Ethical and Trustworthy Flint Medical Malpractice Attorney
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Hospitals, doctors, and other medical professionals charged with caring for our health are meant to do so to the best of their ability and follow medically acceptable standards. But as seen more often than not, medical professionals and institutions make mistakes that lead to injury to their patients or death. When an otherwise avoidable error harms you or costs the life of your loved one, the law sees it as medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice victims can file a lawsuit to recover compensation from the medical professional or institution that harmed them. But this is easier said than done. Medical malpractice cases are one of the most complex personal injury claims to win as they are challenging to prove, and doctors always have experienced lawyers representing them.
Therefore, to stand a chance of getting fair compensation for medical malpractice, you need the knowledge and skills of an experienced Flint medical malpractice attorney. You get this when you contact Goodman Acker, P.C. Our attorneys have successfully handled several cases and have a winning track record.
We can help you determine the strengths and weaknesses of your case and whether to proceed with filing a claim. Contact us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a free case evaluation.
Why Choose Our Flint Medical Malpractice Attorney?
An avoidable medical error can alter the course of a person’s life or lead to death, and we’ve seen it happen more than once. This is why at Goodman Acker, P.C., we’ve dedicated our career and resources to helping medical malpractice victims. In the years we’ve served the city of Flint and other parts of Michigan, we have secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
We will work tirelessly and do all we can within the law to get you a favorable outcome and maximize your settlement.
Also, we are genuinely invested in our clients and will help you work through the physical injury, financial hardship, stress, and uncertainty you might face. Our attorneys will also work to help you get your life back on track, and you can count on our 99% success rate. We are available 24/7 to listen to you and provide the help and guidance you need.
Our services are on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to worry about paying us upfront fees. Call us now at 248-286-8100 to book a free case evaluation.
Understanding Medical Malpractice
In Michigan, medical malpractice occurs when a patient suffers harm due to a healthcare provider’s inattentiveness or failure to follow a standard level of care. There are different ways medical malpractice manifests. These include the following:
- Misdiagnosis: This happens when a healthcare professional fails to identify a patient’s medical condition correctly, leading to incorrect and delayed treatment.
- Surgical errors: These occur when a surgeon makes mistakes during surgery, like operating on the wrong body part, leaving a surgical instrument in a patient’s body, or making procedural errors.
- Medication errors: Administering incorrect medication, wrong dosage, or other medication-related mistakes can adversely affect or worsen a patient’s condition.
- Birth injuries: Medical errors can occur when delivering a newborn baby, affecting the child or mother’s health.
- Anesthesia errors: Dosage errors, failure to monitor the patient, or allergic reactions can harm the patient.
- Delayed diagnosis or treatment: If treatment or diagnosis is delayed, it can negatively affect the person’s health.
Other examples of medical malpractice are failure to obtain informed consent, hospital-acquired infections, radiology errors, lack of supervision or monitoring, etc. If you believe you have a medical malpractice claim, speak with our Flint medical malpractice lawyer.
How To Prove Medical Malpractice in Flint, Michigan
To have a successful medical malpractice claim, there are elements you must prove. They include the following:
Evidence of a Doctor-Patient Relationship
The first element is showing that there was a doctor-patient relationship. A doctor-patient relationship is based on mutual consent, communication, confidentiality, and professional care. You cannot have a valid claim if there is no doctor-patient relationship. Therefore, if you watched a doctor on TV and got a medication or treatment based on what they said, you cannot have a valid claim as there is no existing doctor-patient relationship.
Duty of Care
After establishing the doctor-patient relationship, the next thing is showing that the doctor owed a duty of care. This duty involves upholding the standard of care. The standard of care is the benchmark that determines whether professional obligations to patients have been met. Failure to meet the standard of care is negligence, which can carry significant consequences for medical professionals.
At Goodman Acker, P.C., we take a personalized approach to every case and dedicate a team and resources to clients based on their needs.
Breach of Duty of Care
A breach of the duty of care occurs when the medical professional fails to uphold the standard of care. What’s important here is if given the same circumstances, another physician with the same training, qualifications, and experience would have acted the same way or arrived at the same conclusion. If the answer is yes, the doctor would be said not to have breached their duty of care, but if no, then the doctor did not uphold the standard of care.
Causation
It’s one thing to have breached the duty of care and another to cause an injury to a patient. Therefore, it is vital to establish that the breach was the actual or proximate cause of the patient’s injury. If there is no link between the two, it would be hard to establish liability.
Damages
Finally, you must show that you suffered monetary or nonmonetary damages for which you deserve compensation. Our medical malpractice lawyer in Flint can help you establish these elements when seeking compensation.
Recoverable Compensation in a Medical Malpractice Case
You can recover economic and noneconomic damages in a medical malpractice case. Economic damages pay for all monetary losses incurred due to the medical error, like medical bills. If the injury suffered kept you from working or needed rehabilitation, you can ask for lost wages and the cost of rehabilitation or therapy.
Noneconomic damages cover nonmonetary losses, primarily mental and emotional distress and pain and suffering. If the medical error leads to an extended hospitalization, the victim, if married, can also demand loss of consortium or companionship. Other possible noneconomic damages are loss of enjoyment of life and disfigurement.
Furthermore, you might receive exemplary damages if you choose to go to trial and not settle. Like punitive damages, exemplary damages punish a defendant and are only awarded when the defendant was grossly or maliciously negligent.
We are committed to giving your case the attention it needs and will always treat you with dignity and respect.
Flint Medical Malpractice Attorney FAQs
When prospective clients come into our office for the first time, they have many questions, and below we answer some of them.
In cases of medical malpractice leading to wrongful death, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. You will recover economic and noneconomic damages, including funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional distress. Contact us if you lose a loved one to a medical error.
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases in Michigan is generally within two years. The time starts counting from the date of the alleged malpractice or the date the patient discovered or should have discovered the injury. Once it elapses, you lose your right to compensation forever.
No. You can opt for an out-of-court settlement to avoid a lengthy litigation process. But choosing to settle means you will not receive exemplary damages, especially if there is evidence that the medical professional was grossly negligent.
Signing a consent form does not absolve a medical professional of liability for negligence. While consent forms acknowledge the risks of a procedure, they do not excuse errors or deviations from the standard of care. So, even if you signed one, you can still file a malpractice claim if you suspect negligence.
These may not be your only questions; our attorneys will discuss your specific concerns in your initial consult.
How Our Flint Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help You
When you retain our services at Goodman Acker, P.C., we will perform the following functions:
- Conduct a thorough evaluation of the case
- Review medical records
- Consult with experts
- Assess the circumstances to determine the viability of a legal claim
- Explain your rights and the potential legal options available
- Investigate to gather evidence needed to prove your claim
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Prepare for trial if it comes to that, and present your case before a judge and jury.
We will work diligently to build a strong case and present legal arguments to help you receive fair compensation.
Book a Free Case Review with Our Medical Malpractice Attorney in Flint
Medical malpractice cases are complex, but things would be easier with our guidance. So if you believe you or a loved one are a victim of a medical error, don’t hesitate to contact Goodman Acker, P.C. Call us now at 248-286-8100 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN
Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]
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