Medical Malpractice

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Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Washington DC

Injured By a Negligent Health Care Professional?

Even though technology has allowed the medical profession to make amazing strides in recent years, the unfortunate truth is that medical malpractice cases still occur. Regardless of how much technology doctors have at their disposal, they’re still human – and they can make mistakes that have devastating consequences for patients. Our Washington, DC medical malpractice attorneys may be able to help if this has happened to you or a loved one.

When you turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., we’ll team you with a DC medical malpractice attorney who will work passionately to see that justice prevails in your case. You’ll be working with a medical malpractice lawyer that DC residents have come to trust, because our firm is staffed with experts who are intimately familiar with this area of the law.

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When it comes to seeking medical treatment, patients have every right to believe that their physician and all attending health care providers will uphold a certain standard of care. Although there will always be a certain level of infallibility and a certain margin of error in all medical procedures and treatment, there is simply no excuse for carelessness. If you are harmed as a result of medical negligence, you may have grounds to bring a medical malpractice claim.

If you or a loved one are a victim of medical malpractice, contact our firm. Our malpractice attorneys in Washington DC offer FREE consultations.

doctor looking at patients knee, medical malpractice example

Common Types of Medical Malpractice Claims

If you or your loved one has been harmed by a medical professional who committed an act of negligence or failed to uphold their duty to provide reasonable care, then you may be eligible to recover your damages by filing a medical malpractice claim. These claims focus on establishing clear and convincing evidence that a medical professional breached their duty or failed to meet the accepted standards of their profession when providing care.

Medical malpractice claims are commonly filed due to:

Diagnostic Errors

This is probably the most common form of medical malpractice. Either a doctor will fail to properly diagnose a condition, or will not provide a timely diagnosis. As a result, the patient didn’t receive treatment in time, and their condition worsened. Failure to diagnose can, in some instances, even be fatal.

Birth Injuries

A birth injury is one of the most heartbreaking complications that can happen when a baby is delivered. In far too many instances, healthcare providers commit medical malpractice that can have lifelong effects.

There are many instances where a baby can suffer an injury during a pregnancy – some of these injuries are unavoidable. Others, however, occur due to medical malpractice. Here are just a few examples:

  • Improperly using forceps or a vacuum device during the delivery of a baby.
  • Failing to monitor a larger baby, or a baby who will likely arrive prematurely.
  • Failing to order a Cesarean section, or C-section, when needed.

When medical malpractice leads to a birth injury, the consequences can be permanent. The child may suffer spinal cord injuries that could cause permanent paralysis, or could suffer a stroke, which could also cause long-term consequences. Neonatal strokes, which can also occur due to an error during a medical procedure, can sometimes lead to tragic deaths.

Other common forms of medical malpractice include the following:

Nursing Home Negligence

Many children of patients in nursing homes turn to medical malpractice attorneys when they believe their parents have been harmed by some form of medical negligence in Washington DC. We’ve seen a lot of medical malpractice cases over the years, and nothing is more disturbing than nursing home negligence.

Residents of nursing homes, of course, are incredibly vulnerable. They may not know they are being victimized by medical malpractice. Therefore, it is up to the family members to stay alert and demand their loved ones receive the care they deserve.

Nursing home personnel may, for example, commit medical malpractice by failing to properly treat an illness, or failing to spot the signs of an injury and providing the treatment needed. Medical personnel must always deliver prompt, direct care whenever there are any indications that a resident needs help.

Get in Touch with Us if You Suspect You or a Loved One has Suffered from Medical Malpractice

Regardless of what your unique situation may entail, you can be confident a Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer at  Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. will invest the time, energy, and commitment needed to personally evaluate your case.

Our medical malpractice experts place an emphasis on individualized service, and we make sure to thoroughly clarify all aspects of your situation and your eligibility to pursue a medical negligence claim.

doctor medical malpractice scene

The Devastating Impact of Medical Malpractice

While medical malpractice can obviously have a physical effect on a victim, it can also have a severe financial impact as well. We’ve handled many medical malpractice cases over the years, and we know how a medical error can lead to incredibly large medical bills.

