Representing Those Affected by Substandard ER Care
If you sought treatment in an emergency room but did not receive an acceptable standard of care from the ER doctors, nurses, or staff, you could have amedical malpracticeclaim. Emergency room personnel are held to a high standard of care; they must appropriately triage patients, provide timely treatment, and follow all applicable guidelines when it comes to diagnosing conditions and providing emergency, life-saving treatment. Any deviation from this standard of care could constitute negligence.
At Brown & Barron, we represent individuals who have suffered due to substandard medical care in emergency rooms throughout Maryland. Our Annapolis ER error attorneys have successfully represented clients in all types of claims against all types of defendants, including emergency room doctors and staff, hospitals, and others.
To learn more, including how our team can assist you with your case, call 410-547-0202 or contact us online. Your initial consultation is free, and there are no attorney fees unless we recover a settlement or verdict for you.
Common Emergency Room Errors
Just like any other medical provider in any other setting, emergency room doctors and staff can make serious mistakes that greatly impact the lives of patients and their loved ones.
Some of the most common emergency room errors include:
- Diagnostic errors, such as failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis, and delayed diagnosis
- Improper triage (prioritization of patients according to injury or illness)
- Delayed treatment and failure to treat ER patients
- Medication mistakes, including overdose or administering the wrong medication
- Failure to conduct or order necessary tests, including diagnostic tests
- Failure to recognize symptoms, including symptoms of a heart attack or stroke
- Improper performance of a medical procedure
- Excessive, unnecessary, and improper blood transfusions
- Failure to consider a patient’s medical history, including allergies
- Early or improper discharge and poor aftercare
These and other emergency room errors can have devastating consequences, leading tocatastrophic injury, worsened health conditions, and evendeath. Victims and their families deserve justice, which is why Brown & Barron stands up for the rights of patients and their loved ones. Reach out to our firm today to set up a complimentary consultation.
Proving Liability in Your ER Error Case
Generally speaking, emergency rooms are more chaotic environments than most other medical settings. As a result, ER doctors, nurses, and staff are held to a different standard of care than other medical providers.
The law recognizes that emergency room personnel must make fast decisions when it comes to prioritizing patients, diagnosing injuries and medical conditions, and providing the appropriate treatment. However, this does not mean that emergency room medical providers cannot be held liable when they make mistakes.
To prove that an emergency room or ER staff member is liable for your damages, you must prove each of the following elements:
- Duty of Care: You must first establish that the defendant owed you a duty of care, meaning they had a responsibility to provide you with appropriate and adequate treatment. In most cases, proving the existence of a provider-patient relationship is sufficient in establishing the duty of care owed to you by the defendant.
- Breach: You must also prove that the defendant breached the duty of care. Often, this involves proving how the provider failed to uphold the standard of reasonable care, typically by either doing something another qualified provider would not have or failing to do something another qualified provider would have done in the same or similar circumstances.
- Injury: To have a case, you must prove that you were injured and that your injury led to measurable damages, or losses, for which you can be compensated. If you sought treatment at an emergency room, did not receive acceptable care from the medical staff, but were not injured, you likely do not have a case.
- Causation: Causation is the connection between the defendant’s negligent conduct or error and your injury. To prove causation, you must prove that the defendant’s failure to uphold the standard of reasonable care was the direct or proximate cause of your injury and, therefore, your resulting damages.
At Brown & Barron, we work with highly respected medical professionals and other specialists who provide expert testimony for our clients. Our attorneys have access to invaluable resources and utilize cutting-edge technology to build cases and present powerful evidence.
Types of Damages in Emergency Room Error Cases
“Damages” is a legal term that refers to the collective economic and non-economic losses a person endures as a result of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct. In medical malpractice cases, plaintiffs are often able to seek specific types of damages.
Depending on the details of your case, you may be entitled to compensation for the following types of damages in your ER error case:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Medications
- Future care costs
- Lost income/wages
- Loss of earning ability
- Loss of future earnings
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Transportation costs
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
At Brown & Barron, we help our clients fight for every penny they are owed. We are passionate about protecting patients’ rights, as well as holding negligent medical providers accountable for the harm they cause. If you were injured or developed a worsened medical condition due to ER negligence, reach out to our Annapolis emergency room error attorneys today for the legal help you need.
You can count on Brown & Barron to be there when you need us most.
Call our office at 410-547-0202 or contact us online to schedule a complimentary case review with one of our Annapolis emergency room error lawyers.
WHY HIRE THE ANNAPOLIS ER ERROR ATTORNEYS AT BROWN & BARRON?
Navigating the legal system can be incredibly challenging, particularly when you are already dealing with the life-changing aftermath of an emergency room error. When you trust your recovery to the team at Brown & Barron, you can focus on healing while we handle the legal aspects of your case.
As your legal team, we will take care of every detail, from investigating your claim to gathering medical records and other important evidence to meeting all applicable deadlines and communicating with the defendant and their insurance company. Our team is here to provide the personalized guidance you need as you navigate this difficult time in your life. We prioritize client communication and work hard to develop meaningful relationships with the people we serve.