Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New York and the Bronx
Before performing a procedure or writing a prescription, medical facilities have processes that are designed to help their staff members avoid making mistakes that can jeopardize your health. Medical malpractice and other medical errors typically occur when practitioners fail to take these preventative steps. If you or a loved one has been harmed by the negligence of a doctor or another medical professional, the attorneys at Leav & Steinberg LLP can assess your case and help you file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
New York Medical Malpractice Lawyers
When medical professionals fail to provide proper care, this can result in horrible consequences for the patient. Whether done intentionally or through neglect, the health care provider is liable for their actions. Some of the most common medical malpractice cases include the following:
Surgical Errors
About 21% of all medical malpractice claims are related to surgical errors, and studies show that close to 4,000 surgical errors happen every year. Before proceeding with a surgical procedure, patients should be asked to identify themselves several times to different staff members before the surgery begins.
LASIK
Typically, LASIK is considered a safe procedure, with studies showing a 90% satisfaction rate among patients. If a LASIK patient has a corneal defect, this can create complications. Issues with LASIK aren’t usually the result of an improperly performed procedure but rather the failure to diagnoses certain pre-existing conditions. Doctors should screen for potential issues before performing LASIK.
Brain Damage
The most common cause for this type of brain injury is a lack of oxygen to the brain, which can lead to brain damage, falling into a coma, or death. Patients who have recently suffered a brain injury are often most likely to experience another one if adequate care is not administered.
Improper Labor and Delivery Procedures
Two of the most common errors during childbirth are failing to control the mother’s blood loss and failing to ensure that the baby’s oxygen intake is at the proper levels during and after delivery. Damages in a lawsuit can include injuries to the mother and baby, as well as a failure to diagnose a fetus (before birth) with lifelong birth defects that would have led the parents to end the pregnancy (called wrongful birth). Failure to prevent pregnancy because of an improperly administered vasectomy or abortion could also be included in a viable claim.
Erb’s Palsy and Cerebral Palsy
During delivery, there can be several complications that require a medical professional to help the baby leave the womb. Erb’s palsy is often caused when a medical practitioner places too much pressure on a newborn’s head, shoulders, or neck. This condition can have a lifelong impact on the baby’s ability to use their arms.
About 90% of cerebral palsy cases are not related to mistakes made by medical professionals. However, a failure to notice the baby is having problems breathing, improper use of equipment during delivery, and a failure to diagnose an infection could indicate a significant breach of duty of care.
Cancer Misdiagnosis
It may not be apparent from a patient’s symptoms that they have cancer, but considering the possibility is a best practice for patients who have prolonged, acute issues. Catching cancer early greatly improves a patient’s likelihood of recovering, so a timely diagnosis is critical.
Failure to Diagnose a Medical Condition
Much like cancer, many diseases are much easier to treat if a medical professional catches them early. This relates to the failure to recognize the established symptoms of a disease by not diagnosing an illness, misdiagnosing a patient, or not noticing a complication that can aggravate an existing symptom.
If you have recently become a victim of medical negligence, we can help determine if you are eligible to recover compensation. These funds can help to cover everything from your medical expenses to lost earnings. If necessary, we will solicit the help of experts such as analysts and economists who can help us to accurately calculate the associated costs.
Do You Have a Case?
To determine if you have a case, we perform a detailed analysis of your evidence. We will also determine which rights were violated. There are usually strict deadlines in medical malpractice cases that limit the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. Therefore, you must make sure you contact us as soon as possible to ensure you are not outside of the statute of limitations. If so, your case could be seen as invalid.
Why Choose Leav & Steinberg for Your Medical Malpractice Case?
Our firm has decades of experience and a highly attentive team of attorneys and support staff. As a multilingual staff, speaking English, Spanish, Albanian, Polish, and Portuguese, we are able to assist a wide range of people. We believe in having open lines of communication with our clients. We provide our direct cell phone numbers and will even travel to meet you at your home if necessary.
Our Experience
We have helped several clients receive million-dollar settlements in medical malpractice cases. In one case, a mother was improperly given anesthesia during her delivery. This resulted in severe brain injuries. We helped her receive upwards of $7 million. During another case, a laser eye surgery patient was given an improper prescription, which resulted in permanent cornea damage. This client also received over a million dollars in damages.
We are committed to serving clients throughout New York City, including Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan, and Queens. Contact Leav & Steinberg today to request your free legal consultation.
