Medical Malpractice Accident Lawyer Los Angeles, CA

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group, P.C. for Your Medical Malpractice Claim

If you suffered harm under a medical professional’s care, you should speak with a medical malpractice accident lawyer Los Angeles, CA residents trust. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. The lawyer at Cohen Injury Law Group, P.C. specializes in medical malpractice cases and want to help you get justice. They empathize with their clients and fight hard for their rights. When you go in for your initial consultation with a Los Angeles medical malpractice accident lawyer from this law firm, you will be treated with utmost respect and kindness. They know that you have been through a rough time and want to help you feel as comfortable as possible.

The legal professionals at Cohen Injury Law Group, P.C. pride themselves on being transparent with their clients and never making promises that they can’t keep. They always keep their clients informed about their cases and return messages in a timely manner. These lawyers realize that dealing with an accident case can be overwhelming, so they never keep them in the dark about anything relating to the case.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim

Discovering that you may be a victim of medical malpractice can be quite devastating. You put your trust in this medical professional to help you, and you instead end up injured. If you believe that you are the victim of medical malpractice, you may wish to pursue a medical malpractice claim against the healthcare professional who caused you harm. Here are the next steps you should take to ensure your right to compensation.

• Talk to the medical professional involved. The first thing a Los Angeles medical malpractice accident lawyer would advise you to do is contact the medical professional you believe is responsible for your injury. Tell the medical professional what happened and let him or her explain what might have gone wrong. Sometimes medical professionals can perform additional services to correct the mistake.

• Retrieve your medical records. Your medical records are one of the most important pieces of evidence you can have for a medical malpractice claim. Therefore, you should obtain these records as soon as possible. Some of the records you may need include initial diagnoses, medical history, prescriptions, and lab test results. Then, you can send them to your Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyer.

• Obtain a medical assessment. Before you can file a medical malpractice claim, you have to establish that your case has merit. Contact a medical expert to review your medical records to determine if your doctor deviated from accepted medical practices or not.

• Know how long you have to file a claim. Like other personal injury claims, medical malpractice claims come with a statute of limitations. These limitations require you to file a claim within a certain timeframe to recover compensation. That is why it is critical to know the statute of limitations in your state. In California, you have three years to bring a medical malpractice claim with the assistance of a medical malpractice accident lawyer Los Angeles, CA residents trust. After the deadline has passed, you will no longer be eligible to receive compensation. 

• Consult a medical malpractice lawyer. Medical malpractice cases are one of the most complicated types of personal injury cases. Therefore, you definitely do not want to handle your medical malpractice claim on your own. It is in your best interest to work with a Los Angeles medical malpractice accident lawyer. He or she will help you gather the necessary evidence to strengthen your claim and handle negotiations with the defendant’s insurance company. Your lawyer can also prevent you from making unwise decisions, such as accepting a settlement too early or posting about your case on social media.

Components of a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

In order to have a successful medical malpractice lawsuit, you must prove that the following four elements existed:

• The medical professional owed the patient a duty of care. First and foremost, you have to establish that the medical professional owed you a duty of care. Fortunately, this typically is not difficult to do because it is assumed that a doctor owes a duty of care in any doctor-patient relationship.

• The medical professional breached the duty of care. Next, you must prove that the medical professional who treated you breached the duty of care that was owed to you. There are several ways that a medical professional can breach a duty of care, including prescribing the wrong medication, leaving surgical instruments inside the body, providing an incorrect diagnosis, and operating on the wrong body part.

• The patient suffered injuries as a direct result. To establish medical negligence, you also must have suffered injuries as a direct result of your doctor’s carelessness. Evidence of this can come from your medical records and medical expert testimony.

• The patient sustained losses from medical negligence. Finally, you have to show that the medical negligence resulted in losses, like medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. A Los Angeles medical malpractice accident lawyer can establish the true value of your economic and non-economic damages.

Types of Medical Malpractice Our Los Angeles Lawyers Handle

When patients go to the hospital or doctor’s office for medical treatment, they expect to come out feeling better. Unfortunately, however, this does not always happen. Medical professionals sometimes make mistakes and their patients suffer harm as a result. Here are the most common types of medical malpractice that you should be aware of:

• Surgical errors. Surgery can treat a wide variety of illnesses and injuries, helping people live better lives. However, if surgeons and other surgical staff do not follow proper procedures, patients can suffer harm during an operation. For example, if a surgeon isn’t properly trained on how to perform a specific surgery, mistakes are more likely to happen. Likewise, if there aren’t enough staff members or there is miscommunication, the patient may suffer injuries. Common types of surgical mistakes include performing the wrong operation, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, performing unnecessary surgery, and administering the wrong amount of anesthesia. As a medical malpractice accident lawyer Los Angeles residents trust can confirm, these errors can cause painful and life-threatening injuries. 

• Misdiagnosis. A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor diagnoses a patient with the wrong condition. When this happens, the patient’s actual condition can worsen and become more difficult to treat. Medical conditions that are frequently misdiagnosed include fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and heart attacks. A good Los Angeles medical malpractice accident lawyer will be educated on how to find negligence based on the law.

• Birth injuries. Giving birth to a child can be one of the most joyous times for a woman. However, if the doctor or other staff are negligent during labor and delivery, the infant can suffer birth injuries. Some of the most common causes of birth injuries include using forceps incorrectly, failing to perform a timely C-section, and failing to monitor the baby and mother during labor. Common types of birth injuries include cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, spinal cord injuries, facial paralysis, and broken bones. While some birth injuries resolve themselves, others can affect a child long-term.

• Medications errors. Medications can help people live longer lives. However, if they are prescribed or administered incorrectly, they can seriously harm patients. For example, if a doctor prescribes the wrong type of medication or incorrect dosage, the patient could suffer injuries. Likewise, if a doctor prescribes medication without asking about other medications a patient is currently taking, the patient may have a dangerous interaction.

Types of Compensation for Medical Malpractice

If you suffered injuries while under a medical professional’s care, you may be entitled to compensation. Here are the common types of compensation for medical malpractice:

• Medical bills. After suffering an injury due to medical negligence, you may likely require medical care to correct the mistake. For example, you may need surgery. If the injury is severe enough, you may require long-term medical care, including rehabilitation and assistive devices. You deserve compensation for these medical expenses.

• Lost wages. If you have suffered a severe injury due to medical malpractice, you may be unable to work for a while. In this scenario, you may be eligible to receive compensation for lost wages. If you are never able to return to work again or have reduced your earning capacity, you may be eligible for more compensation.
• Pain and suffering. Sometimes medical malpractice victims may suffer long-term physical and mental distress. For example, a victim may suffer such chronic pain that it affects his or her sleep. A victim may also become depressed from the incident and socially isolate from friends and family. In this case, the victim may be eligible for pain and suffering damages.

Free Consultation with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Los Angeles

If you are a victim of medical malpractice, you should schedule a free consultation with a Los Angeles medical malpractice accident lawyer to discuss your case. The lawyer at Cohen Injury Law Group, P.C. will carefully listen to you during your consultation and offer sound legal advice. You may feel some relief at the end of your consultation. Since the first consultation is free of charge, there is no risk in scheduling a meeting.