Many Different Types of Medical Malpractice – One Thing in Common
In every one of the hundreds of medical malpractice cases we have handled, there is one constant factor: a doctor wasn’t following basic safety rules, or he wasn’t paying attention. This isn’t a surprise – in any profession, there are going to be people who cut corners, or think that safety rules don’t apply to them but only apply to other people.
Want to know more about a particular type of medical malpractice case? Check out these links about major categories of malpractice:
- Surgery Malpractice Cases
- Wrong Diagnosis Cases
- Hospital Malpractice Cases
- Malpractice by Specialists
- gallbladder surgery malpractice cases
- hysterectomy surgery injury cases
- weight loss surgery malpractice cases
- failure to diagnose malpractice cases
- dentist malpractice cases
- anesthesia malpractice cases
- orthopedic malpractice cases
- cosmetic surgery malpractice cases
Making a Difference. Forcing a Change.
John P. Polewski, J.D.
Our clients never call us about something as small as money. Money can't replace a family member. Money won't give you your life back.
Our clients call because they want to know what really happened. They call because they want to save someone else from going through what they are going through. And they call because they absolutely are not the type of people who do nothing when serious work needs to be done.
Of course there is money involved in our cases. But our clients, and our team, are about much more than that.
If that sounds like you, then we're your kind of legal team.
Recognizing and Proving Medical Malpractice
Study after study--by the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine, the National Institute of Health, major medical schools and others, have concluded that hundreds of thousands of people die every year in this country because of medical malpractice. Hundreds of thousands, probably millions, of other people are injured due to medical negligence.
But very few of the people hurt (or the families of those killed) actually file a malpractice suit against a doctor. This is mainly because they have no idea that medical malpractice has occurred. When a loved father dies during surgery, or a daughter has to spend two weeks in the hospital when it should have been a day, there is no way that someone who is not a medical professional and hasn’t seen the records can know what happened. The doctors and nurses who made the mistakes aren’t about to tell you, for obvious reasons.
Most Medical Malpractice Isn't Obvious
And supposing you suspect that something was done wrong: what do you do about it? The only realistic option is to get the records and have somebody who knows what they are looking at examine them. You won’t know, for example, whether a tourniquet was left on too long during knee surgery, or whether too much morphine was given. Questions like that can only be answered by people who know what to look for in medical records—and what the information means when they find it.
Medical Malpractice Cases Need Medical Malpractice Lawyers
The bottom line is that medical malpractice cases are very difficult to prove, and finding the evidence to even get started is getting harder all the time. If you think that you or a loved one has been hurt by medical malpractice, you absolutely must have your case reviewed by someone who really knows what they are doing.
We're not saying that you have to bring your medical malpractice case to us. But we are saying that you must choose one of those medical malpractice firms—not a neighbor, not a divorce lawyer or a friend from church, not some huge firm with 100 lawyers who don't really handle medical malpractice cases—but someone who really knows what they are looking at when they look at medical records, and someone who knows what to do with the evidence when they find it.
You wouldn't hire a local family doctor to do your heart transplant surgery. Don't hire a local car wreck lawyer to handle a medical malpractice case. These cases are no place for rookies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice Cases
Q: What Is Medical Malpractice?
A: "Medical Malpractice" is the common term for cases in which a patient sues a health care provider for injuries caused by negligent health care. Whether you have a medical malpractice case or not is going to depend on the facts of your specific case, and issues of medicine and science that may be much more complicated than they appear to be. The only way to know whether you have a medical malpractice case or not is to have it reviewed by an attorney experienced in medical malpractice cases. We hope you'll call us about your case. There is no charge for the consultation, and no charge to you if we review your case and conclude that you do not have a malpractice case that should be pursued. You only pay us if you have a case and we get a recovery for you.
Q: Can I Sue an Arkansas Hospital for Medical Malpractice?
A: Yes you can. Hospitals in Arkansas are legally responsible for the damages and injuries caused by hospital employees and agents during the treatment of patients. We have handled many medical malpractice cases against hospitals, and are handling malpractice cases against hospitals now.
Q: What is the Difference Between a Medical Malpractice Suit and a Wrongful Death Suit?
A: "Wrongful Death" suits involve the death of someone because of someone else's negligence. A medical malpractice case involving the death of a patient is a wrongful death claim. But not all wrongful death claims are malpractice claims--there are wrongful death cases arising from car accidents, falls, dangerous drugs and other products and accidents. "Wrongful death" describes any case in which someone died. "Medical malpractice" describes only cases in which a health care provider was negligent and hurt someone. Some of the medical malpractice cases we handle are wrongful death cases too, but many are not. Cases against any health care provider fall under the Arkansas medical malpractice statute--so if your case is against a dentist, a nurse, a physical therapist, a physician, a hospital or a chiropractor, it is a "medical malpractice" case.
Q: What is the Statute of Limitations for a Medical Malpractice Claim?;
A: In general, the statue of limitations for any medical malpractice claim provides that you must file your suit within two years of the negligent care you are complaining about. But please don't guess! There are exceptions to this rule which might apply to your case. Call us, and we'll tell you how much time you have. The call is free, and we never charge for consultations with us on medical malpractice cases.
Contact Us Right Now.
There is no reason to wait: the call and your consultation with us are free. If we take your case, we don't charge a fee unless we get a recovery for you.
You can set up a zoom computer video conference with us quickly and easily. Stay home and safe--no need to worry about traffic or parking. No need to take a day off, or find child care. We'll be happy to consult with you about your case after normal business hours or on a weekend. Your family can join the conference from across the state--or from across the country.
But there are strict time deadlines for filing a medical malpractice suit. Every day you wait is a day it may be too late--or the day that a critical piece of evidence is lost.
