The dedicated legal team of Caputo & Mariotti
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWYERS
When it comes to healthcare, we put a lot of trust in the hands of medical professionals. We believe they have our best interests in mind and will do everything in their power to keep us safe from harm. When that trust violated, we can end up with a serious injury that could last a lifetime.
Fortunately, in Pennsylvania, if you’ve been injured by a medical professional or provider, you have the option to pursue legal action. These lawsuits are very complicated, and hospitals hire skilled attorneys to come to their defense. That is why you need an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Northeastern Pennsylvania to advocate for your rights.
For decades, the medical malpractice lawyers at Caputo & Marriotti have been helping victims of medical malpractice receive compensation following an injury. We will stand up for your rights and make sure your voice is heard.
Is Medical Malpractice Common?
According to a recent study published in the medical journal BMJ, one in 20 patients is impacted by preventable medical errors. What’s worse, about 12% of these preventable errors result in “prolonged, permanent disability” or death.
This is not new information. In 2016, researchers had estimated that 9.5% of all deaths in the United States every year were the result of a medical error. This makes medical errors the third-leading cause of death in the country.
How Do I Kow If I Have a Medical Malpractice Case?
To determine whether you have a medical malpractice case, three factors need to be proven: The standard of care was violated; an injury was the direct cause of that negligence, and the injury resulted in life-altering damages.
For example, your mother recently passed away after a short battle with breast cancer. You find out later that your mother had told her doctor a year ago about finding a lump in her breast. Not only did the doctor fail to prescribe a mammogram, but he had told your mother it was nothing to worry about since the lump was most likely a fatty deposit.
In this example, because the doctor failed to in his standard of care (i.e. properly diagnose your mother's condition), his negligence resulted in cancer not being diagnosed until it was already a problem. Because the cancer was not diagnosed, it resulted in the loss of life, which affected her family’s well-being.
As you can imagine, this is difficult to prove on your own. You need attorneys who have the knowledge and experience in medical malpractice claims to help you with your case.
What Are Some Examples of Medical Malpractice?
In Pennsylvania, the most common forms of medical malpractice include:
- A misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose an illness can include misreading or ignoring laboratory results, failing to order proper testing, or failing to diagnose an issue.
- Birth injuries occur more often than you realize. According to recent research, out of every 1,000 infants born in the U.S. each year, approximately 6 to 8 are injured.
- Medication errors, such as the wrong dosage prescribed to the patient, are among the most prevalent forms of medical malpractice.
- Surgery errors can range from unnecessary surgery to wrong-site surgery to premature discharge and poor follow-up or aftercare.
- Disregarding patient history or symptoms could easily lead to a misdiagnosis.
How Our NEPA Medical Malpractice Attorneys Prove Negligence
Caputo & Mariotti has grown to become one of the premier law firms in Northeastern Pennsylvania. We have successfully represented many patients in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties injured as a result of medical malpractice. Our team promises to be honest and transparent every step of the way, so you'll never be in the dark at any point in your case. We have the compassion and understanding to handle all types of medical malpractice cases.
Our medical malpractice team believes doctors should be held accountable for their mistakes. Our goal is to determine as quickly as possible if your claim may hold up in court. Medical malpractice cases are very complicated and expensive to pursue and also have a low rate of success.
Our attorneys will first investigate your claim to see if negligence played a part in your injury. We work with a team of medical experts who can identify who is responsible for your suffering.
Once we believe you have a claim, we will attempt to negotiate with the responsible parties to reach a fair settlement. If negotiations break down and an agreement cannot be reached, we will then represent your interests in court.
Take a look at our track record to see how we've helped our clients get the justice they deserve. One such example is s a $4.25 million awarded to a young family who had lost their baby during childbirth after the hospital failed to monitor and respond to warning signs.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Medical Malpractice?
In a medical malpractice claim, multiple parties can be held responsible for your injury.
Health care providers - Health care providers, such as a hospital or urgent care clinic, can be held vicariously liable. This means the party isn't responsible for its negligence, but the actions of another person.
Pharmaceutical companies - If the company's drug had caused injury to a patient because the manufacturer failed to warn the public of any potential side effects, the company could be held responsible.
Medical professionals - From doctors to nurses to even the anesthesiologist, their actions are the main result of your injury.
Pharmacists - If the pharmacist incorrectly filled a prescription, such as given the wrong dose or the wrong medication, it can easily cause an injury to the patient.
Dentists - A dentist can be held responsible for an injury from failing to diagnose inappropriate treatments to a patient.
There are strict pre-suit requirements and time limits for pursuing your medical malpractice claim. Therefore, it is essential to contact one of Caputo & Mariotti's medical malpractice lawyers to help you get the legal outcome you deserve. Whether you're looking for medical malpractice lawyer in Dickson City, Wilkes Barre, Scranton, or any of the surrounding areas, our team is here to assist in your case every step of the way.
If you or your loved one has been injured because of medical negligence, please contact a medical malpractice lawyer near me. We have successfully represented many patients and will aggressively represent you in court. If you have lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, contact one of our personal injury attorneys. Call Caputo & Mariotti today at 570-342-9999, or fill out our online contact form to contact us immediately.
