If you go to the doctor seeking medical treatment, you are trusting your doctor to treat your injury or illness according to a specific standard of care. Most doctors care about the health of their patients. Unfortunately, in the medical field, there are also examples of medical malpractice, where a doctor or medical professional acts negligently and causes his or her patient harm, as a lawyer can explain.
Medical Malpractice Cases Are Frivolous
One of the reasons that people believe that most medical malpractice cases are frivolous is because those few that are frivolous are the ones that tend to get the most attention. However, some studies show that around 97% of all medical malpractice suits have merit. About 80% of all claims are for serious injuries and death caused by medical malpractice. Odds are, if you have a frivolous lawsuit, an attorney will not take the case. Most attorneys are picky about only taking cases that have a strong chance of winning.
Medical Malpractice Cases Outnumber Malpractice Incidents
When it comes to the claim that there are more malpractice cases than incidents, the truth may be the opposite. A lot of patients don’t realize their options when it comes to filing a claim. They may not realize that they can file a lawsuit or they may believe the myths and steer clear of filing a claim.
In other cases, an attorney may be wary of bringing a case to trial or seeking a settlement. Medical malpractice cases are difficult and complex. This is why it is important to seek out a medical malpractice lawyer, rather than a personal injury lawyer that does not specialize in malpractice lawsuits.
Medical Malpractice is a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme
Those behind this myth are typically insurance companies. Insurance companies are the ones who have to pay the settlement cost and legal fees if a doctor is sued for medical malpractice. It is in the insurance company’s best interests to spread this myth. In reality, the money that a patient receives for medical malpractice is usually for medical bills, lost wages and other monetary damages. If you see a high-profile case that is worth millions of dollars, this isn’t because the plaintiff wanted to get rich. This is because the error was particularly egregious.
There are a lot of myths that surround medical malpractice lawsuits. Unfortunately, these myths make it difficult for people to file claims when they deserve compensation. To find out what your case is worth, consult with a medical malpractice lawyer today!