Cincinnati Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Throughout your lifetime, you will place your trust in a number of healthcare and medical professionals. Whether you are seeking a routine checkup in Oakley or you’re going into one of the area hospitals for preventative surgery, you expect to be met with effective and safe treatment and care. However, no one is perfect, and mistakes happen. When medical mistakes are caused by negligence, you deserve compensation, and a Cincinnati medical malpractice lawyer can help.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we know how intimidating it can feel going up against a local doctor, specialist, or hospital system. That is why we are here to help you seek justice. We trust our medical professionals to give us the care needed to move forward with our lives. When that trust is betrayed, you deserve legal support and representation that can take the necessary action to secure justice on your behalf.

There are eight main hospitals in the Cincinnati area: Mercy Health–Anderson Hospital, Bethesda North Hospital, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Mercy Health–West Hospital, The Christ Hospital, The Jewish Hospital–Mercy Health, and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Our team has experience facing each and every system in the area and can effectively advocate for you in a courtroom.

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber: Recovering Billions on Behalf of Clients

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, our attorneys have a preeminent reputation in the legal field of medical malpractice. Many of our verdicts and settlements have been among the largest ever awarded in Ohio. We know how vital understanding medical evidence is to cases of malpractice, which is why we employ two registered nurses on our staff. We also maintain a current medical library, with access to up-to-date journals and publications, giving us an advantage in court.

The team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber fully comprehends the complexities of all law, medicine, medical techniques, timelines, products, and appropriate standards of care involved in the medical field. Recently, we have secured $8.5 million for a medical malpractice case that resulted in the victim suffering quadriplegia, $8.2 million for a case that resulted in permanent paraplegia, and $5.1 million for a failure-to-diagnose case. *

With 80 years of experience behind us, our team has what it takes to successfully try a medical malpractice case. We have been honored with numerous awards and distinctions, such as inclusion in the 2016 and 2023 lists of Best Lawyers® in America and the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. ** We are prepared to bring this level of legal excellence to every case that comes our way. If you are looking to refer a case to our team, we’re here to help.

What Is Medical Malpractice in Cincinnati?

In Cincinnati, medical malpractice occurs when a hospital system, doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional or provider causes a patient to suffer injury through an act of negligence, recklessness, intentional wrongdoing, or omission.

To have a valid medical malpractice case, there are four legal elements that must be proven. An attorney from Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is here to listen to your side of the story and collect the evidence needed to prove the following elements:

• Duty of care. The healthcare professional or hospital system owed you, the plaintiff, a very specific duty of care.
• Breach of duty. Through an act of negligence, recklessness, intentional wrongdoing, or omission, that standard of care was not met as it is expected to be in the liable party’s field.
• Causation. The injury suffered by you, the plaintiff, was directly caused by the actions of the negligent party or the breach of duty.
• Damages. This injury then led you to suffer specific damages, such as medical bills, lost income and wages, and pain and suffering.

Hire Legal Support

If you or a loved one has suffered due to medical malpractice, it is essential that you hire an experienced attorney as soon as possible. In Ohio, victims generally only have one year to file their claim. If this deadline passes before a claim is filed, your case will likely be dismissed, and you will be unable to recover any form of damages.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we are here to act and act quickly. You can trust us to take up your case and be the legal champion you deserve after suffering a tragic and traumatic medical mistake.

Types of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice claims stem from a variety of mistakes, errors, or acts of negligence that can occur in the healthcare field. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, our attorneys have handled countless cases, including:

• Birth injuries. While many births go as planned or only face minor complications that are easily addressed, there are certain cases where unexpected issues arise and a doctor is not prepared to handle these issues. Doctors, nurses, and other staff can make mistakes that cause harm to both the mother and the baby. In these situations, common injuries can include oxygen deprivation, hemorrhaging, contusions, and even death.
• Misdiagnosis or failure-to-diagnose. Across the United States, nearly 23% of patients experience some form of diagnostic error. This often happens when a healthcare provider fails to listen to their patient or is inexperienced, and either misdiagnoses a patient with the incorrect condition or fails to diagnose the patient at all.

