Top Rated New York Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Legal Representation for Victims of Medical Malpractice & Negligence in New York

If you or a loved one has sustained an injury in New York City because of a failure to diagnose, a failure to provide adequate care, or because of an egregious error, DO NOT hesitate to research your legal options. The top NYC injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, can help you better understand your rights. Call (212) 986-7353 to get started.

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Holding Medical Professionals Liable in NY

The first question on many victims’ minds is, who can be held liable for medical malpractice? Almost every healthcare provider and his or her employer is required by law to provide a reasonable duty of care. Hospitals and nursing homes can face legal claims, as well as doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, and even chiropractors. It is often advisable for victims of malpractice to file multiple claims against every responsible party to ensure that fair compensation is gained for all the injuries suffered.

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Injured patients or surviving family members may pursue a claim or lawsuit against an allegedly negligent medical professional.

Time Limits for New York Medical Malpractice Cases

Civil cases involving personal injuries have a ticking clock with regards to when you can file a case. Preferably, a victim should begin filing a claim as soon as they can, but the court system understands that not every individual has the time and resources to devote to their claim. Statute of limitations provides a set time period during which a victim can begin filing their claim, generally beginning at the date of the injury.

In the state of New York, medical malpractice cases have a statute of limitations of up to two and a half years from the date of the medical error, or the last date of the continuous treatment. Continuous treatment can include corrective surgeries to fix an earlier error or regularly scheduled tests for a specific medical condition. If the healthcare provider was negligent during these continuous procedures, a patient may file a medical malpractice claim two and a half years after the last scheduled appointment, but only for injuries related to the continuous treatment.

Cases involving medical malpractice in the state of New York are unique because of the Discovery Rule. The Discovery Rule modifies the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice case to a period of time after the medical issue was discovered. In cases such as these, the patient may not know that a surgeon or practitioner was negligent until it negatively impacts them, which could be years after a surgery or test.

In 2018, New York updated the medical malpractice statute of limitations with CPLR-214a. Referred to as “Laverne’s Law,” this law changed the Discovery Rule with two key aspects:

1. Foreign Objects: Medical malpractice cases that involve foreign objects have a statute of limitations to within one year AFTER the date of discovery.
2. Cancer: Medical malpractice cases that involve the failure to diagnose cancer or a malignant tumor due to negligent actions or omission have a statute of limitations of up to two and a half years AFTER the date of discovery of the negligent actions or omission. The date of discovery must occur within seven years of the negligent action or omission, or after the last date of continuous treatment.

Filing a medical malpractice claim in New York can be difficult for victims, as they may still need continuous treatment for their condition or injury, and do not have the necessary free time to devote to researching their case. These changes to the statute of limitations ensures that victims of medical malpractice have additional time to properly discuss their cases with an attorney. If you suspect you may be a victim of medical malpractice, you should not hesitate to contact a medical malpractice attorney to review your case.

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Winning a Medical Malpractice Claim

Now that you know who to file a claim against, it is necessary to understand what is required to win a medical malpractice case. In such cases, plaintiffs must prove that:

• They had a doctor / patient relationship with the medical professional.
• The standard of care that they received was outside acceptable behavior for a reasonable health care provider given the circumstances.
• The breach of duty of care resulting in actual harm.

If a jury agrees, or the defendant’s insurance company think it likely that the jury will agree, you can receive fair compensation for your injuries.

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Compensation for Damages in a New York Medical Malpractice Case

Patients injured by malpractice in New York City are entitled to compensation for their resulting medical expenses and future medical expenses related to the breach of care. A successful claim can also result in support for:

• Lost wages, including lost future wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Cost of physical therapy

If the patient died as a result of medical negligence, the victim's family can pursue support for lost wages from the time of injury, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and other related damages. Unlike other states, New York does not have a cap on the amount of damages a victim can receive in a medical malpractice claim, ensuring that you receive the fair compensation for your injuries.

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Common Examples of Medical Malpractice

Here are some of the most common examples of medical malpractice:

• Misdiagnosis - Cases involving misdiagnosis account for a large percentage of medical malpractice complaints. Also known as failure to diagnose, this form of medical malpractice is when a doctor fails to determine the true nature of a medical problem.
• Birth injuries - Injuries to the baby during delivery can include brain damage, broken bones, Erb's palsy, and nerve damage, especially to the brachial plexus. Injuries to a newborn caused by the negligence of medical staff can be one of the most painful things for a family to experience
• Medication errors - These types of mistakes can occur from the initial prescription to the administration of the drug. Common errors include mistakes with dosage.
• Errors during surgery - Several things can go wrong if the staff conducting the surgery is negligent of their duty of care. Common mistakes include anesthesia errors, leaving instruments or objects inside the patient, operating on the wrong side of the body, and surgical fires.
• Delayed medical treatment - Hospitals have a duty to diagnose and treat patients in a timely manner to ensure their conditions do not worsen. Failure to do this can result in prolonged illness, permanent injury, and death.
• Hospital negligence - Hospital negligence includes malpractice by doctors, nurses, medical assistants, and technicians who are staff of the hospital. The hospital itself can be to blame for inadequate staffing, unsatisfactory supervision, or the failure to perform or properly interpret diagnostic tests.
• Wrongful death - When a patient is under the care of medical professionals, undergoing treatment, and dies unexpectedly, questions must be raised about the level of care provided to said patient. If the negligence of medical professionals caused an individual to die prematurely, they could be liable for wrongful death.

Contact a New York Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you believe that you or a loved one was the victim of medical malpractice, request a copy of the medical records and reach out to a NYC medical malpractice lawyer right away. Victims in such cases are entitled to financial support for their suffering, and negligent healthcare providers should be held responsible for any injuries they cause. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical negligence, contact us at (212) 986-7353 for a free and comprehensive case evaluation.

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Additional Information

• The Dangers Of Doctor Fatigue
• Never Go Into a Malpractice Claim Alone
• The Real Cost of MedMal
• New York Statute of Limitations and the Discovery Rule
• Proving Medical Malpractice
• Can Hearing Loss Affect Your Healthcare?