Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney
When people hear the term medical malpractice, it automatically suggests that something has gone wrong in the practice of medicine. Healthcare professionals are supposed to help us, and for the most part, they do.
Most healthcare professionals are wonderful, compassionate, and caring. But these doctors and other medical staff are human beings, and human beings make mistakes.
But when a health care professional makes a mistake and a patient is injured, someone must take care of the injured patient and protect their rights. And that is what the Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys do at Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC.
If you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to medical malpractice in Atlanta, Georgia, call us today at (404) 996-1296 to arrange a free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys in Atlanta can discuss the facts of your case and your rights under the law.
Why Choose Our Firm
Our Atlanta personal injury law firm specializes in medical malpractice cases. At Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC, our Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys provide legal expertise and handle every client case with a personalized approach.
Our experienced team of attorneys are committed to advocating for your rights and helping injury victims secure maximum compensation for their losses. When working with Piasta Walker Hagenbush LLC, our attorneys will:
- Help you navigate the complex personal injury claims process in Georgia.
- Provide a combination of courtroom skills and dedication to excellence that have proven to reach successful results.
- Prepare every case for trial in order to maximize its value, because better prepared cases get better results.
- Achieve justice for you or your loved ones by obtaining the financial compensation you deserve, even if it requires going to court.
How an Experienced Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help
According to a recent study, more than 250,000 people die each year from some form of medical malpractice, from incorrect dosages to surgical errors to wrong diagnoses. Medical malpractice is the third most common cause of death in the United States, but only 2% of those who suffer from medical malpractice ever file claims for compensation.
At Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC, we listen to our clients and to what happened. We order the client’s medical records and investigate the claim until we understand what went wrong. Our Atlanta personal injury law firm has represented hundreds of clients who have been victims of major injuries related to medical malpractice.
What Damages Can Be Recovered In An Atlanta Medical Malpractice Case?
Whether it is a birth injury, wrongful death, surgical error, anesthesia error, hospital error, dental malpractice, failure to treat and diagnose cancer, or any other situation where a doctor or hospital has not provided the required care, we are here to help you recover compensation for a wide variety of damages, including, but not limited to:
- Medical expenses incurred to treat your injuries
- Future medical expenses
- Wages and income lost during your recovery
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages
- Wrongful death benefits if you lost a loved one due to medical malpractice
Our law firm works closely with doctors and nurses who review the facts and provide expert medical analysis and opinions to our lawyers to support our client’s claims. We also have access to an enormous network of the most respected medical experts in the country to help prepare your case for trial and prove your claim in court. If a loved one was a victim of a fatal medical malpractice accident, our Atlanta wrongful death lawyers have the resources and skills to represent your claim.
Proving Liability in an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Claim
Once your Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer proves through documented evidence such as hospital records and bills that a doctor-patient relationship existed at the time the malpractice occurred, the next step is proving that the case meets the standards necessary for a medical malpractice liability claim. This requires demonstrating evidence of the following:
- That the medical provider owed a special duty of care to treat the patient at the industry-accepted level of care, or the way another reasonable medical professional would have treated the patient under the same circumstances
- They breached this duty of care by committing an act of negligence
- Their negligent breach of duty directly caused injury to the patient
- The patient suffered significant damages from the injury
“Damages” in personal injury claims—including those for medical malpractice—refer to all the consequences of the injury to the patient. Medical malpractice claims in Georgia include claims for both economic damages like medical bills and lost income and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Possible Liable Parties in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits in Atlanta
It often takes a skilled medical malpractice attorney in Georgia to investigate all aspects of a malpractice case in order to determine when, where, and how the negligence occurred and who is liable for damages. While it may seem as though the doctor or medical provider is always the liable party, they do not always bear personal liability. For instance, if the provider is an employee of a hospital with negligent training practices, the hospital may be the liable party in the lawsuit. Possible liable parties in Georgia medical malpractice claims include the following entities:
- The doctor if they are an independent contractor
- The hospital or medical facility if the doctor is a direct employee
- The hospital or facility if they’ve engaged in negligent hiring or training practices
- The hospital administrative department if the malpractice occurred due to a communication or administrative error
- The manufacturer of a defective medical device
- A nurse or other member of the medical support staff
Once your Atlanta medical malpractice attorney investigates the malpractice incident, determines the liable party, and documents evidence of liability, they can send a compelling demand letter to the malpractice insurer of the at-fault party seeking full compensation for your damages.
The Importance of Patient/Doctor Relationships in Medical Malpractice Claims
When pursuing a claim for medical malpractice damages, the injury victim (plaintiff in the lawsuit) has the duty to prove liability on the part of the medical provider. The first step in this process is showing evidence that a doctor/patient relationship existed at the time the malpractice incident occurred. In other words, if your neighbor happens to be a doctor and you ask him about your upset stomach when you meet him at the mailbox, and the neighbor suggests you try an antacid, you cannot later sue him for malpractice if you’re diagnosed with a burst appendix. Because no doctor/patient relationship existed at the time the neighbor suggested the antacid, the neighbor did not have a duty to provide a doctor’s level of care. This part of medical malpractice law helps prevent frivolous lawsuits and keeps doctors from living under the constant threat of lawsuits from casual comments to non-patients.
Areas We Serve in Atlanta, GA
At Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC, our team of attorneys are committed to providing legal representation for victims of medical malpractice across Atlanta, GA. Our law firm serves clients in areas including:
East Atlanta Village | Poncey-Highland | Little Five Points | Vinings | Sandy Springs | Decatur | Druid Hills | Atlantic Station | Castleberry Hill | Midtown | Downtown | Virginia Highland | Inman Park | Old Fourth Ward | Grant Park | Ansley Park | Cabbagetown | Reynoldstown | Morningside | West End | Kirkwood | East Lake | Ormewood Park | Edgewood | Mechanicsville | Piedmont Heights | Chastain Park | Buckhead
Call An Experienced Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney at Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC, Today
There are strict time limits for filing a medical malpractice claim in Georgia that can affect your ability to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. So, do not delay.
If you or a loved one was injured or lost their life due to medical malpractice on the part of a healthcare professional or medical facility in Atlanta, contact Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC, today. Call us at (404) 996-12960 or contact us online to arrange a completely no-risk, no-obligation consultation. There is no legal fee unless we win your case.
“Mike Walker was one of the BEST people to work with on getting my case handled quickly, efficiently, and with great compassion for my particular needs. I could call or email day or night with the most outrageous questions and I would have a response within a day or two. If you need a firm that will treat you like family and work for YOU and what your needs are, not for a ‘quick win’, I would not hesitate to call or email Mike and/or his team.”
– Amanda H.