Our Atlanta Malpractice Lawyers Can Help
If you were seriously injured—or lost a loved one—as a result of a medical provider’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. However, Georgia medical malpractice laws are complex, and a monetary award is never guaranteed—even in seemingly open-and-shut medical malpractice cases.
Our Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys are here to investigate and build a solid case for everything you need to move on with life. Call 404-596-8044 today to schedule a free consultation with one of our medical malpractice attorneys in Atlanta, GA. Not only do we offer free consultations, but we also work on a contingency fee basis, and have 5-star reviews to show for the work we do for our clients.
What Our Med Mal Lawyers Can Do
We Focus on Client Care. Medical malpractice is traumatic for all involved. Our firm puts your needs and your family’s needs above everything else. At Champion, every client is assigned a legal team to keep you informed and involved, including their medical malpractice attorney, paralegal, and often a case manager.
We Handle the Tough Med Mal Cases. Medical malpractice law is complicated and requires a lot of research. We have the experience and resources to investigate medical malpractice to determine what happened and who’s responsible. We find the minor details that other lawyers might miss that could lead to the compensation you deserve.
We Take Care of Everything. Our medical malpractice lawyers will handle every aspect (and there are many) of your case. We’ll deal with your insurance company, file your claim against the doctor or hospital’s insurance, and obtain evidence of malpractice. We can even help with your medical care so you can focus on healing.
We’re Prepared for a Fight. Although most malpractices settle, The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. prepares each case as if it is going to trial. We always try to negotiate for your best interests, but our proven record of success at trial makes sure your claim is always respected. Our founder, attorney Darl Champion, is a skilled trial lawyer with many courtroom victories.
What to Do After Medical Malpractice in Atlanta?
When faced with injuries or harm caused by a possible medical error, it can be hard to know where to turn or what steps to take. At The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C., here are our recommendations if you or a loved one are in an unfortunate situation and suspect medical malpractice.
First, Get Medical Help from Another Party.
Depending on your injuries or resulting condition, you may need corrective surgery, additional treatment, or medicine. Our med mal lawyers can help connect you to trustworthy doctors and the resources you need to address a medical error.
Keep Track of Your Medical Records.
You can request copies of your medical records, test results, scans, and all other information in your patient history. This can help pinpoint where mistakes or negligence occurred. A medical negligence lawyer can help if you have difficulty accessing your records. Also, keep any receipts for your out-of-pocket expenses related to your medical injury to include them in your claim.
Don’t Talk to Insurers or Post on Social Media.
If the doctor’s insurance company or hospital contacts you for a statement or with a release form, don’t answer questions or sign anything without an attorney. Let your lawyer handle any communication and review any proposed offers. Also don’t post about your case on social media. The other side’s attorney will be looking for any evidence that conflicts with your claims. Your photos, comments, or conversations might cast doubts on the severity of your injuries.
Speak to a Lawyer. Call Champion.
If you’re dealing with a medical malpractice injury, we know you’re in pain and going through enough. A team member will answer your questions by phone, email, or text. If needed, we can visit your home or hospital room. We’ll file your malpractice claim and pursue maximum compensation.
What Makes Something Medical Malpractice?
When medical treatments in Atlanta do not go as planned, the outcome can be heartbreaking for patients and their families. However, not all bad outcomes are considered medical negligence. To meet the legal definition of medical malpractice in Georgia, cases must contain the following:
- The duty inherent in the doctor-patient relationship
- A breach of that duty by failing to exercise the requisite degree of skill and care
- The failure caused the plaintiff’s injury
Examples of Medical Malpractice in Atlanta, GA
We trust doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, and other medical professionals to have the knowledge, training, and sound judgment to care for us properly. Unfortunately, the U.S. has a significant medical malpractice problem. Medical mistakes are the country’s third leading cause of death, killing as many as 250,000 people yearly.
Understanding underlying factors that can contribute to medical errors is crucial to spotting medical negligence, treating the harm inflicted, and recovering full compensation through a malpractice claim or lawsuit
Some of the most common medical malpractice cases seen in Metro Atlanta, Fulton County, DeKalb County, and throughout Georgia are:
- Failure to Diagnose: Failure to diagnose can lead to other forms of medical malpractice, such as delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.
- Delayed diagnosis: This occurs when a medical professional fails to diagnose a serious illness, allowing the illness to progress unchecked.
- Misdiagnosis:Misdiagnoses can subject patients to unneeded—and potentially dangerous—treatments, all while the actual injury or illness remains unaddressed.
- Surgical errors:Surgical malpractice can include operating on the wrong patient or body part, performing the wrong procedure, and leaving surgical instruments inside the body.
- Anesthesia errors: Another form of malpractice that can occur during surgery, anesthesia errors happen when anesthesiologists don’t administer the anesthesia correctly, give the wrong dosage, or fail to monitor the patient’s vital signs during surgery.
- Medication mistakes: Medication and prescription errors can occur at the point of care or the pharmacy. Common medication mistakes include giving the wrong medication, administering an incorrect dosage, or failing to keep track of potentially dangerous drug interactions.
- Defective Medical Devices: Defective medical devices are a common cause of medical malpractice injury or death. Some examples include faulty pacemakers or surgical mesh that breaks down in the body.
- Birth Injuries: Childbirth injuries may happen before, during, or right after a baby is born. Doctors might not treat preventable injuries with adequate prenatal care. They might make careless mistakes during delivery may cause irreversible physical and cognitive impairment or even death.
- Laboratory Results: Medical malpractice can occur when a lab incorrectly evaluates, documents, or releases diagnostic tests or bloodwork.
