton medical malpractice lawyer could help you. With representation from a dedicated personal injury attorney, you could review all your legal options and proactively seek compensation for your damages.

Breach of Standards of Care

Any harm or injuries created by a medical provider could be deemed evidence of negligence. However, not every medical provider who causes an injury or makes a mistake in the course of their duties is automatically considered negligent. To determine negligence, Illinois courts look to whether the medical provider breached the standard of care required for their medical specialty.

In order to determine whether the medical professional breached this standard of care, the court usually considers testimony from medical professionals who share the same specialty of practice. Generally, this testimony centers around whether the defendant’s alleged conduct could be considered reasonable by a similarly-situated medical practitioner.

Common Injuries in a Negligence Claim

Medical malpractice could occur in many ways. Some of the most common medical malpractice claims that attorneys in Dolton handle stem from:

• Delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis
• Injuries during childbirth
• Medication or anesthesia errors
• Surgical mistakes
• Administration of dangerous drugs or medical devices

It is best for injured parties to keep a documented record of any injuries sustained. Having documentation of any injuries could be crucial to helping a potential civil plaintiff seek compensation from the responsible party.

Damages from Dolton Medical Malpractice Claims

Depending on the circumstances of a medical malpractice injury, an injured individual may be eligible to recover a variety of damages for both monetary and non-monetary losses. Specifically, plaintiffs may be able to recover for:

• Present and future medical costs
• Lost wages
• Costs of hospital stays, rehabilitation, and surgical procedures
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium

A skilled Doton medical malpractice lawyer could help victims determine the type of damages they may be eligible for and structure their settlement demands or court cases accordingly.

Dolton Medical Malpractice Laws

In Illinois, injured individuals typically have two years from the date an injury occurred to file or settle a related civil claim. However, under the discovery rule, the state of Illinois acknowledges that it is possible a patient could experience a delay in realizing their injury. For this reason, some victims may have their time limit extended to up to four years from the date of their injury taking place.

When minors are hurt due to medical negligence, Illinois may allow these individuals even more time to file their claim. Minors have up to eight years from the date of the injury occurring—or until they turn 22 years old, whichever is a longer period of time—to file or settle a claim. However, if the victim passes away as a result of their injury, Illinois generally requires the case to be filed within the original two-year time limit, even if the victim is a child.

Start Working With a Dolton Medical Malpractice Attorney

No matter how the injury occurred, if you believe your injuries were a result of your medical provider’s negligence, a skilled Dolton medical malpractice lawyer may be able to help. Speak to a knowledgeable attorney to schedule a consultation and get help seeking compensation for your injuries. Let a compassionate legal professional help you recover the damages that you deserve.