If your health has been compromised by a medical professional’s negligence, you deserve skilled legal support to help you recover. With the guidance of trusted Towson medical malpractice lawyers with Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A., you can demand accountability and fight for the compensation you are entitled to. With decades of experience representing medical malpractice victims, we are committed to helping you move forward with confidence.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider’s actions, or lack of action, fall below the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. This could include failures in diagnosing illnesses, performing incorrect or unnecessary procedures, or neglecting critical post-operative care. Such breaches often lead to preventable injuries, worsened conditions, life-altering complications, or even death.
Examples of medical malpractice vary widely, from surgical errors, like wrong-site surgery to hospital-acquired infections due to unsanitary practices. Other instances include a delayed cancer diagnosis or prescribing a medication without reviewing the patient’s allergy history. When these errors occur, the impact on patients and their families can be devastating, both physically and emotionally.
Towson medical malpractice lawyers have extensive experience identifying these breaches of care and building strong cases. By reviewing medical records, consulting industry-leading experts and analyzing every detail of the incident, they aim to uncover negligence and help clients seek justice.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases in Towson
Medical malpractice encompasses a wide range of errors that occur across healthcare settings. In Towson, some of the most frequent cases involve negligence by hospitals, physicians, or staff during critical moments of patient care. Whether the issue arises from diagnostic failures or mistakes during treatment, these incidents often lead to preventable harm. Here are some of the most common types of medical malpractice cases:
- Surgical errors – Examples include wrong-site surgeries, performing unnecessary operations, or leaving surgical instruments inside the body. Robotic-assisted surgeries have also introduced risks, such as equipment malfunction or lack of proper operator training.
- Birth injuries – These include harm to the baby or mother during delivery, such as brachial plexus injuries, cerebral palsy from oxygen deprivation, or untreated infections.
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis – This involves failing to recognize critical conditions like cancer, stroke, or sepsis in a timely manner, leading to worsened outcomes.
- Medication mistakes – This can include prescribing contraindicated drugs, administering incorrect dosages, or failing to account for interactions with existing medications.
- Failure to provide adequate follow-up care – Neglecting to monitor recovery or address complications after treatment can result in further harm to patients.
Each of these examples highlights how preventable errors can lead to life-altering consequences. With proper legal representation, victims can hold negligent parties accountable and pursue compensation for their losses.
How Towson Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help You
When you or a loved one suffers harm due to medical negligence, working with experienced attorneys can make a significant difference in your pursuit of justice. Towson medical malpractice lawyers begin by conducting thorough investigations to identify where the standard of care was breached. This often involves gathering medical records, consulting with qualified medical experts, and analyzing procedural guidelines to establish negligence.
Attorneys play a critical role in negotiating with insurance companies, who often aim to minimize payouts. Skilled lawyers push back against lowball offers by building strong cases that highlight the full extent of their clients’ damages. This includes calculating medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care needs.
By partnering with a trusted legal advocate, clients gain access to resources and expertise that improve their chances of achieving a favorable outcome. The best medical malpractice firms in Towson also provide compassionate support throughout the process, helping families regain a sense of control and accountability.
Steps to Take After Medical Negligence Occurs
If you suspect medical negligence has caused harm, taking immediate action can significantly impact your ability to build a strong case. Acting quickly allows you to preserve evidence and ensure your rights are protected. Below are the critical steps you should follow if you believe you are a victim of malpractice in Towson.
1. Seek a second opinion about your treatment and outcome.
Consulting with a qualified specialist can provide valuable clarity about whether your treatment deviated from accepted medical practices. This step is essential in determining whether your healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care. Local Towson facilities with specialists in second-opinion services can evaluate your case and provide additional insights into the harm caused by malpractice.
A second opinion not only validates your concerns but also helps assess the extent of damages caused by the negligence. This evidence is crucial when pursuing compensation for your injuries and associated costs.
2. Contact a Towson hospital malpractice lawyer to evaluate your case.
Engaging an experienced malpractice attorney is one of the most important steps in seeking justice. A skilled lawyer will assess the strength of your claim, gather additional evidence, and advise you on your legal options. They will also handle all communications with healthcare providers and insurance companies, ensuring your case is presented effectively.
3. Obtain and thoroughly review your medical records.
Your attorney will begin by obtaining all medical records related to your treatment, including test results, imaging scans, and doctor’s notes. These records often hold key evidence of errors, such as misdiagnosed conditions, missed symptoms, or inappropriate treatments. In Maryland, healthcare providers are legally required to provide patients or their representatives with access to their medical records within a reasonable timeframe, and this documentation can play a pivotal role in proving negligence.
When reviewing your records, pay close attention to inconsistencies, unexplained delays, or deviations from standard treatment protocols. A Towson malpractice attorney can assist in analyzing these records and identifying potential signs of negligence.
Proving Negligence in Medical Malpractice Cases
Proving negligence in a medical malpractice case requires more than simply identifying an error—it involves establishing a direct link between the provider’s actions and the harm suffered. Understanding the legal elements and securing qualified expert testimony are critical to building a strong case.
