Longs Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Longs Medical Malpractice Attorney

When you receive healthcare in Longs, SC, you put a lot of trust in your medical providers, including nurses, doctors, and pharmacists. Many of these professionals care for their patients and complete their work with the responsibility it warrants. Unfortunately, not all medical professionals uphold the same duty to their patients, and some may act carelessly or neglectfully. These actions or inactions can result in significant harm to patients and their health.

If you have suffered an injury or illness because a medical provider acted negligently, you could file a medical malpractice claim. Filing a medical malpractice claim can enable you and your family to cover losses caused by your injury, including any lost income or long-term medical costs due to the ailment. Medical malpractice claims are complicated, and the most effective way to navigate them and get the financial compensation you deserve is to work with a Longs medical malpractice attorney.

Axelrod & Associates: Defending You Against Negligent Providers

Malpractice committed by medical professionals can lead to long-term physical and psychological damages for patients. Patients may have an injury or disability that affects the rest of their lives, and malpractice injuries frequently lead to wrongful death. At Axelrod & Associates, we treat medical malpractice claims with the severity and attention to detail they deserve. We believe that it is unacceptable for any patient to suffer because of a healthcare provider’s negligence.

The attorneys with Axelrod & Associates have more than 100 years of experience across different fields of law. We are proud to fight for the rights of those in Longs and the surrounding communities, and we use the resources and experience of our firm to aim for the most beneficial outcome to their claims. When you’ve dealt with medical malpractice, it can be terrifying, and you can feel powerless. We take great care and patience when discussing your case with you. Our team wants to help you fight for the compensation you rightfully deserve.

What Is Medical Malpractice in Longs?

A medical malpractice claim is one of the trickiest and most complicated forms of a personal injury claim. This is partially due to the parties who are being held responsible for their negligence. The claims are also complex because healthcare providers can do harm in spite of performing a high duty of care to their patients. Not all harm done by providers is medical malpractice, and it can be difficult to find evidence of malpractice.

A malpractice claim holds a medical professional responsible for actions that were negligent, careless, reckless, or malicious. All medical professionals have a duty of care to the patients they agree to care for. This standard is determined by the industry standard, which is what a reasonable person with the same level of experience would have done in the professional’s place.

There are several ways a medical professional can act negligently according to this standard. These include, but are not limited to:

• Surgical injuries and errors
• Emergency room malpractice
• Prescription of dangerous or unsafe medical devices
• Early discharge of a patient from the healthcare facility
• Operation on the wrong part of the body or on the wrong patient
• Prescription of unneeded medical procedures or operations
• Prescription of the wrong amount or type of medication
• Delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or failure to diagnose, despite clear signs
• Surgical tools and foreign objects left inside the surgery site
• Failure to inform a patient of alternate treatments
• Failure to inform a patient of the risks of a medical procedure
• Failure to read and utilize a patient’s medical history
• Lack of proper hygiene standards
• Injuries caused during birth and labor because of improper practices
• Failure to order medical tests
• Failure to properly read or consider lab results
• Improperly administered anesthesia

Medical malpractice claims do not apply when a patient is upset with a diagnosis or treatment they received.

Medical Malpractice Lawyer FAQs

Q: How Long Do Most Medical Malpractice Cases Take?

A: The amount of time a malpractice case takes is completely dependent on the specifics of the claim. It may take anywhere from several months to several years. Severe injuries and complex cases are likely to take longer, as it takes time to negotiate for the higher settlement that a patient deserves. Further complications may develop from severe injuries, making more negotiations necessary. The length of time also relies on whether the claim can be resolved through negotiation or must go through litigation.

Q: Can You Sue for Malpractice in South Carolina?

A: Yes, you can sue in South Carolina for medical malpractice. If you suffered an injury, illness, disability, or other condition because of the negligence of a healthcare professional, you can hold them liable for any financial and emotional damages that you suffered. Medical providers who could be held liable include:

• Surgeons
• Physicians
• General practitioners
• Nurses
• Emergency room doctors
• Physical therapists
• Medical technicians
• Mental health professionals
• Pharmacists

A healthcare facility, like the hospital that employed the medical provider, could also be held liable.

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Malpractice in South Carolina?

A: In South Carolina, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date when the act of negligence occurred. If the incident was not immediately known to the patient, the claim can be filed 3 years from the date they knew or should have known about the injury and the provider’s negligence. Even in this situation, a medical malpractice claim can’t be filed after 6 years from the date of the incident. This doesn’t apply to malpractice claims involving an object left in a surgical cavity. The statute for these claims is 2 years from the date of discovery, and there is no limit.

Q: Does South Carolina Have a Medical Malpractice Cap?

A: Yes, South Carolina has a cap on certain damages in a medical malpractice claim. Noneconomic damages include damages like pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and emotional distress. When a malpractice claim is against a single provider or medical institution, the cap for noneconomic damages is $512,773. When a claim is filed against multiple institutions or providers, the sum of noneconomic damages can’t exceed $1,538,319. Economic damages cover financial losses like medical bills, long-term recovery costs, or lost wages. These damages do not have a cap in South Carolina.

Contact Axelrod & Associates

The attorneys at Axelrod & Associates can help evaluate whether you have a malpractice claim, calculate the damages you deserve, and file your claim. Contact our firm today to get the compensation you deserve.