A person who is injured or sick has the right to expect a certain standard of care when he or she is being treated in a medical facility in the State of California. Although in most cases, the medical staff will act is a professional and careful manner, there are medical professionals who will fail through negligence. In a hospital setting, negligence can be detrimental not only to a person’s health but to his or her life as well.
If you have been injured in a hospital setting because of negligence, you should know that you have the legal right to file a personal injury claim. The State of California will allow only a small window of time for you bring forth a claim against the negligence hospital. Consult a professional attorney who can help you build a strong case, which could help you obtain financial compensation for the injuries resulting from the negligence. This article will highlight a few of the most essential factors you should consider when filing for a medical malpractice claim in California.
Time Sensitive Claims
All personal injury claims in the State of California are subject to the state’s statute of limitations and this includes medical malpractice lawsuits. Injured victims seeking to file a claim have one year from the time they knew or should have otherwise known about the injury to bring forth a case for medical negligence. In other specific cases, the injured victim could have up to three years to file a lawsuit.
The Importance of Acting Quickly
When the suspicion for medical negligence has transpired, it is crucial for injured victims to seek the help of an attorney as soon as possible. When obtaining legal support shortly after an incident, a skilled attorney will be able to ensure that all claims are submitted in a timely manner. Furthermore, an experienced attorney will act swiftly to collect vital evidence that could greatly support the case.
Proving Medical Malpractice
There are numerous factors that a claimant will need to demonstrate in order to hold a hospital responsible for his or her damages. To begin, the victim will need to demonstrate that there was an established relationship between the negligent medical practitioner and his or herself. When a relationship between the two has been established, this will indicate that the hospital has a reasonable duty of care to the victim.
Other important elements involve the following:
- The medical staff strayed from the standard of care,
- The deviation was the resulting cause of the victim’s injury(s), and
- The injury(s) lead to the damages the victim is seeking.
Hospital Negligence Demands Skilled Legal Support
Attempting to prove that a hospital was negligent in their duty of care is a complex legal matter. A victim seeking restitution will have to understand current laws that could affect the elements needed to bring forth a claim. Those seeking restitution will also need a clear indication of the deadlines for filing a personal injury claim against a healthcare provider.
The attorneys at SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation have the necessary expertise to file fortified cases against hospitals for negligence. They are devoted to seeking justice for their clients after they have sustained damages due to carelessness.