Were you or a loved one harmed by a doctor’s mistake in Savannah, GA? If your healthcare provider committed a medical error, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and more. A Savannah medical malpractice lawyer at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers can help you fight for a fair financial recovery. Call us today at (912) 335-1909.
Our attorneys have a 95% success rate in the cases we take on. We’re prepared to put over ten years of experience to work in your case.
Cases involving medical errors can be incredibly difficult to prove. After all, the laws tend to favor doctors and hospitals. Our team can help with any complications you’ll face. To get started, contact our law offices in Savannah, Georgia, for a free consultation.
How Can Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers Help With Your Savannah Medical Malpractice Claim?
It’s no secret that medical negligence cases are complicated. They involve complex legal and medical issues and powerful defendants who will do whatever they can to escape liability.
At Bowen Painter, LLC we have the skills and financial resources to handle every aspect of your case. Our Savannah personal injury attorneys have years of trial experience–and we’ve been recognized as some of the top litigators in the area.
When you choose our law firm to represent you, we will:
- Launch a detailed investigation to find out what happened
- Determine how the care you received fell below the standard of care
- Hire medical experts who can provide the affidavits and testimony required by law
- Locate and subpoena witnesses who can provide more information
- Evaluate your losses
- Reject any lowball settlement deals and negotiate for a fair amount
- Take your case to trial if necessary
When you’re ready to learn more, call our Savannah personal injury lawyers to arrange a free consultation.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
All healthcare providers owe patients a legal duty of care. That includes doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, and even specialists like anesthesiologists and OBGYNs.
Under Georgia law, medical providers must exercise a reasonable degree of care and skill. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for the damage they cause. The medical community itself determines the “degree of care and skill” required. This is known as the “medical standard of care.”
The standard of care varies from case to case, and typically depends on:
- Your medical condition
- Your age, general health, and medical history
- The medical provider’s position and training
In the end, the relevant question is: would a reasonable doctor with the same level of training and expertise have provided the care you received? If the answer is no, you may have a valid claim.
Georgia Medical Malpractice Laws
There are certain rules that can impact your ability to recover damages in a medical malpractice case — including how fault is assigned.
Your doctor can’t blame you for the mistakes they made. However, it’s possible that they’ll try to pin the blame on you in some other way. For example, they could claim you failed to follow instructions, causing your own harm. They might even blame you for failing to give them important information about your health.
Under Georgia law, you lose your right to compensation if your share of fault is 50% or more. If your actions did make your condition worse, but your share of fault is less than 50%, you can still recover some money.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Savannah, GA?
We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t owe any upfront costs. Instead, our fees will be a percentage of the damages we recover for you through a settlement or verdict.
In most cases, contingency fees range between 33% and 40%. We’ll fully explain our fee structure during your case review. That way, you’ll understand exactly what to expect before you decide to hire our team.
We Handle All Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
At Bowen Painter, LLC, we have the experience to handle a wide range of cases, including those involving:
- Anesthesia errors
- Surgical errors
- Medication errors and adverse drug interactions
- Misdiagnosis
- Delayed diagnosis
- Failure to diagnose cancer and other diseases
- Chemotherapy malpractice
- Hospital negligence
- Errors committed by neurologists, cardiologists, oncologists, and other specialists
- Emergency room errors
- Birth injuries and OBGYN negligence
- Radiology errors
- Pharmacy errors
- Mistakes committed by primary physicians
- Administrative errors
While not all mistakes rise to the level of malpractice, it’s important to seek legal advice if you even suspect you are a victim. Because this area of law can be so complicated, many victims understandably don’t know whether they have a valid claim. Our team will review your case and help you understand your legal options.
What Are the Most Common Kinds of Injuries Caused by a Medical Error?
Medical mistakes can have a devastating impact on victims. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Worsened underlying medical problems
- A need for more invasive treatment protocols
- Hospital-acquired infections
- Loss of mobility
- Reduced life expectancy
- Organ damage
- Heart attack
- Internal bleeding
- Blood clots
- Stroke
- Amputations
- Sepsis
- Shock
- Brain damage and cognitive disabilities
- Catastrophic injuries
- The wrongful death of a loved one
Not all medical mistakes can be corrected. Victims who suffer permanent or long-term damage often struggle with severe depression. After all, you thought your doctor’s treatment would help with your condition. Instead, you became worse.
Our team at Bowen Painter, LLC will carefully evaluate both the physical and mental consequences you’re struggling with. Once we have a thorough understanding of your unique situation, we’ll be prepared to advocate for all the compensation you deserve.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Georgia?
You generally have two years to file a lawsuit in Georgia. Typically, the two-year statute of limitations starts on the date the medical error occurred.
Because victims of medical mistakes don’t always realize what’s happened, the statute of limitations is flexible. If you don’t learn about the harm immediately, the clock starts on the date you knew or reasonably should have known that the error occurred.
However, a firm five-year deadline applies regardless of when you learned about your harm.
Medical Malpractice FAQ
How Much Is My Savannah Medical Malpractice Case Worth?
It’s critical to recover the maximum compensation available if you are a victim of medical negligence.
As our lawyers are assessing your case value, we’ll evaluate any factor that can be relevant, including:
- The extent of the harm you have suffered
- The unnecessary trauma you have experienced
- The nature of the medical provider’s mistake
- The additional costs you’ve incurred due to the error
- Whether you’ll make a full recovery or suffer indefinitely
- How the mistake has impacted your income and future earning ability
- How your quality of life has suffered
We’ll work closely with you, your doctors, and your family to understand all the ways this mistake has changed your life.
When To Hire a Savannah Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you were harmed because of a medical provider’s negligence, it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible, especially if you experienced any of the following:
- A serious or unexpected injury after surgery, treatment, or diagnosis
- A missed or delayed diagnosis that worsened your condition
- Medication or anesthesia errors resulting in harm
- Poor follow-up care that caused complications
Cases involving medical malpractice are complex, involving both legal and medical expertise. The sooner you involve an attorney, the better your chances of preserving evidence, protecting your rights, and building a strong case.
What Damages Are Available to Victims of Medical Malpractice in Savannah, Georgia?
Victims of medical mistakes can seek compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.
Those damages may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Nursing assistance
- In-home care
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of companionship
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Savannah medical malpractice attorneys for help identifying and documenting your damages.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
Medical malpractice is a type of negligence. To recover compensation, you must prove:
- You were the defendant’s patient, so you were owed a legal duty of care
- The standard of care that you should have received
- The defendant breached the duty by failing to satisfy the standard of care
- The healthcare provider’s breach directly caused some type of harm
- The damages you suffered
Georgia law requires an expert’s affidavit before victims can proceed with a claim. The expert must be a medical professional who is qualified to testify about the level of care you should have received. The affidavit will also explain how the care you actually received deviated from the medical standard.
Call a Savannah Medical Malpractice Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation
Georgia’s personal injury laws can be difficult to navigate on your own. That’s why it’s critical to have an experienced Savannah medical malpractice attorney in your corner from the start. To learn more about how our team at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers can assist you, please contact us today for a complimentary case review.
