Imagine being in a situation where you’re expected to trust your physician, only to find out they did something that jeopardized your health. What do you do? What can you do? Unfortunately, not many people truly understand their rights.
After all, patients don’t really expect that their doctors will be negligent, so they don’t think about potential legal action and what rights they do have if malpractice occurs. However, there are some very important things to know.
The Right to Take Legal Action
Patients who are harmed as a result of medical malpractice, have the right to take legal action and pursue a lawsuit against the party—or parties—responsible. This means working with an attorney and seeking either settlement or trial to prove that the medical professional or facility was negligent.
Legal action brings about peace of mind in holding the negligent parties accountable for their actions. It brings the act of negligence into the public spotlight, putting pressure on the medical professional or facility to change their processes and ensure patient safety.
The Right to Pursue Compensation
One of the biggest parts of a medical malpractice lawsuit is the pursuit of compensation for the patient who sustained an injury. You have the right to seek financial support to cover damages associated with the malpractice, including extended hospital bills—past and future—lost income, and more.
In the state of Ohio, there are caps regarding the amount a person can recover in non-economic damages. There are different levels of caps that apply based on the injuries sustained from the malpractice. It is important to speak with an attorney to determine if your case falls under a specific cap and what type of compensation you can realistically expect.
At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we can help you not only understand your rights, but also protect them to the best of our abilities. You may endure a number of hardships, but you can trust that we’ll advocate on behalf of your best interests.
With our Cleveland medical malpractice attorneys on your side, you can feel at ease and go through the process with confidence, knowing that more than 80 years of experience is on your side every step of the way.