If a case of medical malpractice results in a permanent injury, then you might not be able to work any longer. Not only will you be losing current wages, there is also a good chance you’ll suffer from lost wages well into the future as well. Even if you eventually heal from the mistake, the amount of lost wages could be staggering.

There are also emotional effects of medical malpractice to consider. Depression, sleeplessness, profound stress and even suicidal thoughts can haunt victims for years. You may also be able to obtain compensation for these types of intangible losses (known in legal terms as “pain and suffering damages”) through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice Cases

A DC medical malpractice lawyer with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. can also help if you’ve tragically lost a loved one due to a mistake made by a medical professional. We have litigated many medical malpractice cases that led to a wrongful death.

Our DC medical malpractice lawyers have seen the lasting impact this can have on family members. The ones who are left behind not only have to deal with incredible grief and pain, but they also have to somehow make up for the unexpected loss of income.

This is yet another reason to get in touch with a Washington DC medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. We know how to handle medical malpractice cases. We can help you recover the fair compensation needed to not only offset that sudden loss of income, but also the deceased person’s medical expenses, funeral costs and more.

medical malpractice form, personal injury victims

How to Determine if You Have Legal Grounds for a Medical Malpractice Case

In order to be successful when pursuing medical malpractice cases, plaintiffs bear the burden of proof, and must prove their case by preponderance of the evidence.  This simply means that you have to produce evidence that shows that it is more likely than not medical malpractice occurred.  This is very different then the standard in a criminal case, where the prosecution  has to prove their case “beyond a reasonable doubt.” 

How do you do this? First, you need to hire a DC medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. An experienced medical malpractice law firm will have the resources needed to investigate your claim. If that law firm believes you have a strong medical malpractice case, it will do everything possible to hold those responsible for your suffering accountable.

When you work with one of the medical malpractice attorneys with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., these are some of the services you can expect:

  • We will obtain and evaluate all pertinent medical records, including the results of scans and tests, medical bills, prescriptions and more.
  • Your attorney will establish the healthcare providers involved in your case owed you a duty of care to youYour Washington DC medical malpractice attorney will also show that the negligence of healthcare providers was the direct cause of the injury you suffered, and will prove all the damages that you suffered as a result of the healthcare providers negligence. 

Who is Responsible for Medical Malpractice?

There could be one or more parties that could have committed medical malpractice.  No two malpractice claims are alike. Your dedicated medical malpractice lawyer will delve deep into your case to determine exactly who is at fault.

In many cases, a patient may not only sue a doctor or other healthcare professional, but the hospital as well. An experienced medical malpractice attorney may pursue a hospital for allowing either incompetent or unqualified medical professionals to provide care.

Why You Should Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you are hurt as a result of medical malpractice, it is your right to be compensated for current and future medical bills. Also, you deserve to be compensated for any pain, inconvenience, loss of work, suffering, or grief that you have experienced as a result of medical malpractice.

When you file a medical malpractice claim, there will usually be an insurance adjuster, or risk manager  assigned to your case, who will initially represent the healthcare provider. Their job is to provide you with as little compensation as possible. An insurance adjuster or risk manager works for the insurance company, or healthcare provider, and will work hard to save the insurance company or healthcare provider as much money as possible. This is one of the many reasons why you should hire a  medical malpractice lawyer to protect your interests and legal rights. 

A DC medical malpractice attorney will work with the insurance adjuster or risk manager in order to determine the most appropriate amount of compensation. Without a lawyer, however,you could be taken advantage of, preventing you from getting the compensation you deserve.

It is  also highly likely that the insurance company or healthcare provider will not offer you a reasonable amount of money, and you will need to file a lawsuit.  There are complicated rules and statutes of limitations (deadlines) that apply in dc medical malpractice cases. 

Accordingly, it is important that you hire a DC medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to make sure that you are are complying with all statutes and rules. In addition, you will need a skilled DC medical malpractice attorney to aggressively litigate against the negligent doctor, hospital or other healthcare provider.    

