Both paramedics and EMTs play an important role in providing emergency care to those who need it most. It’s a service that many rely on, with many people citing that these emergency services have saved their lives. However, sometimes, these vital services fail to meet the standard of care expected of them. When this happens, it can cause damages that are worthy of being compensated. A Charlotte paramedic and EMT negligence lawyer can help those affected.
At Elam & Rousseaux, PLLC, we understand how devastating it can be to experience the negligence of a trusted professional like a paramedic or EMT. In these cases, we can investigate every last detail of your case to ensure we build a strong claim. Our personal injury team can advocate for your rights in court and fight for the amount of compensation you rightfully deserve after dealing with such a traumatic event.
It’s important to understand the different ways in which a paramedic or EMT could fail in their duty to provide quality medical care. Unfortunately, there are a variety of ways in which a paramedic, EMT, or healthcare professional can fail to aid a patient properly. The following are some of the most common forms of paramedic and EMT negligence seen in Charlotte:
To successfully prove that an EMT has engaged in negligent behavior, it must be made clear that the EMT breached their duty of care. This can be as simple as comparing what happened at the scene of the emergency to the standard practices that are already laid out for these professionals. Collecting various pieces of evidence, like the medical records of the injured parties and witness statements from the scene, can help prove negligence was a factor in the case.
Gross negligence by an EMT occurs when there has been a serious disregard for the standard of care that is expected from these professionals. The outcome of these cases is often either severe injury or death. One of the most common examples of gross negligence is when an EMT ignores clear signs that someone is having a severe health event like a heart attack or stroke. When this is ignored, the patient or their family can open a claim for gross negligence.
An act of simple negligence is when an EMT makes a careless oversight that prevents them from meeting the basic level of support expected in their role. For example, if an EMT administers the wrong medication while trying to quickly provide care, they could still be charged with simple negligence, even if they did not intend to cause any harm. Depending on the severity of the injury, the patient can still press charges for any damages they experienced.
The three main items that must be established in these negligence cases include duty, breach, and causation. It first must be clear that the EMT had a duty of care toward the patient, which is generally already established after taking on this role. Secondly, there must be evidence that they breached this duty. Once that is made clear, a lawyer needs to link the specific breach of duty to the injuries that their client suffered.
If you have recently been injured under the care of EMS providers and are considering filing negligence charges, contact the attorneys of Elam & Rousseaux, PLLC, today. We have spent years supporting clients who have faced tragic injuries under the care of those who were supposed to protect them, and we would be honored to provide our resources to help investigate and resolve your case as well.
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