The South Carolina medical industry is responsible for keeping you, your loved ones, and the entire community as safe and healthy as possible. Many talented and passionate healthcare professionals work hard to make a positive difference — but negligence is also shockingly common.
When negligence in health care leads to physical or emotional suffering, it’s important to take action with help from our top-rated Greenville medical malpractice lawyers. The more you know about the scope of the problem, the better you’ll understand the value of seeking legal representation in the aftermath of a negligence-related personal injury incident.
Our medical malpractice lawyers in Greenville, SC are here to guide you through the claims process. We understand how overwhelming pursuing a medical malpractice claim can be. Our strong track record of success is evidence that we take cases like yours seriously and will do everything possible to win for our clients.
We have substantial experience handling medical malpractice claims and negotiating with insurance companies. With the liable parties attempting to get away with paying you less than you deserve, we will ensure you receive fair compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial losses.
Hiring a medical malpractice attorney from Smith Jordan Attorneys at Law will be more cost-effective than you probably thought. We work with medical malpractice victims on contingency agreements. You will not have to pay anything for your services upfront, nor will you need to cover the costs that arise as we pursue your case.
Instead, we cover the costs, such as hiring experts, on your behalf so you do not put your personal finances in jeopardy. Then, when we win your case, the costs, and a previously agreed-upon portion of your award will go toward your attorney’s fees. The best news is, if we do not win your case, you will not have to pay anything for our efforts.
Our Greenville, SC, medical malpractice attorneys will help you navigate the often complex world of medical malpractice claims. There are certain steps you can take to protect yourself and begin building a powerful case against those responsible for the injuries you sustained and the damages you endured:
Make sure to document your injuries caused by medical malpractice. From taking pictures to making notes, to saving the medical bills and records you receive, any documentation will help your case.
You can no longer trust your healthcare provider to provide you with the level of care you deserve. You can ask them for a referral or speak with hospital or doctor’s office administrators to get a formal referral. Unfortunately, your health insurance provider may require a referral before covering the costs of your medical care from an alternative provider.
Request a copy of your medical records from your physician’s office or the hospital where the incident occurred. These medical records should include detailed information about your medical treatment, prognosis, and the extent of your injuries. They can support your healthcare provider’s liability for your injuries and demonstrate to the court the severity of your condition.
As soon as you can, speak with our medical malpractice lawyers in Greenville, SC. While you heal from your injuries, your attorney can work behind the scenes to gather evidence to support your case, negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, ensure we are seeking fair compensation for your damages, and handle every other legal element of your medical malpractice lawsuit.
If you have not already reported the medical mistaken question to your doctor’s office, hospital, or the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, now is the time to do so. Make sure you obtain copies of these reports so they can be included as part of the evidence we present against your negligent or irresponsible healthcare provider.
While you are dealing with the ramifications of your injuries, it is important to handle your new treatment plan, continue attending follow-up appointments, and take your health seriously. The last thing you need is to be accused of sharing responsibility for your damages or worsening condition.
Medical malpractice is a huge problem across the nation and right here in the Greenville area. Research suggests that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States.
The South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) hopes to address this with the Zero Harm program, which acknowledges successes in preventing medical errors. Data compiled by SCHA reveals that, in 2020, individual hospital days free of central line infections and surgical incidents could account for savings of $10.85 million dollars, not to mention far better patient outcomes. Still, the state has a long way to go.
Medical negligence takes many forms. Many of these — such as surgical errors — are immediately identifiable. Others may not become evident until months or years later. The following are among the most common issues that lead to medical malpractice claims.
This occurs when your healthcare provider either diagnoses you with the wrong medical condition or fails to diagnose you with a medical condition. When this happens, you could be subject to inappropriate treatment such as surgical intervention, pharmaceuticals, or other unnecessary procedures.
When your physician fails to diagnose your medical condition in a timely manner, they can be accused of malpractice for delayed diagnosis.