The healthcare providers hire teams of highly qualified defense lawyers and you will need lawyers with the resources and skills to battle them.   The lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarta & Siegel has over 100 years of combined experience litigating cases on behalf of injured parties.  Put our experience to work for you. 

Medical Malpractice Lawsuits: FAQ

As you may expect, our Washington DC law firm fields many questions regarding medical malpractice. Here are the answers to some of the more common ones.

If I Signed a Consent Form, Can I Still File a Lawsuit?

Yes. Just because you signed a form allowing a healthcare provider to treat you does not mean that they can commit medical malpractice. Even though a consent form usually states the known risks that are associated with the treatment, it does not allow the doctor to deviate from the standard of care expected. Many people who sign consent forms still file medical malpractice lawsuits.

How Long Do I Have to File a Medical Malpractice Claim?

Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland all have statutes of limitations that determine how much time victims have to file medical malpractice lawsuits. In order to find out what the statute of limitations is in your state, contact an experienced DC medical malpractice lawyer at  Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel.

During your free initial case consultation,  a DC medical malpractice lawyer will not only help determine if you have a good case or not, but also inform you of how much time you have to file your case.

How Long Will It Take to Settle My Case?

It is hard to say how long it will take to settle your claim. Most claims, including medical negligence claims, are settled before they go to trial.

The most important thing is that you recover from the injuries caused by the medical malpractice. Sometimes a claim takes many months or years to be settled; other times, it’s settled rather quickly. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can review the facts of your case and give you an idea how long the process will take.

How Much Financial Compensation Can Medical Malpractice Victims Expect?

There is no easy answer to this question. As with any kind of personal injury or wrongful death case, there are many, many factors that go into determining how much a person may be able to obtain in a case involving negligent medical care. These are just some of those factors.

  • Medical expenses (both past and future) – These include not only the costs of hospital stays, but also the cost of surgery, physical therapy and rehab, prescriptions, follow-up appointments, and more.
  • Lost wages – You may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to recover compensation for the wages you have lost in the past, as well as wages you may lose in the future.
  • Non-economic damages – Your Washington DC medical malpractice lawsuit may also help you obtain compensation for non-tangible losses-ones that don’t have a hard dollar amount. These include pain and suffering, emotional trauma and more.

What Should I Look for When Hiring a Medical Malpractice Attorney?

You should definitely do your homework when searching for Washington DC medical malpractice lawyers. One of your best chances of receiving fair compensation for your suffering will be to choose a Washington DC medical malpractice law firm that is intimately familiar with the local court system.

At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C, we know how the local courts work. We’ve litigated personal injury cases for over five decades in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia and we have strong working relationships throughout the court system.

However, most of our personal injury cases, including  medical malpractice cases, never see the inside of a courtroom. That is because our Washington DC medical malpractice lawyers know how to deal with the insurance companies  that represent medical providers. We know all of their tactics, and know how to defeat them.

As a result, when you turn to our Washington DC medical malpractice attorneys, you can rest assured we’ll do everything possible to convince the insurance company it would be better off presenting you with a fair settlement offer. They know it would make more sense to provide you with the financial compensation you deserve rather than go up against us in a trial.

medical malpractice claim form

Contact Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C.

If you are looking for the highest level representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.

We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve.

Ready to get started on your case? Contact a Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer at our firm to find out how we can help: (202) 659-8600. The lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. work on a contingency basis. This means you don’t have to pay unless you are compensated for your injuries.

The medical malpractice lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. serve the entire Washington, D.C. metro area, including Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria, and Woodbridge), and Maryland (Bethesda, Rockville, Laurel, Montgomery County, Waldorf, Silver Spring, Frederick County, and Hyattsville).

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Medical Malpractice

Anesthesia Errors

Birth Injuries

Pharmacy Errors

Failure to Diagnose Cancer

Failure to Treat

Fatal Medical Errors

Surgical Errors

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