Livingston Parish Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Mistakes by doctors and nurses in Livingston Parish can lead to serious disabilities, impairment, and death. If you experienced medical malpractice, you may be saddled with devastating and life-threatening injuries that can take years to fully heal.
Though filing a lawsuit may be the last thing on your mind, you should speak with a Livingston Parish medical malpractice lawyer before deciding how to proceed. With a dedicated personal injury attorney on your side, you can rest assured that your rights will be protected in court and during insurance negotiations.
How Could Someone Prove Medical Malpractice in Court?
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, surgeon, or other healthcare professional fails to meet the standard of care that is expected—and in many cases required by law—of professionals in their field. When this failure results in an injury, the injured party can seek compensation for their losses, but only if they can first prove legal negligence by a medical professional.
To achieve a successful outcome in a medical malpractice case, a plaintiff must establish the level of knowledge and care that a reasonable healthcare professional would employ in the same situation. To do this, a Livingston Parish medical malpractice lawyer may speak with other medical professionals on the plaintiff’s behalf. Then, a dedicated attorney can help document the plaintiff’s injuries. This can demonstrate the level of compensation needed to return the plaintiff to where they were before the malpractice.
Potential Compensation Available in Livingston Parish
Medical malpractice can cause harm in a wide variety of ways. The complications related to malpractice could lead to other medical issues, each of which may necessitate a costly and lengthy recovery process. Additionally, people hurt by poor medical care may need significant time away from work to fully recover, which can place people who are already suffering in a frustrating financial situation.
To help rectify these losses, the law allows people to recover compensation for damages such as:
- Medical bills, including the estimated costs of future medical expenses
- Professional losses, such as lost wages, missed business opportunities and reduced earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium and companionship suffered by the victim’s family
What is the Prescriptive Period for Medical Injury Claims?
In order to recover compensation from a personal injury, harmed people must adhere to Louisiana’s strict statute of limitations. LSA RS 9:5628 requires people alleging medical malpractice to file their lawsuit within one year of the date of malpractice or within one year of the date of discovery of the malpractice but at the latest within a period of three years from the date of the malpractice.
Since the window for filing is so narrow in Louisiana, anyone who suffers injury from medical malpractice should quickly contact a dedicated Livingston medical malpractice attorney. If they can successfully identify malpractice, an attorney can then assist with filing a claim within the proper timeframe.
Reach Out to a Livingston Parish Medical Malpractice Attorney
Filing a strong claim for compensation may involve speaking with other medical professionals to understand the expected and reasonably accepted level of care, as well as collecting strong documentation of harm. This can make filing a claim daunting, especially if you are suffering from a serious medical injury.
Fortunately, a dedicated Livingston Parish medical malpractice lawyer can stand by your side after a medical injury. Call today to schedule an initial consultation, so you can focus on recovering while your attorney works to protect your rights and interests.