1. The Four Elements of Negligence:
To prove malpractice, the following elements must be clearly demonstrated:
- Duty of care – The healthcare provider owed a duty to provide competent and ethical care.
- Breach of duty – The provider failed to meet the standard of care expected in their field. Examples include surgical errors, diagnostic failures, or improper medication administration.
- Causation – The breach directly caused your injury or worsened your condition. This link must be clearly established to hold the provider accountable.
- Damages – The injury resulted in measurable harm, such as medical expenses, lost income, physical pain, and/or emotional distress.
2. The Role of Expert Testimony in Proving Negligence
Expert witnesses are the necessary cornerstone of a successful malpractice case. These professionals, typically specialists in the relevant field, evaluate the care provided and explain how it deviated from accepted practices. For example, a surgical expert might testify about how an error during a procedure caused your injury, while a diagnostic expert might confirm that a delay in recognizing symptoms led to complications.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Medical Malpractice Case?
Medical malpractice victims may be entitled to compensation for the financial, emotional, and physical toll of their injuries. The damages awarded aim to address both the immediate and long-term impact of the negligence.
Economic Damages
These damages compensate for tangible financial losses directly caused by the malpractice:
- Medical expenses – Covers past, current, and future costs of treatment, including surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and physical therapy.
- Lost income – Reimburses wages lost due to time away from work during recovery. For individuals unable to return to their previous employment, it may also include compensation for diminished earning capacity.
- Ongoing care needs – Addresses long-term expenses, such as in-home healthcare, rehabilitation, and assistive devices like wheelchairs or prosthetics.
- Transportation costs – Includes expenses for traveling to medical appointments or transferring to specialized care facilities.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages account for the intangible impact of malpractice on your quality of life:
- Pain and suffering – Compensates for physical discomfort, emotional trauma, and mental anguish caused by negligence.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – Acknowledges the limitations placed on your ability to participate in activities or hobbies you once enjoyed.
- Loss of consortium – Addresses the impact on your relationships with loved ones, including loss of companionship or intimacy.
Malpractice victims in Towson can benefit from legal representation to assess the full scope of their damages and ensure nothing is overlooked in their claims.
The Role of Towson Hospital Malpractice Lawyers
Pursuing a malpractice claim against a hospital involves unique challenges that go beyond individual provider negligence. Hospitals often have strict internal policies and well-funded corporate insurers who aggressively defend against claims. These barriers make it critical to have an attorney experienced in navigating these complexities and identifying systemic issues like understaffing, inadequate training, or procedural errors.
Our firm’s attorneys bring a wealth of experience in holding hospitals accountable for negligent practices that harm patients. From miscommunication during surgeries to medication mistakes caused by disorganized workflows, we know where to look for evidence of systemic failures. With a proven track record of securing substantial compensation for hospital malpractice victims, we remain dedicated to protecting your rights and pursuing justice on your behalf.
Why Choose Us as Your Best Medical Malpractice Law Firm in Towson?
Our firm’s reputation for excellence in medical malpractice cases stems from decades of proven success and a client-first approach. We understand the devastating impact medical negligence can have on individuals and families, and we are committed to delivering favorable outcomes for every case we handle. From the initial consultation to resolution, we ensure you feel supported, informed, and confident in your legal team.
Unlike firms that take a one-size-fits-all approach, we tailor our strategies to meet the unique needs of each client. Whether negotiating with insurers or presenting your case in court, we leverage our extensive resources and legal expertise to build compelling arguments. Trust us to be your dedicated advocate, fighting to secure the compensation and accountability you deserve.
Towson Medical Malpractice FAQ
What is the statute of limitations for filing a malpractice claim in Maryland?
Maryland law typically allows victims of medical malpractice three years from the date of the injury’s discovery to file a claim. This timeframe provides victims the opportunity to uncover medical errors that may not have been immediately apparent. However, in no case can a claim be filed more than five years from the date the malpractice occurred, as outlined in Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5-109.
Acting quickly is essential, as evidence can fade or be lost over time, and witnesses may become unavailable. Consulting with a Towson medical malpractice lawyer promptly ensures that your case is thoroughly investigated and filed within the legal deadlines.
How do I prove negligence in a medical malpractice case?
Proving negligence involves demonstrating that a healthcare provider deviated from the accepted standard of care, directly causing harm to the patient. This often requires detailed analysis of medical records, expert testimony, and comparisons to what a reasonably competent provider would have done under similar circumstances.
Our firm works with trusted medical professionals to build compelling evidence of negligence. By meticulously reviewing your case and consulting industry experts, we ensure that your claim is backed by strong, credible proof.
Can I file a claim if the healthcare provider claims the outcome was a known risk?
Yes, you may still have a case if the provider failed to obtain informed consent or if negligence contributed to the outcome. Healthcare providers are required to inform patients about known risks before any procedure. If they fail to do so or if an error occurred that went beyond acceptable risks, you may have grounds for a claim.
Contact Our Skilled Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Towson for Help Today
If medical errors have caused you harm, you need a trusted advocate on your side to protect your rights. A dedicated Towson medical malpractice attorney with Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. can help you pursue fair compensation for the harm you have endured. Call our office or complete our secure online contact form to schedule your free consultation and start building your case today.