- Radiology Errors: If radiologists fail to identify or misidentify a condition on an x-ray, mammogram, MRI, or CT scan, the patient’s health can significantly worsen.
- Failure to Treat, Monitor, or Warn: Doctors sometimes fail to properly treat, monitor, or warn patients about the risks of surgery, medication, or an invasive procedure.
Typical Medical Malpractice Injuries
When a healthcare professional deviates from accepted standards of medical care, there is a significant risk of injury or harm. The degree of carelessness or negligence a provider exhibits directly impacts the likelihood of severe injuries. Some of the more typically observed injuries related to medical malpractice in Atlanta include:
- Infection or bleeding at the surgical site
- Pulmonary (lung) complications or embolism
- Reaction to or from anesthesia
- Paralysis or loss of bodily function
- Drug interaction or adverse side effect
- Erb’s Palsy for birth injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Wrongful death
How to Prove Medical Malpractice Occurred
Medical professionals have a legal duty of care in Georgia. They are expected to have a certain skill level. If they breach that duty of care or are not operating with the appropriate skills, they are responsible for any resulting injuries. If a doctor’s negligence resulted in you suffering injury or additional damages, you might be entitled to compensation.
The core element of a medical malpractice claim often hinges on proving that the healthcare provider in question deviated from the accepted standard of care. This can require expert testimony from medical professionals in the same field. They can provide opinions on what a competent practitioner would have done in similar circumstances.
An Atlanta medical malpractice attorney with The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. can help you evaluate the situation, collect evidence, document losses, and, most importantly, medical testimony to support your case that a breach of standard care caused you injury or loss. It does not matter if the malpractice was unintentional, happened in the ER or at your primary care doctor’s office – you still deserve compensation from those who hurt you with substandard care.
How to Check a Doctor’s Medical Malpractice History in Georgia
If you're concerned that a medical provider may have a history of negligence, it’s important to do your research. Georgia residents can look up a doctor's license status, disciplinary actions, and malpractice history. Reviewing report information can help you make informed decisions about your care.
We Demand the Max for Medical Injuries
Compensation for Atlanta Medical Malpractice
In any personal injury case, the person, business, or entity that caused you harm is responsible for paying your damages. Medical malpractice cases are no different.
Med mal damages are generally divided into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages have a clear monetary value, such as medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, permanent disfigurement, and diminished capacity to labor.
If you or a loved one suffered because of medical malpractice, The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. wants to hold the guilty parties accountable and secure legally the compensation you’re entitled to legally. Depending on the severity and circumstances involved, you may be entitled to:
- Medical expenses and equipment
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Diminished quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Reputational damage
- Property damages
- Lost income via missed work
- Loss of companionship and love
- Loss of household services
The court may also allow punitive damages in medical malpractice cases if the medical negligence is egregious.
Atlanta Medical Malpractice FAQs
Do you have questions after a medical mistake, injury, or loss? Here are some of the most common questions we discuss with our current and prospective clients.
What if Malpractice Results in a Death?
When medical negligence results in death, the victim’s family may have grounds for a medical malpractice wrongful death claim. The family may be able to receive compensation for:
- Funeral and burial or cremation expenses
- Mental anguish
- Loss of income
- Loss of benefits
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of love, guidance, companionship, and support
- Loss of consortium
- And more
The best way to evaluate your case is to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer in Atlanta. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consult.
Can I Sue if My Treatment Didn’t Work?
Not every treatment plan will work as intended. Medications, surgeries, and other treatments can have side effects and complications. A bad outcome doesn’t mean your doctor was negligent. However, you may want a second opinion about whether your diagnosis and treatment were appropriate.
Do Georgia Med Mal Claims Have Time Limits?
You usually have two years from the date you suffered medical malpractice to file a lawsuit. But there are some exceptions. Talking to a medical malpractice lawyer in Georgia as soon as possible is essential to preserve your rights. The investigation process alone can take months.
Does Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Mean It Will Go to Court?
Not necessarily. After you file a medical malpractice claim, your attorney will work on your behalf. This usually involves an investigation, depositions, and requests for records. We’ll also gather expert opinions about your case and communicate with the liable party. The next step is a trial if the medical provider’s insurance company refuses to negotiate a fair and full settlement.
How Long Do Malpractice Cases Take to Settle?
The timeline to resolve any personal injury claim will vary based on various factors, including the complexity of your case and negotiations. This is particularly true when it comes to complicated medical issues. Some cases settle within months, while others may take longer, especially if litigation is necessary.
Should You Give a Statement to the Insurance Company?
You are not required to give a statement to the medical provider’s insurance company. If they contact you asking for a statement, asking questions, or asking you to sign paperwork or waivers – don’t do it. Talk with an attorney first, and let them handle communications.
What If You’re Offered a Medical Malpractice Settlement?
The insurance company representing the doctor, hospital, or medical professional in question typically wants you to accept less than your case is worth. They often make low-ball offers explicitly designed to make your case go away.
You should consult a lawyer any time before accepting an insurance offer. You could be forgoing compensation you’ll need later or forfeiting your right to file a lawsuit altogether. The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. can review any offer and will fight for full compensation.
What to Do if You Suspect Medical Malpractice?
If you suspect a doctor didn’t treat you properly or caused the death of a loved one, get copies of all your medical records and consult a lawyer. Then, ask another medical provider for a second opinion about your condition and treatment. Once you get the facts, you can better evaluate the situation and your legal options.
Contact Our Atlanta Med Mal Lawyers
If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to medical negligence in Metro Atlanta, we can help. Contact The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. and our Atlanta injury lawyers today at 404-596-8044 by phone, text, or chat. We don't charge upfront fees unless we win.