When a patient goes to a doctor, he or she expects to receive professional care for the services needed. Most of the time, the patient receives what he or she needs from the doctor. However, there are cases when the doctor fails to make a proper diagnosis, or fails to perform the services for which he or she was visited. Such cases are referred to as medical malpractice. Fortunately, there are measures in place where the patient can file a lawsuit of negligence. There is a medical malpractice attorney in Norfolk, VA who helps clients recover damages from the result of medical malpractice. These are some things a victim of medical malpractice should know.
Medical malpractice occurs under a lot of different circumstances. A surgeon could leave surgical tools inside the patient. A family doctor may have given an incorrect diagnosis about a tumor that turned out to be malignant. A dentist could have pulled a tooth that really didn’t have a problem. A cosmetic surgeon may have maligned the patient’s breast implants, so that they were not even. There could even be an incorrect psychological evaluation that had adverse effects after the fact.
Medical malpractice falls under the umbrella of personal injuries. In Virginia, a plaintiff has two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit in a Virginia civil court. If the plaintiff fails to file within this time frame, his or her case will not be heard. If the plaintiff is successful enough to sue within the time frame, his or her attorney will have to prove that not only did the medical professional breach what is known as the standard of care, but that the breach directly caused the injury to the plaintiff.
The law firm of Price Perkins Larkin has been serving the eastern Virginia area for several years with legal solutions for various issues. In addition to medical malpractice, the law firm handles automobile accidents and other personal injuries. Injuries like dog bites, slips and falls, and injury from defective products are among the issues the firm represents. With over 100 years of combined experience, if you need a medical malpractice attorney in Norfolk, VA, the law firm is dependable.