(845) 802-0047Emergency rooms often require more quick-thinking and accuracy than other areas of medical care. Doctors and nurses who work in emergency care settings are required to think on their feet to provide the best level of care to all patients.
When they make a mistake, it can mean the difference between life and death for a patient, a fact that experienced malpractice attorneys know all too well. If you were injured under such circumstances, an Albany ER error lawyer could help you file a legal claim and seek appropriate financial restitution.
How Emergency Room Errors Happen
Emergency room errors can stem from different causes, but they can usually be traced back to the negligence of at least one care provider or the hospital itself. Medical providers in emergency rooms owe a duty of care to the patients they serve, so failing to provide such care may qualify as negligence over which an Albany emergency room error attorney may be able to file suit.
What Are Some Common Types of ER Errors?
Common errors seen in a general emergency room include:
- Patient dumping or the transferring/releasing a patient because of financial reasons
- Misdiagnosing a medical condition
- Mistakes with medication
- Misinterpreting test results
- Ignoring or downplaying symptoms
- Delayed treatment
- Failure to order appropriate tests
- Failure to refer a patient for necessary follow up care
Damages from ER Errors
In a legal sense, the term “damages” refers to various losses a plaintiff suffers due to their injury. An injured patient has the right to seek compensation for their damages stemming from an emergency room error. However, they must be aware that their time to seek compensation is limited.
Is There a Deadline to File Suit?
Under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 214-a, an injured party has a time limit of two years and six months to file a medical malpractice injury claim, whether they do so themselves or hire a knowledgeable ER error lawyer in Albany to file it on their behalf. If a lawsuit is not filed within the allotted time frame, a plaintiff’s chances of recovering damages are extremely slim.
Assuming they file on time, medical malpractice plaintiffs may be able to seek restitution for multiple kinds of damages. Economic damages may include past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, scarring and disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of quality of life, and loss of a bodily function.
Call an Experienced Albany Emergency Room Error Attorney for Help
When the medical professionals you trusted to provide timely and accurate care for you or your loved one make crucial mistakes, the results may cause years of pain and suffering and could even be life-threatening. One careless mistake by a medical professional could change the course of your life forever.
If this happens to you or a loved one, a compassionate Albany ER error lawyer could provide the legal assistance you may need to pursue recovery for your damages. Call an experienced attorney today to set up a consultation.