Medical malpractice or negligence is a serious issue in the United States. Medical malpractice occurs when healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and hospitals failed to provide appropriate medical care and support. Misdiagnosis, medication errors, birth injuries, anesthesia errors, and surgical errors are some of the most common causes of medical malpractice.
Facts About Medical Malpractice
To know more about medical negligence, let’s have a look at some of the quick facts.
- Medical malpractice is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Misdiagnosis is the #1 reason to file medical malpractice lawsuits
- Medication errors, medical errors, infections, and post-surgical infections are some of the most prevalent hospital medical negligence causes
- New York, New Jersey, California, and Florida are the U.S. cities which account for more than 50 percent of medical negligence payouts
- 1 out of every 3 patients will be a victim of medical negligence during their hospital stay
- There are more than 100,000 deaths happen in the U.S. each year due to medical errors
- 19,000 medical negligence lawsuits are filed in the United States annually
- Malpractice causes stress for healthcare professionals
- 195,000 patients die as a result of preventable medical errors each year
- 70% of patients who become the victim of medical mistakes are not informed by their doctors
- 40 percent of medical experts had been sued for medical negligence
- The average payout for a medical negligence lawsuit was $309,908 in the last ten years
- There are 15 million cases of medical injuries each year
- More than 40 percent of medical negligence cases are inpatients
- More than 95 percent of medical negligence cases are settled out of court
- Not all medical negligence insurance policies work the same way
- Finding a medical malpractice lawyer or attorney is getting challenging
- The prices of medical negligence insurance are not skyrocketing
- Some malpractice cases occur due to sexual misconduct by a physician
- New York has the highest medical negligence payout in the United States
- North Dakota State has the lowest medical malpractice payouts in the United States
- Among all the medical practitioners, physicians are the highest healthcare professionals to be sued for medical negligence
- Dentist assistants are the lowest healthcare professionals to be sued for medical malpractice
- Medical malpractice cases take time
- It takes months for people to realize that they have been subject to medical malpractice
- Medical malpractice cases lawsuits raise healthcare costs
- The medical malpractice lawsuits with the highest payouts are paralysis, brain damage and other forms of injuries that need ongoing medical treatment
- Most of the medical malpractice cases work on a contingency fee
- Hiring a team of medical malpractice lawyers or attorneys is important to receive the compensation you deserve
If you or your family members were the victims of medical malpractice, consult and hire an experienced lawyer or law firm.
A good medical malpractice lawyer works on a contingent fee basis, meaning that you don’t need to pay anything unless you receive an appropriate settlement.