(845) 303-1000In both a scientific and organizational sense, chiropractors operate on a different spectrum from most modern medical practitioners, largely because healthcare professionals hold substantially mixed opinions about the efficacy and consistency of chiropractic treatment. That said, courts have established precedent for treating chiropractors as primary care physicians under certain circumstances—most notably when they cause serious physical harm to a patient through reckless or unprofessional behavior.
If you or a loved one is dealing with a severe injury that you believe stems from a chiropractor’s misconduct, you should reach out to a Schenectady chiropractic malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Our team focuses exclusively on medical malpractice litigation, and our attorneys could provide the tailored guidance you need to pursue appropriate restitution.
What Standard of Care Do Chiropractors Owe to Patients?
One important point about chiropractic malpractice claims is that chiropractors do not follow the same legal standard of care as licensed medical doctors. They must act reasonably and professionally in line with what another equally qualified chiropractor would do under the same circumstances. Because the field of chiropractic is generally considered alternative medicine rather than a regulated branch of medical science, the standard often proves highly subjective.
Most instances of chiropractic malpractice lead to relatively minor injuries. These injuries may be painful and disruptive, but they are not always severe enough to justify civil litigation. If you sustained an injury that reduces your ability to work for several months or causes permanent disability, our Schenectady chiropractic injury attorneys could help you pursue a claim.
Recovering Fairly Within the Filing Time Limits
If you have legal standing to file suit against a chiropractor over harm they caused you through malpractice, you can hold that chiropractor financially liable for every economic and non-economic form of harm that their misconduct will cause you to experience. This can include both past and future compensable damages relative to when your case formally begins, and can specifically include things like:
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Lost work income, benefits, and/or working capacity
- Emergency medical bills and expected costs of long-term care
- Disability-related expenses for wheelchairs, home modifications
However, you will almost certainly need to file suit within 30 months—two and a half years—of the negligent act that caused your injury, since the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims in Schenectady sets that deadline. You may also need to show merit for your chiropractic malpractice claim by getting formal support from at least one qualified medical expert, which one of our lawyers can help you obtain.
Seek Help from a Schenectady Chiropractic Malpractice Attorney Today
Although chiropractic treatment remains controversial, many people report meaningful relief from chronic pain through this care. Chiropractors, therefore, have a legal duty to act in their patients’ best interests at all times. If a chiropractor failed to meet the standard of care and caused you serious injury, you could file a civil lawsuit against them just as you would against a negligent surgeon or primary care physician.
A Schenectady chiropractic malpractice lawyer from our firm can provide irreplaceable assistance with constructing, filing, and effectively pursuing this unique type of malpractice case. Call today for a consultation.