This can cause a patient to be treated in an improper manner or not at all, which could further worsen their actual condition.

• Surgical errors. Whether a surgery is planned or the result of life-saving emergency care, surgical errors are all too common. Common errors can include leaving a medical instrument or device inside the body cavity of a patient, performing a surgery at the wrong site on the body, or performing an unnecessary surgery altogether.
• Improper administration of medication. There is a very strict system in place to make certain medications are properly administered to receiving patients. When any kind of errors are made in this system, mistakes can arise, and the patient could suffer reactions to the medications they are given, take too much of a medication, or receive too little. All of these instances can lead to devastating consequences for the victims.
• Anesthesia errors. According to a recent study, medication errors made during the administration of general anesthesia are as high as 1.12%. When an anesthesiologist makes an error in the administration of anesthesia or does not properly monitor the patient during their procedure, it can result in horrible and even fatal injuries, including brain damage
• Emergency room errors. When we suffer an accidental injury, we place our trust in the many emergency rooms and emergency care providers in the Cincinnati area. Unfortunately, these atmospheres are stressful and can lead to individuals suffering a range of medical malpractice actions. When an individual receives improper care in the ER or is sent home without addressing the issue, it can create additional issues and death.
• Hospital negligence. When a hospital is inadequately staffed, the staff there have received poor training, the environment itself is unclean, or there clearly are not sufficient hygiene protocols in place, it can lead to victims suffering sepsis, injury, and even death.
• Radiology errors. When a medical professional misreads or fails to act on necessary MRIs, CT scans, or X-rays, it can delay a patient’s necessary and possibly life-saving treatment. Additionally, if any of these tests are read incorrectly, it could result in the patient receiving an unnecessary and even dangerous procedure or treatment that does not actually address the present issue.
• Nursing home abuse or negligence. When an elderly loved one is placed into the care of a nursing home or similar facility, we trust the staff and administration of that facility to adequately care for our loved one. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect are all too common in these environments, and individuals can suffer as a result. If your loved one has been abused or neglected at a nursing home, Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can help.
• Defective medical devices. There is a litany of various medical devices used in the hospital or at home to monitor vitals and other functions, especially during procedures done at the hospital. When these devices are not properly maintained, updated, or manufactured, they might offer inaccurate information or malfunction, which could cause the victim to suffer further medical complications or even cause death.

If you or a loved one has suffered any of these forms of medical malpractice, we are here to serve you. Additionally, if you are looking to refer a medical malpractice client to a trial attorney, Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is ready to take on the case. Eight out of every 10 medical malpractice cases go to trial. Let us be your legal champion today.

What to Do After Suffering Medical Malpractice in Ohio

Time is a critical aspect of all personal injury cases, but especially cases involving medical malpractice. Acting fast will prove vital in recovering the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has suffered medical malpractice in Cincinnati, it is important that you take the following steps as soon as possible:

• Contact a medical malpractice lawyer. The very first step you need to take is contacting a trusted medical malpractice attorney who knows how to get results. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we have recovered millions for medical malpractice clients and now can work to do the same for you. We are here to review your case and advise you of all your legal rights and options. Let us offer you the representation and counsel you deserve.
• Do not contact the hospital or doctor’s office. It is important that you do not contact the hospital doctor’s office or any other healthcare provider that might be involved to discuss your claim. This could harm your attorney’s ability to collect medical records, and it could place your claim in jeopardy. Instead, allow your attorney to handle all communications with the involved parties.
• Do not post to social media. You might think that sharing your experience on social media will help protect others from experiencing the same issue or garner the sympathy you need to get through this difficult time. It is important that you stay off social media and do not share updates regarding your claim. This can help protect your legal rights. You should also change all social media accounts to private until the case is complete.

