When you apply for medical care, you expect to receive the best treatment. However, when a doctor, nurse or hospital makes a critical mistake and leaves you to suffer, you might be a victim of medical malpractice. These cases are more common than most people think. If you are in Kentucky and suspect medical negligence, you have rights.
To better understand if you have a case, it’s important to know what counts as medical malpractice.
How to identify medical malpractice
Not every adverse result means malpractice, but if a medical provider fails to follow accepted standards of care and you get hurt, you may have a claim. Common examples of malpractice include:
- Misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose a serious condition
- Performing surgery on the wrong site or leaving tools inside the body after surgery
- Prescribing the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage
- Providing negligent care during childbirth that harms you or your baby
If proper treatment could have prevented your injury, now is the time to take the necessary steps for a possible malpractice suit.
Understanding your rights as a health care consumer is vital to getting the proper care.
Your rights as a patient in Kentucky
As a patient, you have the right to expect competent care from health care professionals. If a provider’s actions, or failure to act, cause you impairment, Kentucky law allows you to pursue compensation. You may be entitled to reimbursement for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and long term disability or future care needs.
Kentucky’s statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice claim is typically one year from the date you discover the injury. Missing this deadline can prevent you from taking legal action, so it is important to act quickly.
Now that you know your rights, it’s important to understand the steps to take if you suspect malpractice.
What to do if you suspect medical malpractice
If you suspect that medical negligence caused your injury, it is crucial to take immediate action. The sooner you act, the better chances of building a strong case. Start by reviewing your medical records and writing down a detailed timeline of what transpired. Make sure to save any communications you have with health care providers. It is also important to avoid speaking with insurance companies without first seeking legal advice.
What a medical malpractice lawyer does for you
You don’t have to take the system alone. A skilled medical malpractice attorney can help you fight for your right to fair compensation. They will:
- Investigate your case
- Consult medical experts
- Handle all negotiations
- Fight for fair compensation
With a lawyer at your side, you could focus on recovering, leaving most of the legal work to a professional.
Get the answers you deserve
Medical malpractice cases are complicated, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on trying to fight for your claim. You deserve answers and the chance to recover what you have lost.
An experienced Kentucky malpractice lawyer can guide you through the next steps in regaining what you deserve to collect.