Medical Malpractice Attorney Serving Pennsylvania
When you or a loved one is sick or injured, you depend upon doctors and hospitals to provide careful and competent treatment. Most of the time, this is what you receive. Sometimes, healthcare providers fail to meet their standards of care. When this happens, patients are subject to serious injuries or even lose their lives.
Kocsis Law Office PC has represented injured patients across northeastern Pennsylvania for years. The firm knows the local hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers in this region, and that familiarity matters when building your case.
Examples of medical malpractice (negligence) cases include death or serious injury from:
- Misdiagnosis (the wrong diagnosis)
- Delayed diagnosis (taking too long to diagnose your ailment)
- Failure to diagnose (missing the problem altogether)
- Surgical error
- Surgical injuries
- Wrong-site surgeries
- Foreign objects left behind after surgery
- Medication error
- Failure to refer to a specialist
- Birth injuries
- Dental malpractice
- Emergency Room errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Birth Trauma
- Failure to treat
- Performing the wrong surgery
- Amputating the wrong limb
- Unnecessary surgery
- Misreading test results
The failure to diagnose cancer, for example, can lead to loss of precious time in the treatment, which can drastically reduce one’s chance of survival from the disease.
Injuries And Losses That Medical Malpractice Can Cause
Medical negligence or malpractice can affect far more than your physical health. It can cause a patient to sustain damages, such as:
- Death
- Serious and permanent injury
- The need for additional operations and procedures
- Additional recovery time
- Additional medical expenses
- Past and future wage loss and loss of benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of your spouse’s services (consortium)
These losses can compound quickly, affecting every part of your life. Kocsis Law Office PC is committed to pursuing full and fair compensation for every client it represents in northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Four Elements Of A Medical Malpractice Claim
Not every poor medical outcome rises to the level of malpractice. To bring a valid claim, a patient must establish four specific legal elements, including:
- Duty of care: Your doctor or provider had a professional obligation to treat you according to an accepted medical standard.
- Breach of duty: The provider failed to meet that standard through a specific action or a failure to act.
- Causation: That breach directly caused your injury or made your condition significantly worse.
- Damages: You suffered real, measurable harm as a result, such as physical injury, financial loss or related emotional distress.
Medical malpractice cases are complex and require not only expertise in the law but also in medicine. It is mandatory in Pennsylvania for plaintiffs to file a Certificate of Merit when filing a lawsuit that requires a hired expert to certify that the defendant deviated from known medical practices that resulted in the plaintiff’s injuries.
Pennsylvania law generally sets a two-year deadline for filing a medical malpractice claim, with certain exceptions. Under the “discovery rule,” the clock may start when you reasonably discovered or should have discovered the injury. Missing this deadline can permanently end your right to seek compensation.
Once medical negligence is established, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and past and future wage loss, among other losses. Kocsis Law Office PC has successfully litigated and settled medical malpractice cases in northeastern Pennsylvania, including obtaining a $1.6 million jury verdict for a victim of medical malpractice and a $1 million recovery for a wrongful death due to malpractice.
What To Do If You Suspect Medical Malpractice
Taking the right steps early can make a significant difference in your case. If you believe a medical provider harmed you, take these steps right away:
- Request your medical records: Obtain all records related to your treatment as soon as possible, as these documents form the foundation of your claim.
- Keep a pain journal: Write down your symptoms, pain levels and how the injury affects your daily life.
- Do not sign insurance waivers: Avoid signing any documents from a hospital, provider or insurer before speaking with an attorney.
- Seek a second opinion: A qualified medical professional can confirm whether your care fell below the accepted standard.
Kocsis Law Office PC is a local firm with deep ties to northeastern Pennsylvania. If you believe you are a victim of malpractice, do not wait. Contact the office in Athens today for a free consultation.
A Local Attorney Who Prioritizes Your Recovery
Attorney Kocsis has experience successfully handling complex medical malpractice claims. Send an email or call Kocsis Law Office PC in Athens at 570-882-4160 for a free consultation at your home or hospital room if necessary to discuss your situation and how an attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.