When you work with the attorneys at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we can advise you on the steps you need to take and the actions that are better left avoided. We are here to take your case to trial when the need arises. Do not jeopardize that trial by refusing to follow the steps listed above.

What Injuries Are Common in Cases of Medical Malpractice?

Medical negligence can lead to a slew of injuries and additional complications. Many times, these injuries are more severe than the condition that was originally being addressed. Depending on your injury, recovery times can vary, and you could experience effects that last the rest of your life.

In a four-year period across the United States, there were 250,000 reports of medical malpractice recorded. The most common recorded injuries included:

• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Infections and sepsis, which can be life-threatening
• Childbirth injuries, to mother and infant
• Bedsores
• Nerve damage
• Chronic pain conditions
• Brain damage
• Paralysis
• Permanent disabilities

The Role of Jury Trials in Medical Malpractice Claims

When it comes to jury trials in cases of medical malpractice, the juries are apt to be more sympathetic toward the plight of the doctors or involved medical professionals. This can add a layer of difficulty to any case. Thankfully, Spangenberg Shibley & Liber knows how to navigate these complications.

In a medical malpractice trial, the plaintiff deserves legal representation that can present a compelling and clear argument regarding what went wrong and how the medical professional or hospital system is at fault. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, our mission is to prove that the medical professional in question acted in bad faith, was grossly negligent, or even acted with malicious intent.

A jury trial can feel overwhelming and even intimidating. The attorneys at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber are here to come alongside you and offer you the counsel and support necessary to make you feel more at ease. We have argued on behalf of clients in countless medical malpractice cases. We can do the same for you.

FAQs

Q: What Damages Can I Seek in a Medical Malpractice Claim?

A: In a medical malpractice claim, there are a number of damages you may be able to seek, depending on the circumstances of your injury and its severity. These damages can include the payment of any past and future related medical treatment, the repayment of any lost income or any lost ability to earn an income in the future due to a permanent injury or disability, as well as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress.

Q: Who Can Be Held Liable for Medical Malpractice?

A: Depending on the facts and circumstances of a medical malpractice case, there are several parties who could be held liable. Commonly, potential parties that are held liable include a doctor, a nurse, a dentist, a pharmacist, or the hospital or healthcare facility. In other cases, there are a number of other healthcare professionals who might hold some portion of liability.

Q: What Can Cause Medical Malpractice in Cincinnati?

A: Medical malpractice in Cincinnati is largely the result of negligence, recklessness, or, in some cases, intentional wrongdoing. Some of the most common causes of medical malpractice include fatigue, distraction or inattention, inexperience, lack of communication, lack of compliance with standard duties of care, an insufficiently sterilized environment, faulty medical products or medications, or improperly maintained equipment.

Q: Can I Seek Punitive Damages for Medical Malpractice?

A: Yes, you may be able to seek punitive damages for a case of medical malpractice in Cincinnati under certain circumstances. Punitive damages, while rarely awarded, are often involved in cases where the at-fault party’s actions are deemed grossly negligent or particularly egregious, or if they have intentionally caused you harm. Punitive damages can add a significant amount of value to a claim.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer With Over 80 years of Experience: Spangenberg Shibley & Liber

When you find yourself the victim of medical malpractice, it is easy to lose hope. You have gone looking for compassion and care and have walked away only suffering more harm. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we’re here for you. When you hire a medical malpractice lawyer from our firm, you receive both the care and compassion you deserve, and we stop at nothing to recover the damages and justice you need to move forward with your life.

We are here to protect your rights and seek the full and fair recovery you are entitled to. We have served this area for generations now, securing favorable outcomes in injury claims across the state and the nation. Our verdicts and settlements have reached a total of over $1 billion, and now we are here for you.

Call our offices today or contact us online to schedule a consultation or refer a client’s case to our team. The attorneys at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber are here to serve you.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.

**Awards and recognition are not guarantees of future results. Selection criteria vary by organization.