Surgeries can be life-saving and solve serious medical problems, but there are also inherent risks with every procedure. Unfortunately, surgical errors are one of those risks. While surgeons are expected to provide a high-quality, professional standard of care, this does not always occur. When it doesn't, the consequences to patients can be dire.
If you or someone you love was harmed by a surgeon's mistake, you owe it to yourself to pursue justice. The Birmingham medical malpractice lawyers at Singleton Schreiber can help.
For decades, members of our legal team have fought for victims harmed by the care providers who were supposed to help them. We have recovered millions and developed the strong legal skills necessary to represent our clients effectively in even complex cases.
If you or someone you love was the victim of a medical mistake, our Birmingham surgical errors lawyers can advocate for you. Give us a call today to schedule your free consultation and learn how our Birmingham injury attorneys can help.
Types Of Surgical Errors
There are, unfortunately, many mistakes a surgeon could make while performing a procedure that could cause you serious harm. Some of the most common types of surgical errors include:
- Operating on the wrong patient
- Operating on the wrong part of the body
- Performing surgery without informed consent
- Botched procedure/mistakes during surgery
- Anesthesia errors
- Unsanitary equipment
- Improper aftercare
- Instruments left inside the body
In many cases, these errors can and should have been prevented if your surgeon were reasonably competent. In fact, some of these mistakes, including operating on the wrong patient or the wrong body part, or leaving a surgical instrument inside a patient, are considered Never Events since they should never happen.
When one of these serious surgical errors is made, it creates a presumption that the doctor was negligent and should be held liable for malpractice. That is because no reasonably competent medical professional would make these types of mistakes.
Consequences Of Surgical Errors
Surgical errors can cause devastating damage to victims who are harmed as a result of medical negligence. Some of the most common consequences of surgical mistakes include:
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Loss of a healthy body part
- Nerve damage
- Disfigurement
You could suffer temporary or permanent disability as a result of the mistakes your surgeon made. Tragically, in some cases, the surgeon's errors could even lead to a wrongful death, leaving devastated loved ones behind.
Who Can Be Held Liable For Surgical Errors?
Surgeons are not expected to be perfect, but they are expected to provide a professional level of care. If your surgeon falls short of doing so, they can be held responsible for damages.
The key question is whether a reasonably competent medical professional with the same training would have made the same error. If the answer is no and your surgeon was unreasonably careless compared to their peers, then they can be held responsible.
It may not just be the surgeon, though. You could also potentially take legal action against:
- An anesthesiologist who makes mistakes
- A hospital that exposed you to infection
- Any care facility that didn't have the right standards in place to protect your health during and after your procedure.
Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers can also be vicariously liable for losses caused by negligent staff. This means that if your doctor was negligent while working for the hospital or clinic, this is the same thing as the facility itself being negligent. Under the law, the care facility is ultimately responsible for damages, which is important as they may have much more insurance.
Singleton Schreiber will help you to identify all of the potential defendants who you can demonstrate played a role in causing your injuries, so you can take legal action against the right parties.
What Does A Birmingham Surgical Errors Lawyer Do For Clients?
When you are coping with the aftermath of a surgical error, the last thing you need to do is to try to navigate the legal system on your own and make sure your claim is compelling and is brought within the statute of limitations.
The good news is, you don't have to handle these tasks yourself. A Birmingham surgical errors lawyer at Singleton Schreiber can help in myriad ways in the aftermath of your botched surgery, including:
- Helping you to gather medical records, witness testimony, and other relevant information to prove your claim.
- Connecting you with experts who can testify as to the technicalities of the mistakes that your care provider made.
- Working with you to prove the extent of the damage you endured due to the surgical malpractice.
- Assisting you in identifying all parties who could be held liable for the losses you experienced.
- Negotiating a settlement with medical malpractice insurance companies representing the defendant, if a fair settlement is possible.
- Litigating your case in court to fight for full and fair compensation.
We are able to successfully settle many surgical error claims outside of court because of our strong reputation as tough negotiators who don't give up the fight for our clients. We also have the experience necessary to make compelling claims in court and are not afraid to go to trial when necessary to get you the money you deserve.
Contact A Birmingham Surgical Errors Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love was harmed by a surgeon who failed in fulfilling their professional obligations, you should take legal action. You may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-financial losses, and the right Birmingham surgical errors lawyer can help you to navigate the legal system to maximize the chances of a successful claim.
Singleton Schreiber has worked to represent clients harmed by medical malpractice for decades, and our long history of successful verdicts and settlements shows we know the law well. Our history of satisfied clients also demonstrates that we offer the caring, compassionate support you deserve during one of the most challenging times in your life.
Our firm offers free consultations, and we do not charge legal fees unless we win. Give us a call today to schedule a case valuation and to find out all that we can do to help you in the aftermath of your surgical injuries.
