Douglasville Medical Malpractice Attorney
For those of us living in Douglasville, Georgia, and the nearby western suburbs of Atlanta, we are privileged to have access to good medical care. Most doctors and hospital staff are hardworking people who dedicate their lives to helping others.
Unfortunately, there are those healthcare providers who cut corners and take shortcuts, gambling with people’s lives. Some medical professionals may become overconfident or callous to the outcomes or consequences of their behavior. Some medical professionals make careless mistakes due to stress or overwork.
Regardless of the reason, when medical providers make negligent medical mistakes, it can lead to preventable injuries and deaths. When medical malpractice harms a patient, the victim should not be left to bear the burden of the error without just compensation.
At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., our Douglasville medical malpractice lawyers aim to help people understand what has happened to them, so they can get closure and the treatment and recovery they require. We take a compassionate and shrewd approach to holding healthcare professionals accountable for their negligence.
Never suffer alone. Let our team help put the pieces back together. Contact us now for a free and confidential review of your potential medical malpractice claim.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle in Georgia
There are a lot of ways that medical professionals can make negligent mistakes that harm patients. Our firm handles all types of medical malpractice claims, including the following examples:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Insufficient staffing
- Untrained or improperly trained healthcare staff
- Nursing negligence
- Surgical errors
- Hospital-acquired infections
- Falls and other facility-acquired injuries
- Assaults and sexual abuse in a healthcare facility
- Improper medical equipment or devices
- Failure to test
- Wrong operation site
- Incorrect amputations
- Medication errors
- Inaccurate diagnostics
- Cross infections and exposure to diseases
Our attorneys have decades of experience with complex medical error cases. The best way to find out your rights and understand your injuries is to call Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., to speak with a medical malpractice attorney today.
Visit Our Douglasville Medical Malpractice Claims Law Offices
How Do Medical Malpractice Claims Work in Georgia?
How your medical malpractice case will proceed largely depends on the type of case and your attorney’s strategy. Sometimes, especially in very obvious cases of negligence, a healthcare provider’s insurance carrier will enter into early settlement discussions. While this can be a relief for families struggling to make ends meet, rarely do healthcare providers voluntarily agree to pay large sums of money, even when malpractice is clear. Instead, most cases will be resolved through litigation. Here are the basic steps you should know:
Step 1 – Review and Investigation.
Your attorney will gather relevant evidence and medical records. This often includes talking to witnesses and having medical records reviewed by qualified medical experts who can provide an opinion as to what happened and what went wrong with your care. If your attorney and the experts agree that the case qualifies as medical malpractice, you and your attorney may decide that filing a lawsuit is appropriate.
Step 2 – Filing the Lawsuit.
To file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Georgia, your attorney will draft a legal document called a complaint. Your attorney will also have to file something known as an “expert affidavit.” This is a rule that requires a plaintiff to provide a written affidavit from a medical expert, stating that there is merit to the case. Obtaining and thoroughly reviewing complex medical records can take time, which is why it’s so important to speak to an attorney early.
Step 3 – Defendants Must Respond.
First, you must have all named defendants served with the complaint. Then the defendants will have time to answer your complaint, file various legal documents with the court, file motions, and participate in discovery.
Step 4 – Discovery.
Hands down, discovery is the longest but one of the most important parts of the litigation process. It is during this lengthy period, the parties can exchange questions and disclose evidence, issue subpoenas, obtain records, interview experts, and take depositions. This process is designed to draw out the facts and evidence so that the parties can engage in meaningful settlement negotiations if possible.
Step 5 – Trial.
If, even after all of discovery is completed, the parties cannot reach an agreement to settle the case, the matter will be set for trial. Only a very small percentage of all medical malpractice cases ever make it to trial. Those that do often last days or even weeks and involve numerous experts.
