According to the National Practitioner Data Bank’s Medical Malpractice Report, approximately $4 billion in total damages were earned by plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases in 2018. Settlements accounted for 96.5% of payouts, and court verdicts accounted for only 3.5%.
A competent medical malpractice attorney’s legal counsel is necessary to support a medical malpractice claim and establish the negligence’s circumstances. Keep in mind that the question of whether the doctor departed from the accepted standard of care and, if so, whether the patient’s injuries were caused by that deviation form the basis of all malpractice claims.
To understand more about your case and to determine the potential benefits of a settlement, speak with expert personal injury attorneys in Philadelphia, PA.
Medical Malpractice Claims: How Much Do They Cost?
If you think your claim is legitimate, you undoubtedly want to know how much it could be worth.
Damages are often categorised by attorneys as follows:
- Damages that are based on quantifiable financial losses are referred to as economic or special damages.
- Non-economic, general, or pain and suffering losses that are not easily calculable or dependent on bills or expenses
Patients may also claim punitive damages if a doctor’s actions were malicious or purposeful or if the doctor knew or should have known that their conduct would harm them.
You must demonstrate the real malpractice that took place for your claim to be successful in receiving damages, such that:
- The doctor’s carelessness brought on your injuries.
- There is no alternative way to compensate the victims of the misconduct for their losses.
- Before the malpractice episode, there was no evidence of your injuries.
How to Calculate Your Special Damages
These consist of:
- lost income
- Medical costs
- loss of ability to earn
- Additional measurable financial losses
Your medical expenses cover every bill you’ve paid as a result of your injuries and any costs you might expect to pay in the future if you need additional medical care. The cost of future medical care is typically considered in negligence cases.
The income you have lost or will lose due to the malpractice incident that caused your injuries is known as lost income and loss of earning ability. Included are any employment perks you lost, such as paid time off, health coverage, pension contributions, etc. It is simple to determine your past lost pay since you simply add up all the earnings and benefits you missed due to your injury.