Medical Malpractice Attorney In Hartford, CT
We rely on doctors and other healthcare providers to do what’s right for our health. Unfortunately, they don’t always live up to this reasonable expectation, and that can lead to injuries. If you’ve been harmed by a doctor’s negligence, a Hartford medical malpractice lawyer can recover your damages and hold the negligent provider accountable for their failings.
Trust Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC
You shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of a medical error alone. Instead, you can hire Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC, to file your claim and get the compensation you need to pay medical bills, make up for lost wages, and cover other expenses. We’ve been in practice for years; during that time, we’ve learned how to leverage medical malpractice laws to get our clients positive results.
Why Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
From 2018 to 2023, there were 2,387 closed medical malpractice claims in Connecticut. Of those, 1,294 were resolved in favor of the plaintiff, meaning that the patient won and obtained compensation. The average payout was $960,232.
Given that only 54% of the medical malpractice claims filed in Connecticut during recent years provided positive results for claimants, it should be clear that you need to hire a medical malpractice lawyer to handle your case. A lawyer can improve your chances of a successful claim by providing valuable legal counsel and representation, both while preparing to defend your claim and in negotiations with insurance companies.
Elements of a Medical Malpractice Claim
As with all claims based on negligence, there are four main elements to a medical malpractice claim. For your claim to be successful, you’ll have to prove the following:
- Standard of care. There is a certain standard of care that all doctors are expected to uphold. It can be defined as the level of care that would be taken by a reasonable person with similar training and experience in similar circumstances.
- Failure to uphold the standard. You’ll have to show that your doctor or another medical practitioner responsible for your care breached their duty to you by failing to uphold the commonly accepted standard of care.
- Causation. This is the hardest element to prove. You’ll need to provide evidence that the doctor’s error led directly to your injuries. You must show how they weren’t caused by preexisting conditions or unavoidable problems.
- Damages. Finally, you’ll have to show that you suffered an actual injury because of the doctor’s malpractice.
If your injury would have occurred in the absence of the doctor’s negligence, it doesn’t matter whether they were meeting the required standard of care. You won’t be able to file a successful medical malpractice claim.
The Role of Medical Records
Medical records and other health information will be essential to your claim. Your doctors are legally obligated under HIPAA to provide you with your records if you sign a release. If you’re filing a wrongful death claim against a provider who caused fatal injury to your loved one, the deceased’s personal representative can get copies of the medical records.
Medical records aren’t just helpful for building your case. They’re important for expert witnesses, who may be needed to prove that your doctor breached their duty to you as a patient and that it was this breach of duty that caused your injuries. An expert witness can review your records. They can then provide testimony regarding the medical error and its impact on your health.
Vicarious Liability
In addition to holding the doctor who committed the medical error accountable, you could also hold the hospital or clinic liable. Local facilities like Hartford Hospital are responsible for the actions of their employees, so you can hold them accountable via vicarious liability. This may increase the worth of your claim.
FAQs
What Are the Odds of Winning a Medical Malpractice Case?
The odds of winning a medical malpractice case vary, depending on the specifics of your claim. If the doctor or other medical practitioner’s liability is clear and you sustained serious injuries, you have a relatively high chance of winning your case. If it’s difficult to prove causation, you’ll have more trouble. You can increase your chances of success by hiring a Hartford medical malpractice attorney to manage your claim.
Is It Worth Filing a Claim for Medical Malpractice?
It is worth filing a claim for medical malpractice if you were seriously injured due to a healthcare provider’s negligence. If you’re uncertain whether your case justifies filing a medical malpractice claim, you should contact a lawyer. An attorney can evaluate the specifics of your case to determine whether you have a valid claim.
What Is the Hardest Element to Prove in a Medical Malpractice Case?
The hardest element to prove in a medical malpractice case is causation. Your lawyer will need to show that the doctor’s negligent behavior led directly to your injuries and that they weren’t caused by any underlying health condition or unavoidable error. This sometimes requires the help of an expert witness.
How Much Do Medical Malpractice Lawyers Cost?
How much medical malpractice lawyers cost varies, depending on the specifics of your case. Most personal injury attorneys charge contingency fees, though, so you don’t have to worry about whether you can afford legal representation. Your lawyer can pay for everything upfront and take a predetermined cut of the settlement if they win your case.
Your Hartford Medical Malpractice Lawyers
If you’re looking for a skilled Hartford medical malpractice lawyer, you can turn to the team here at Williams, Walsh & O’Connor, LLC. We have over 150 years of combined experience. We are happy to utilize the skills we’ve honed over those years in practice to hold negligent practitioners accountable.
You can trust us to handle every aspect of your medical malpractice case; we can investigate what happened to you, collect evidence of the provider’s negligence, negotiate for a fair settlement, and take all the at-fault parties to court to secure all that you deserve. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.
