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Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Silver Spring

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We trust health care professionals to do everything in their power to make us well. Many times they succeed, but then sometimes they simply fail to meet the standard of care they owe us as part of their profession. When this happens, those medical professionals could be legally liable for the damages their negligence caused. Our medical malpractice lawyers in silver spring understand how medical malpractice law works in the state of Maryland. If you suspect that you or a loved one has been harmed by medical malpractice or nursing home abuse, contact us today.

When you or someone you care about has been seriously injured as a result of medical negligence, you need someone who is not afraid to go to bat for you. Remember whom you will be up against. Hospitals and other large medical corporations have money and lots of it. Not all personal injury law firms have the resources, expertise, or reputation to take on these medical malpractice cases.

Our malpractice attorneys in silver spring are equipped to take your medical malpractice case to trial if need be and are not afraid to take on these corporate giants. We have a reputation in the legal community for our aggressive representation of our clients at court. Some of our clients have been denied representation prior to coming to us. At DuBoff & Associates, Chartered, we will stand by you and for you when no one else will.

We are a family-oriented firm. When you work with us, we will welcome you into our family and defend you with the same fervor that someone in that intimate circle merits. We recognize that each client brings a unique situation to the table, and, consequently, our medical malpractice lawyers customize their approach and solution with each new case.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when health-care providers allow their level of care to fall below a certain standard and their negligence causes an injury. Although most people identify malpractice with doctors and surgeons, victims may sue other professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, and midwives.

In the world of personal injury law, medical malpractice cases are typically the most complex, because errors often involve complicated medical concepts that are unintelligible to the layman. For that reason, the claimant must often call an expert witness.

However, in most ways, medical malpractice trials work much the same way as any other. Like car-accident victims, victims of malpractice may seek two types of compensation: economic damages and general damages.

Economic damages of medical malpractice are straightforward of the two. Let’s say you suffer a broken leg due to the negligence of a doctor.

The injury will likely cause you to miss work and incur extra medical expenses. It’s easy to place a dollar value on these types of damages.

For instance, if you miss six months of work and you make $4,000 each month, then you could hire a personal injury lawyer and ask the court for $24,000. Likewise, the hospital will send you a receipt telling you how much it cost to treat your injury.

However, not all malpractice damages are so simple to calculate.

Proving Medical Malpractice in Silver Spring, Maryland & Nearby

Every potential case of medical malpractice involves two core questions:

  • Did the medical professional in charge of your treatment fail to meet the standard of care that any professional in the same specialty would be expected to show any patient under circumstances similar to yours?
  • Did this failure cause your injury?

These are clearly not simple questions to answer. Most of us do not have sufficient medical training to make such a determination. However, a knowledgeable malpractice lawyer, such as those at DuBoff & Associates, Chartered, understands how to build such a case through evidence collection and the use of expert witnesses. We have more than 50 years of combined experience bringing medical malpractice and wrongful death claims on behalf of our clients.

It is not always easy to tell if you or someone has been a victim of medical malpractice. If you are unsure but you suspect that you may have a claim, it is important that you contact a personal injury law firm to investigate. A competent firm will piece together the facts and analyze them next to medical standards of care. Contact us for a free initial consultation.

3 Motivations for Medical Malpractice Claims

1. Most Medical Malpractice Cases Arise After a Failure to Properly Diagnose

JAMA Internal Medicine recently published a study that aimed to identify the most common reasons behind malpractice lawsuits. Researchers found that approximately 35 percent of these cases involved an error during diagnosis.

Errors can include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis or a failure to diagnosis, each of which can result in very serious damage. For example, if a doctor fails to pay close attention to your complaints and misses an opportunity to catch a growing issue, like cancer, while it’s still easily treatable, this could result in much more rigorous treatment and pain for you.

2. Malpractice May Also Result From a Failure to Supervise

Approximately 13 percent of the cases that the researchers examined were prompted by the actions of a nurse or resident who was in the doctor’s charge. These medical professionals rely on their supervisor for guidance and instruction.

When the supervising doctor fails to provide adequate direction, patients can hold them responsible for any malpractice that occurs.

