September 19, 2013

When a doctor, hospital, or member of their medical staff makes a mistake, the victim may be entitled to damages through civil litigation; however, the Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Lawyers with Lundy Law explain that presenting a case that results in an award of damages can be an extremely complex process.

An article released by tctmd.com states a new study shows many medical malpractice cases end with decisions favoring defendants. The study examined thousands of cases where doctors were sued for mistakes made during procedures; however, only 22 percent of those claims resulted in plaintiffs receiving awards for damages. Improper performance accounted for a majority of the claims, making up 35 percent of all claims examined, but only 24 percent of those cases received payouts.

Experts claim the data may be skewed because there is no consideration for the number of claims where a settlement was reached out of court. They also believe that better communication between doctors and patients about the risks certain procedures pose is key to preventing medical malpractice claims.

The Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers with Lundy Law recognize how frustrating an injury caused by a medical error can be. That is why the firm urges anyone who has been harmed by the negligence of a medical professional to discuss their legal options with a reputable attorney immediately.