Durham Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Durham, NC

Navigating health issues can already prove to be an incredibly overwhelming process. When you encounter the additional difficulty of suffering medical malpractice, you can easily feel overcome. Still, there is hope. A Durham medical malpractice lawyer from the Law Office of Jacob Goad can pursue monetary compensation for all you’ve endured.

What Qualifies as Medical Malpractice in Durham, North Carolina?

Before you seek a Durham medical malpractice lawyer, you may benefit from learning more about:

• What North Carolina considers medical malpractice
• How you can pursue justice for your suffering
• What hiring the right lawyer can do for you, your case, and your future

Medical malpractice is a term that describes any situation where a medical professional fails to provide proper care due to making a mistake, acting carelessly, or behaving recklessly. These missteps can leave a patient with long-lasting health issues; in extreme cases, they can result in fatalities in Durham, NC. A Durham Personal Injury Lawyer can help affected patients and families understand their legal options.

The second-largest percentage of nationwide personal injury claims is medical malpractice cases. These cases cover a wide variety of specific circumstances, including the following examples:

• Anesthesia errors. Whether it is giving a patient too much or too little anesthesia, this kind of error can result in long-lasting issues, making it a prime example of medical malpractice.
• Birth injuries. These can occur whenever a medical practitioner is negligent in caring for either the mother or child. Examples include too much force on the forceps, not managing painkillers appropriately, and failing to monitor the baby’s health.
• Delayed diagnosis. Timing can be the difference between your patient living or dying. Unfortunately, delayed diagnoses can result in fatalities or irreparable damage, which may have a major impact on the rest of the patient’s life.
• Failure to diagnose. Similarly to delayed diagnosis, some patients suffer because their doctor failed to diagnose the problem. This can also lead to emotional trauma, as many patients may experience being told that it is “all in their head.”
• Medication errors. Medication errors can happen if a patient is prescribed the wrong medication, the wrong dosage, or any medicine to which they are already known to be allergic.
• Misdiagnosis. In 2023, the British Medical Journal estimated that roughly 795,000 people became permanently disabled or died in the United States due to the misdiagnosis of dangerous diseases. Misdiagnosis can lead to the implementation of insufficient, overly aggressive, or irrelevant care strategies. This typically results in failing to accomplish the necessary actions needed to address the real issue.
• Negligence resulting in injury or infection. If the proper medical care procedure is not followed, surgeries, aftercare, birth, medications, and other elements of the medical treatment process can result in a patient contracting infections, illnesses, or injuries.
• Poor aftercare. Aftercare can be as significant to the healing process as the procedures performed prior to it. If a patient’s aftercare is not properly monitored or carried out, it can result in infections, improper healing, and other issues that can have long-lasting effects on the patient’s body and future.
• Surgical errors. These can occur if the medical staff operates in the wrong area or uses improper surgical methods. This can lead to additional health complications, and it means that the patient’s actual health needs have not been met. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that medical errors are the fourth most common cause of death.
• Unnecessary surgery or treatment. Sometimes, doctors will perform unwarranted surgeries or treatments on their patients, resulting in unnecessary recoveries and medical bills. This act of medical malpractice can also leave a patient vulnerable to additional illnesses and/or injuries. 

What Do I Do If I Suspect Medical Malpractice?

If you suspect that you or someone you know has been made a victim of medical malpractice, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Not only do you have to navigate the repercussions of improper medical care, but you are also most likely taking on expensive bills for care that did nothing but cause further harm. Here is what you should do if you suspect medical malpractice:

Get Medical Attention

Your well-being is the most important thing, which means you should first seek immediate medical attention. While you may feel hesitant after already experiencing medical malpractice, you need to do everything you can to prevent further health issues from coming out of this situation. You can call 911 for emergencies; otherwise, scheduling with your primary care physician or a new doctor should be fine.

Get Additional Opinions

There are additional benefits to seeking medical attention, including getting a second opinion on your experience and subsequent symptoms. This can shore up your case, giving you additional evidence for your medical malpractice claim.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Choosing to hire a medical malpractice lawyer can vastly improve the outcome of your case. While not every medical malpractice case will go to court, having a lawyer handle your case can prepare it for trial at the Durham County Courthouse. Even if you settle outside the North Carolina court system, having a Durham medical malpractice attorney can prove to be incredibly beneficial.

FAQs

Can I File a Claim for Medical Malpractice in North Carolina?

Yes, it is perfectly legal to file a medical malpractice claim in North Carolina. Medical professionals, like any other kind of professional, should be held accountable for any mistakes or poor choices they make that result in the suffering of their patients. Therefore, you have the legal right to pursue damages for the pain, trauma, and financial struggles you have experienced.

Is There a Time Limit for Pursuing Damages for a Medical Malpractice Case in North Carolina?

Yes, in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-15 (c), you have three years from the medical malpractice incident or one year from discovering an injury to file a claim in North Carolina. Your lawyer can manage this deadline, thereby reducing the stress and confusion you may have otherwise been subjected to, which could slow down your healing and legal processes.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in North Carolina?

The cost of hiring a medical malpractice lawyer tends to vary by case in North Carolina. Several variables will influence your overall price, including:

• Who you hire to represent you
• The level of complexity your case presents
• The amount of time it takes for your case to settle
• The size of the court’s caseload

Is Hiring a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Worthwhile in North Carolina?

Many individuals have found that hiring a medical malpractice lawyer can prove to be incredibly worthwhile, as they can significantly improve the outcome of their case. When you are already facing a future with health issues, the last thing you want is to navigate complex legal terminology, medical malpractice laws, and procedures. Your lawyer can handle these and more on your behalf, freeing you up to focus on your health.

Hire the Law Office of Jacob Goad

For over a decade, Jacob Goad and his legal team have dedicated their resources, knowledge, and focus to representing the victims of medical malpractice and other personal injury situations. Our firm believes in showing every client the respect they deserve, so we tailor our methods and approach to meet their specific and unique needs.

Contact the Law Office of Jacob Goad today to set up a consultation. Our firm can discuss your case in English or Spanish. We can pursue the compensation you deserve for your Durham medical malpractice case.