3. Unnecessary Procedures Are Rare But Can Cause Serious Injuries

When you imagine an unnecessary procedure, your mind may go straight to the stories on the news that involves amputation of the wrong limb or a chart mix up that leads to a drug overdose. While these sorts of accidents do happen, they are exceedingly rare.

These types of lawsuits generally result from doctors prescribing treatments that they can’t medically justify in order to make more money.

A recent, large-scale example of this involved a doctor who advised patients with cardiovascular problems to have stent surgery, even though they had other, less-invasive options available to them.

Medical Malpractice Victims May Seek Compensation for Pain and Suffering

Forbes explains that psychological distress often accompanies physical injuries, and victims should receive compensation for any suffering that they experience. Examples of general damages include depression, disfigurement and any loss of enjoyment in life.

For instance, if your broken leg forces you to give up a hobby or causes strain on your marriage, then you could ask the court for general compensation. These types of damages are difficult to quantify, so the justice system tasks the jury with determining how much pain and suffering is worth.

That said, many states, including Maryland, set a limit on the amount a victim can receive for general damages. The amount increases each year, and the current cap is  $740,000.

If you live in Baltimore or silver spring and you are considering a medical malpractice lawsuit, then you’ll need the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer. At Duboff & Associates, Chartered, we have 50 years of combined legal experience, and we know what it takes to prove medical malpractice.

We can gather evidence, find expert witnesses and provide excellent legal advice. To arrange a free consultation with a Silver Spring, Maryland medical malpractice lawyer from our firm, call 443-912-0002.

Malpractice Laws Vary Between States

The Baltimore Business Journal reports that Maryland’s legislature is considering a birth-injury fund that would provide compensation to the families of children who suffer injuries through a medical professional’s negligence.

Proponents of the fund believe that it will provide more families with compensation. However, opponents of the bill point out that lawsuits provide incentive for hospitals to fire or discipline negligent doctors, while a fund would not.

If your child suffered a serious injury during birth and you believe that a medical professional may be to blame, call our offices in Silver Spring or Baltimore. We will work hard to prove your case and seek the compensation that you deserve.

Product Liability and Medical Malpractice

Product liability law occasionally plays a part in medical malpractice claims. Such law governs the responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and others who make products available to the public when those products injure the individuals who use them. Drug and medical equipment manufacturers are often included in medical malpractice cases under product liability law.

Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death

Sometimes healthcare professionals make mistakes that lead to the wrongful death of a patient. In such cases, family members can pursue fair compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. The skilled wrongful death attorneys of DuBoff & Associates, Chartered can help.

Wrongful death is an incredibly painful tragedy to have to undergo. It is easy to be paralyzed by grief and pain and anger. As medical malpractice attorneys, we urge you to pursue the financial compensation that you and your family are rightfully entitled to, so that you might feel like, on some level, justice has been served. No amount of money can bring back the person you loved, but it can do two things:

  1. It holds the responsible parties accountable and, by generating attention to their malpractice, may prevent others from suffering from the same injustice as you have.
  2. And it can help to ease some of your pain by bringing you some financial stability.

Do not suffer alone. The Silver Spring medical malpractice attorneys at DuBoff & Associates, Chartered have successfully litigated wrongful death claims in the Greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C. Area and can help you.

Hire a Maryland Malpractice Lawyer Who Will Fight to Protect Your Rights

DuBoff & Associates, Chartered understands Maryland medical malpractice law. We serve all of Maryland as well as Washington, D.C. from our offices located in Silver Spring and Baltimore. Contact us online or at 301.495.3131 today to arrange a consultation regarding your case.

One thing that we prioritize is our accessibility. When you call our office, you will speak with an attorney—it’s that simple. Our firm is comprised of five attorneys and three paralegals—all competent and ready to assist you with your legal need. We offer free initial consultations over the phone, but we prefer to meet face-to-face if possible. Our clients are not just another case—they become a part of our family. We begin building a relationship with them from day one and believe in the power of connecting in person.

However, if you are seriously injured and unable to make it to our office, we make home and hospital visits, on evenings and weekends if necessary. Home and hospital visits are available to our seriously injured clients who are unable to make it to our office, and we offer evening and weekend appointments when necessary. For situations where legal fees are of concern, we can make arrangements for contingency fees.

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