Every year in the United States, more than 250,000 people die as a result of medical malpractice. Thousands more suffer permanent serious and life-altering injuries. Imagine going into surgery for a right knee replacement surgery only to wake up to find surgery was performed on your healthy left knee.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for doctors to either fail to correctly diagnose a serious disease or to give a clean bill of health to someone who is actually seriously ill. Stories abound of people being sent home from an emergency room with a diagnosis of indigestion only to die of a heart attack a short time later.

Not all unpleasant results from medical care is the result of malpractice. But, if you believe that you or someone you love has suffered from medical malpractice, you need to consult a medical malpractice attorney who will review the facts of your case and help you decide how to proceed.

Elements of a Medical Malpractice Case

In order to have a viable medical malpractice claim, you must show the court that:

  • You had a patient/provider relationship with the medical professional you claim is liable for malpractice. If you casually discussed your case with a practitioner over dinner, that will not meet the required relationship standard.
  • The provider was negligent in that the provided care did not meet the standard of care given by similar providers in your geographical area.
  • The provider’s negligence was the cause of your injury.
  • You suffered damages as a result of the negligence.

Why You Need a Virginia Beach Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice cases are inherently complex. There are specific statutory and procedural requirements that have to be met even before a lawsuit is filed. These complexities are why it makes sense to retain the services of a skilled and experienced medical malpractice attorney in Virginia Beach. Once you have an attorney on your side, they will go to work and take the following actions on your behalf:

  • Uncover any evidence needed to prove liability
  • Work with trusted medical experts who can evaluate the evidence and provide testimony for their client
  • Vigorously negotiate with insurance carriers and legal teams to recover full compensation on behalf of their client
  • Fully prepare the claim for trial if necessary to ensure the client is treated fairly at all times

Types of Medical Malpractice

  • Improper diagnosis and misdiagnosis: Examples of improper diagnoses include misread x-rays, misread test results, failure to order common diagnostic tests, and ignored or missed symptoms. Commonly missed diagnoses include heart attacks, cancer, hypertension, clogged arteries, and infections.
  • Negligent care: Examples of negligent care include improper use of restraints, improper administration of medication or wrong medication, hospital abuse, or insufficient staff.
  • Surgical errors and preventable mistakes: Examples of surgical errors and mistakes include improper administration of anesthesia, sepsis or septic shock, infections caused by a perforation in the colon or small intestine, damage to arteries or veins causing permanent injuries, nerve damage, foreign objects left in the body, organ puncture, and so forth.
  • Birth injury: Serious birth injuries can be life-altering and lead to conditions such as cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, or even brain damage. Preventable errors or mistakes by an obstetrician, nurse, or other treater in the maternity ward can be the cause of serious, catastrophic injuries to the mother and/or baby.

Need a Virginia Beach Medical Malpractice Lawyer? Contact Favaloro Law Offices

At Favaloro Law Offices, founding Attorney Mark Favaloro, a Virginia Beach medical malpractice attorney, was a medical malpractice defense counsel before becoming a personal injury attorney and representing the interests of injured patients. This gave him tremendous insight in how the other side works.

For more than 32 years, Mark has been trying cases in the courts of the Commonwealths of Virginia and Massachusetts. He is admitted to practice in both state and federal courts including the appellate courts. He knows how to thoroughly evaluate the facts of the case, review the medical records and hire the necessary experts.

If settling prior to trial is in your best interest, he knows how to negotiate with defense counsel. If going to trial is a better option for you, he will be thoroughly prepared and be an aggressive advocate on your behalf.