Can You Sue for Medical Errors in Bergen County?

medical malpractice lawyers bergen county nj

Yes, you can sue for medical errors in Bergen County, New Jersey. Medical errors are a leading cause of injury and death in the United States, and the same is true in Bergen County. If you believe a doctor has injured you, then you should meet with a lawyer for a free consultation.

You might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. These are not the type of cases you should handle alone, so hiring the right medical malpractice lawyer is necessary.

Medical Malpractice in Bergen County

No one keeps statistics on the number of lawsuits that are filed against doctors and hospitals in Bergen County. But with so many hospitals in our county—Hackensack University Medical Center, Holy Name Medical Center, Pascack Valley Medical Group, Valley Hospital—the odds are high that we see many complaints filed each year. There are also countless doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals in our neighborhoods who could negligently injure patients.

Some medical malpractice cases that have made the news in Bergen County include:

  • A wrongful death lawsuit filed against Hackensack University Medical Center after a patient died while donating bone marrow;
  • A former Bergen County prosecutor who sued his urologist for failing to diagnose an illness; and
  • An eye surgeon in Bergen County who was sued by 16 patients, with the insurance company paying out over $15 million in claims.

These are only some of the cases filed in Bergen County. Others never make the news.

Types of Medical Malpractice Claims

As medical malpractice lawyers in Bergen County, New Jersey, we have met with many patients who have been injured by the following:

  • Misdiagnosis. A doctor might completely miss a diagnosis and tell patients that they are fine. Other doctors could make a wrong diagnosis, which delays proper treatment. Either way, a patient can become sicker or even die.
  • Surgical errors. A surgeon could puncture a healthy organ or cause excessive bleeding. A surgeon might also leave an implement in a patient, like a sponge.
  • Birth injuries. Mother and child can both be injured if a doctor is careless and fails to monitor vital signs. Some doctors have sent mothers home even when they have sky high blood pressure or show signs of internal bleeding.
  • Prescription drug errors. A doctor might prescribe the wrong drug or the right drug at the wrong dose. Patients can also be injured when drugs interact negatively with allergies or other drugs the patient is taking.
  • Failure to follow up with a patient. A doctor should follow up with a patient and respond to any complaints. Negligent doctors, however, either fail to follow up or discount a patient’s complaints and discharge them without investigating further.

These are only some of the more common errors that medical professionals can make. If you believe you have been injured, contact us. One of our medical malpractice lawyers n Bergen County, NJ will review the facts of your case.

Get a Free Medical Malpractice Case Review

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How to Establish Medical Negligence

In any medical malpractice case, it is important to know how to prove that medical negligence occurred. For most cases, you need to prove that:

  • The physician was treating you. As long as the doctor was treating you, this is somewhat simple to prove.
  • The physician was negligent in their method of treatment. You must prove the doctor deviated from acceptable practices.
  • The malpractice committed by your physician caused injury. The cause of your injuries must be due to the negligence of your doctor.
  • You have documented damages. This includes pain & suffering, reimbursement for medical expenses, and lost wages due to injury.

There are several ways you can prove that medical negligence led to an injury. In many cases, you can hire a medical expert to help prove that the defendant deviated from acceptable practices. Our medical malpractice lawyers in Bergen County, NJ can help document your damages, identify the injuries you sustained, and retain an expert medical witness.

Damages for Medical Malpractice Cases

Damages refer to the compensation you may be awarded in a medical malpractice case. There are several kinds of damages available.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are the most common in medical malpractice cases. They may include:

  • Medical bills,
  • Rehabilitation expenses, and
  • Lost wages.

Your medical malpractice attorney can help you calculate the amount of compensatory damages for your case.

Non-Economic Damages

As the name insinuates, non-economic damages are not as easily calculated or proven. These kinds of damages can include:

  • Pain and suffering;
  • Loss of enjoyment; and
  • Loss of consortium.

As with compensatory damages, your medical malpractice attorney can efficiently calculate the appropriate amount of non-economic damages for your case.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not available in every medical malpractice case. These types of damages are only reserved for cases where the medical provider was aware of their dangerous and negligent behavior. Punitive damages serve as punishment for the healthcare provider’s recklessness.

Statute of Limitations on New Jersey Medical Malpractice Cases

In New Jersey, like most states, there is a statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases. A statute of limitations puts a time limit on how long you have to file a lawsuit. 

In New Jersey, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the healthcare provider’s negligence. In some cases, injury from a doctor’s malpractice will not be evident right away. In these situations, the two-year statute of limitations begins on the date you should be reasonably aware of the injury.

Once a statute of limitations has run, there is little a lawyer can do. It is imperative you contact a New Jersey medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case.

Exceptions to New Jersey’s Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Cases

In special circumstances, the New Jersey statute of limitations will be extended past two years. 

The two exceptions for New Jersey’s medical malpractice statute of limitations are:

  • Medical malpractice cases involving children. If a medical malpractice case involves a child, the two-year timeclock does not begin to run until the date of the child’s 18th birthday, unless the injury occurred at birth.
  • Medical malpractice cases involving birth injuries. If a child suffers an injury at birth, the statute of limitations is extended to their 13th birthday.

Injuries to children are not always apparent, giving rise to the statute of limitations extension. It is best to discuss your particular case with your personal injury attorney for guidance.

Speak with One of Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Bergen County, NJ

O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, LLC, is a leading medical malpractice law firm in our area. We have helped countless patients, and we believe in helping others access the courts.

In fact, our medical malpractice lawyers in Bergen County, NJ obtain some of the largest medical malpractice verdicts and settlements in the state of New Jersey. 

We handle every case with the utmost care and seek to help those who suffer catastrophic, often heartbreaking injuries. If the negligence of a medical professional ever affects you or a loved one’s ability to live a normal, healthy life, give us a call at 900-928-9200 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.

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