If your local pharmacy does not fill your prescription correctly or the healthcare provider that wrote the prescription did not write your prescription for the appropriate dose, prescription errors could cause substantial injuries or even death.
Anesthesia errors occur when anesthesiologists give them proper dosages, fail to keep patients under anesthesia, or improperly administer anesthesia during surgery.
When healthcare providers fail to treat patients despite patients coming to them for help, they can be sued for malpractice. This frequently occurs when healthcare providers do not take patient concerns seriously.
Hospitals are busy and often overwhelmed with patients. If a healthcare provider prematurely discharges you from the hospital without conducting a thorough exam or providing you with the literature and materials you need to continue treatment or protect yourself if your condition worsens, they may be held accountable.
Surgical malpractice is one of the most common types of medical malpractice. Some examples include leaving surgical tools in body cavities, operating on the wrong patient, operating on the wrong body part, and conducting unnecessary surgeries.
Birth injuries are another common cause of medical malpractice. Some of the most prevalent types of birth injuries include Erb’s palsy, shoulder dystocia, fetal asphyxiation, prolapsed uterus, preeclampsia, cerebral palsy, and cephalohematoma.
Follow-up and aftercare are just as important as the initial treatment for a patient. When nurses and physicians failed to provide this follow-up care, it is tantamount to medical malpractice when their patient suffered severe bodily injury or death.
A variety of South Carolina regulations influence local medical malpractice cases. For example, the state sets a strict statute of limitations, mandating that medical malpractice claims be filed within three years of the date of discovery or the treatment itself for most medical providers, but within only two years for some providers. Claims cannot be filed more than six years after medical negligence takes place.
Local procedural requirements must also be taken into account. The state requires injured patients to submit Notices of Intent to File Suit, which identify specific care providers who may be targeted in medical malpractice lawsuits. Affidavits from expert medical witnesses must also be submitted.
Given these complications, working with a proactive Greenville medical malpractice lawyer is essential. Your attorney can handle the complex aspects of the legal process on your behalf. Additionally, your attorney will work hard to maximize your compensation. In part, these efforts may be shaped by South Carolina’s cap on medical malpractice damages.
Your medical malpractice attorney Greenville SC will ensure your malpractice lawsuit is filed before time runs out. South Carolina law requires medical malpractice claims to be filed within three years of the incident or discovery of the medical mistake for most providers, but within only two years for some providers.
Some of the parties who could share fault for your medical malpractice injuries include:
Your doctor could be sued if they failed to make the right medical diagnosis, offer treatment, or provide follow-up care.
Nurses can be held accountable for prescription drug mistakes, failure to provide follow-up care, or failure to follow physicians’ instructions.
Anesthesiologists can be sued when they make any type of mistake, such as intubation errors or administering too much anesthesia.
Physician assistants can be held accountable the same way doctors can when they misdiagnose patients, provide delayed diagnoses, or make other medical mistakes.
When pharmacists do not fill prescription drugs correctly, provide patients with the wrong dosage, or do not provide patients with the information they need to inform themselves about their prescriptions, they can be held accountable for medical malpractice.
When medical devices cause severe injuries or death, the manufacturers and distributors of these devices could be sued for medical malpractice.
There is no room for error in the lab. When laboratory technicians make mistakes, it can cost patients their lives.
Hospitals are often held accountable for the actions of their physicians and other staff. If a healthcare provider is an independent contractor, it may be more challenging to sue the hospital.
Medical facilities are similar to hospitals and can be held accountable when their staff makes medical mistakes that cost patients emotionally, financially, and physically.
As a victim of medical malpractice, you deserve justice and financial relief. Both can be obtained when you work with the right personal injury lawyer in Greenville, SC. Attorney selection could make all the difference as you seek damages for your injuries.
An ideal resource? The team at Smith Jordan Attorneys at Law. Our medical malpractice attorneys know what it takes to produce a positive outcome — even when handling complex and highly emotional cases. We’re here to ease the burden so you can focus on recovery. Contact us online or call (864) 343-2222 to get started with a free case consultation.
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