Any person that has experienced harm at the hands of a healthcare professional is legally protected by specific medical malpractice laws. With the help and support of a medical malpractice attorney Seattle, the legality of those mandates will protect the affected individual.
What is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is defined as the harm or injury of a patient as a consequence of a physician’s negligence and/or inappropriate behavior. Within the U.S. legal system, persons harmed by the wrongful act of a physician during treatment are protected by medical malpractice laws. There are two significant exceptions to being medically liable for negligence or wrongful conduct:
- Unofficial doctor-patient relationship. If a person unofficially seeks help from a medical practitioner and is injured, the person cannot file a medical malpractice claim.
- Good Samaritan laws. Suppose a person is injured during a medical emergency. In that case, the “wrong-doer” is not a liable party under Good Samaritan laws, even if the person’s injuries led to death, disability, etc.
Legal Elements of a Medical Malpractice
Four legal elements are identified across all medical malpractice claims that a Seattle medical negligence attorney can help you satisfy. First, there must be a doctor-patient relationship. Second, the medical practitioner failed to meet the standard of professional care. This failure is usually supported by a medical expert’s testimony intended to demonstrate the causal relationship between the physician’s negligence and the patient’s injuries- the third element.
Lastly, the plaintiff- harmed patient- must have an injury that the legal court can reward. There are two forms of damages that a person can be legally compensated for:
- Economic Damages. Economic damages include any past, present, or future medical bills. Persons filing a medical malpractice claim can also be compensated for a loss of income in the past and future.
- Non-Economic Damages. Non-economic damages are more subjective, given that a person is being compensated for psychological and physiological suffering. If medical malpractice triggers fear of hospitals, a Seattle medical malpractice lawyer will ensure that you receive monetary compensation for your anxiety and fear of future harm.
Medical Malpractice Laws in Washington State
If a physician’s negligence has caused you physical harm in the state of Washington, you must seek assistance from the best medical malpractice attorney Seattle. A victim of medical malpractice within the Washington medical sector ought to consider:
- The statute of limitations (deadline) requires that a medical malpractice case (e.g., medical errors leading to injuries or wrongful deaths) be reported within three years of the incident or within one year of gaining awareness of the injury.
- Washington state has placed a cap on the amount of money a medical negligence attorney Seattle can collect.
- Washington’s medical malpractice laws require the testimony of an expert in the medical practice.
Justice Awaits!
Contact law offices today to get help from the top medical malpractice attorneys Seattle. For more information on Washington medical malpractice laws and how to get the compensation you deserve, discuss your next steps with a medical negligence attorney Seattle.