Tangipahoa Parish Medical Malpractice Lawyer

There are many situations where you can get hurt because of someone else’s negligence, and recovering from an injury you did not cause can be extremely frustrating. Perhaps the most infuriating injuries, however, are those that stem from a trusted medical professional making a careless error.

If a doctor or healthcare practitioner made a mistake during a surgery or gave a misdiagnosis, you may suffer severe repercussions, including additional medical conditions or even life-long injuries. Fortunately, a Tangipahoa Parish medical malpractice lawyer can help you hold negligent parties accountable in these situations. Have a dedicated personal injury attorney stand at your side throughout the entire legal process can be a boon towards your efforts to seek a favorable outcome through a private settlement or a civil lawsuit.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor fails to provide this standard of care and causes injuries. Doctors and healthcare professionals are expected—and legally required—to always use the same level of knowledge or care that would be ordinarily exercised by similar professionals in the same situation.

Proving the existence of malpractice during a legal claim falls to the party claiming injury, also known as the plaintiff. To prove that a healthcare professional committed medical malpractice, a plaintiff must demonstrate:

  • The level of knowledge, skill, or care that would be used by similar medical professionals
  • That the defendant failed to exercise the expected level of care or did not have the expected knowledge or skill
  • That this failure directly led to the plaintiff’s injuries

After proving malpractice, the plaintiff in a legal claim may be asked to demonstrate the extent of their injuries to the court. Many individuals rely on a Tangipahoa Parish medical malpractice attorney to help collect documentation of harm and prove the amount of compensation needed to recover.

How are Legal Damages from Medical Malpractice Calculated?

The extent of someone’s injuries is typically the baseline for their legal damages. Legal damages reflect, in a dollar amount, the harm a malpractice victim sustained due to the incident and resulting injuries. In a medical malpractice case, the damages a person sustains may include:

  • Medical expenses, including the cost of future treatments to correct the malpractice
  • Income or wages lost due to recovering from the incident
  • Physical pain
  • Mental and emotional suffering
  • Loss of companionship or consortium

The Statute of Limitations in Tangipahoa Parish

Due to Louisiana’s strict statute of limitations, recovering compensation can be complex. Not every malpractice injury is immediately apparent. Although some injuries may take years to develop, claimants must still file their lawsuits within the state’s time limit.

The statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases—established in 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 date of discovery of the malpractice but at the latest within a period of three years from the date of the malpractice. A seasoned Tangipahoa Parish medical malpractice lawyer can help injured people determine filing eligibility and ensure they adhere to this deadline when filing their case.

Contact a Tangipahoa Parish Medical Malpractice Attorney Today

If you were hurt by a doctor, surgeon, or other medical professional, it may be time to contact a Tangipahoa Parish medical malpractice lawyer. An attorney can help you identify the cause of your injuries, develop a claim for compensation, and ensure proper filing. Schedule an initial consultation today to discuss your injuries and learn more about your legal options.