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Who is to blame for the outrageous costs of medical malpractice in the United States? Attorneys often take the fall and are labeled by insurance companies with names indicating they are only after the money: “ambulance chasers,” “sharks,” etc. The truth of the matter is that only one lawsuit is filed for every 8 people who die or are injured as a result of medical malpractice each year. Furthermore, medical malpractice lawsuits do more than line the pockets of “money grubbing” attorneys.
These lawsuits expose subpar medical care and strongly encourage more stringent healthcare practices. Hundreds of thousands of people die or are injured because of medical malpractice or negligence. Today more people lose their lives from medical negligence than car accidents and workplace accidents combined.
Less than 15% of these tragedies are pursued in court. And the way our justice system is designed naturally filters out any baseless, silly, or what we call “legally frivolous” claims.
How the Legal System Works for Medical Malpractice Claims
No one likes having their time and tax dollars wasted, particularly judges. Our legal system has been carefully designed to give patients an opportunity for financial redress when they are wronged—this could hardly be called a waste of time and money. The plaintiffs who are awarded large sums of money upon winning a medical malpractice lawsuit often need compensation. The money goes to pay medical bills, therapy bills, legal costs, replace lost wages and pay funeral costs for families whose loved one died due to medical malpractice.
Lawsuits and litigation highlight areas where health systems and medical professionals need to improve.
- Safety protocols
- Doctor communication with patients
- Proper patient identification
- Checks and balances for body part identification prior to surgery
- A thorough assessment of medical history and patient information during the intake
Medical mistakes are different than a mistaken latte order and the consequences are much more severe than “sweetened or unsweetened.” Tragic injuries resulting from medical negligence should not be tolerated; litigation reflects necessary intolerance for medical malpractice.
If you or a loved one were injured due to a medical mistake in Chicago or Illinois, quickly contact one of our experienced attorneys. At Walner Law we believe in the best for medical patients and for our clients. We will not hesitate to hold professionals to the highest standard of care.
