Charlotte Hospital Patient Negligence Lawyer

Charlotte Hospital Patient Negligence Attorney

When you go to the hospital to receive treatment, you are placing your complete faith in the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to take care of you. Unfortunately, sometimes errors occur. These errors can be a result of the hospital not having enough staff members, having overworked employees, or even having staff who have become negligent. If you have suffered a medical error in Charlotte, NC, you need a Charlotte hospital patient negligence lawyer.

What Is Medical Malpractice in North Carolina?

Medical malpractice happens when a person is injured during their time spent at a hospital or other healthcare facility solely due to a healthcare provider’s mistake. A patient is completely reliant on their doctor to provide effective medical care. When a doctor violates that trust and causes an injury, whether purposeful or not, the patient may be entitled to a medical malpractice claim.

Medical malpractice can come in a multitude of forms, but all cause injury or harm to a patient. Common examples of medical malpractice in Charlotte include:

• Error in treatment (I.e., the wrong type of treatment was given)
• Incorrect diagnoses
• Failure to read lab results or reading lab results incorrectly
• Birth injuries
• Forcing surgery upon someone who didn’t medically require it
• Improperly performed surgery
• Inadequate or incorrect prescriptions
• Accidental injuries during basic procedures

Any form of negligent medical care that results in injury can cause a healthcare provider to be subject to a medical malpractice claim. Medical negligence can also include hospitals.

What Is a Medical Malpractice Claim?

A medical malpractice claim falls under the personal injury category but is usually much more complex than other types of personal injury claims. This is because more evidence is needed to prove that a healthcare professional made a mistake in treatment or that a hospital was negligent in their care. Because of the complicated nature of these claims, it is wise to consult with a medical malpractice attorney for assistance with your case.

A medical malpractice claim cannot be considered a valid claim unless negligence has been involved. Therefore, the medical professional must have engaged in negligent behavior that an otherwise reasonable provider would not have participated in.

What Qualifies as Hospital Negligence in North Carolina?

Negligence that occurs in the hospital can cause several injuries and health complications. The following are just a few results of medical negligence that can occur in a hospital:

• Bedsores
• Birth injuries
• Errors made during surgery
• Incorrect medication dosages
• Losing medical records
• Dehydration
• Errors that occur in the emergency room
• Errors made while administering anesthesia
• Food poisoning
• Accidental lacerations

How Can Our Charlotte Legal Team Help You?

Healthcare professionals must adhere to an official standard of care in North Carolina. When a medical professional does not meet this standard of care, whether intentionally or not, they have violated your rights as a patient. A skilled lawyer can help you get the compensation that you deserve and can help you gather the proof you need to show that negligence occurred and resulted in your injuries.

This can include conducting a full investigation where we can speak to witnesses, search for surveillance footage, assess medical records, and more. We can also help you understand how much your case may be worth and how much compensation you may be entitled to. Our experienced lawyers can also negotiate with insurance providers on your behalf. If a settlement cannot be reached, we can then guide you through the process of moving to court.

What Should You Do If a Hospital Is Denying Malpractice?

Many hospitals put immense focus on keeping a positive reputation. If any negative event happens, like a patient suffering an injury or dying due to hospital neglect, they could harm not only their reputation but also face costly malpractice claims and have to answer to government officials. If, after you make a hospital neglect claim, the hospital tries to deny that any neglect took place, you should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible.

FAQs About Charlotte, NC Hospital Patient Negligence Laws

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim Against a Hospital for Negligence in North Carolina?

In most cases, you have up to three years to file a claim against a hospital for negligence in North Carolina. This means that you have three years after the date that the injury or incident occurred. There are exceptions to this timeframe, however. Because of this, it is important to speak with a lawyer before filing a claim in Charlotte.

What Is the Standard of Care in Medical Malpractice Cases?

In a medical malpractice case, the term “standard of care” refers to the quality of care that a nurse, doctor, or other healthcare provider should give to their patients. Healthcare providers are meant to carry out effective treatment without errors or negligence. When presenting your case to a judge, someone with an extensive background in medical care must present what the standard of care should be.

How Do You Gather Evidence for a Medical Malpractice Claim?

Generally speaking, you will not be able to gather evidence for a medical malpractice claim on your own. It is not easy to do, especially because you will likely not be able to access medical records and other needed sources like a lawyer can. However, a medical malpractice lawyer can assist you in finding the evidence you need to prove that medical negligence occurred. Do not wait to ask for assistance from a skilled attorney.

If I Am Unhappy With the Results of My Surgery, Do I Have Grounds for a Medical Malpractice Claim?

If you are unhappy with the results of your surgery, you may not have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. While unexpected results are unpleasant to deal with, it often happens. A doctor cannot guarantee that the surgery will be successful, and this does not necessarily mean that the doctor’s actions were negligent. If you’re unsure if your case qualifies as medical malpractice, reach out to our team for a consultation.

Talk to a Charlotte Hospital Patient Negligence Lawyer Today

When you go to a hospital, you are trusting the doctors and nurses with your life. When errors occur, you do not have to sit and deal with the consequences alone. Regardless of whether the staff is overworked or if they made a simple mistake, you have the right to file a hospital negligence claim. Contact Elam & Rousseaux, PLLC, for help filing a claim in Charlotte today.