Fact Sheet About Medical Malpractice
The Research & Statistics Department of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania collects and analyzes data regarding the operation of the state courts, including data on medical malpractice case filings. Some of the important statistics regarding 2014 medical malpractice filings in Lehigh County, in which Allentown sits, include the following:
- There were 47 medical malpractice cases filed last year, which is down 34.7 percent from the 2000-2002 average of 72 medical malpractice cases filed.
- There were 7 jury verdicts in the Lehigh Judicial District, all of which were for the defense.
- For the same period, there were zero non-jury verdicts.
Medical Malpractice Incidents
Medical malpractice is a serious matter than can leave victims with significant injuries and long-term medical complications. With several hospitals and myriad physicians practicing medicine in the Allentown area, it is a near-certainty that there will be victims of medical malpractice in the area.
Common Causes of Medical Malpractice Injuries
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional fails to meet the accepted standard of care regarding a particular circumstance. There are number of ways that medical malpractice can cause serious injury, some of the most common of which are detailed below.
Failure to Diagnose
When a patient is seen by a physician or other healthcare professional who examines the patient, he or she has a right to assume that any medical condition that they may have will be accurately diagnosed or that additional testing will be conducted. When medical professionals fail to diagnose conditions that they should recognize, patients can go without treatment that may improve their quality of life or ensure that their condition does not get any worse.
Medication Errors
Medication errors can occur in a number of ways, including patient mix-ups, prescribing the wrong medication based on particular diagnosis, administering or prescribing an incorrect dosage, and failing to check for contraindications.
Birth Injuries
One of the more common situations in which medical malpractice occurs is during childbirth. There are a variety of ways in which a medical professional could be negligent during delivery, including improper use of instruments, failing to recognize medical conditions in the mother or infant, failing to monitor fetal vital signs, and unreasonable delays in performing a cesarean section.
Surgical Errors
Surgical errors are often extremely serious and egregious examples of medical malpractice, and can include events like operating on the wrong patient, the wrong body part, performing the wrong procedure, or leaving surgical instruments inside of a patient’s body.
Get your free consultation here. Discuss your problem case today.
Let us put our years of experience to work for you.
"*" indicates required fields
The Allentown medical malpractice attorneys of Cohen, Placitella, & Roth, PC have over 40 years of experience helping those injured by the negligence of others. We are dedicated to ensuring that each client we take obtains the full and fair value of their claim and that we hold medical professionals who injure other legally accountable for their actions.
A significant number of Allentown residents are injured by medical malpractice each year. Anyone who believes they have been injured by the negligence of a medical professional should talk to an attorney as soon as possible.
Investigating Medical Malpractice Cases Requires Resources
Individuals who believe that they have been injured by the negligence of a medical professional should consult with an attorney who understands how to conduct a thorough investigation into the case. Fully investigating an alleged incident of medical malpractice often requires a significant investment of both time and money. In many cases, uncovering evidence of negligence requires reviewing hundreds of pages of medical records and taking statements from witnesses and other parties that may have been involved in your incident. Because of the investment this type of investigation generally takes, it is highly advisable for individuals who believe that they have a medical malpractice claim to retain a seasoned law firm as soon as possible.
One of the most important aspects of successfully litigating a medical malpractice case is involving a variety of different people in order to build the strongest case possible. In addition to your attorney, your case may also require the use of other physicians, nurses, expert witnesses, or other medical professionals to help establish that the care that you received fell below the accepted standard of care.
In addition, a significant amount of physical evidence may be necessary in order to establish negligence on the part of a medical professional. Determining what kinds of evidence are necessary and relevant requires a significant amount of research and is best handled by an attorney familiar with litigating medical malpractice cases.
When medical negligence results in injury, the Allentown medical malpractice lawyers of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, PC can help you recover. We are available to discuss your case with you at no charge and with no obligation to retain us as your attorneys.
Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. offers a FREE CONSULTATION.
Contact us today to discuss how we can helpPhiladelphia Office
2001 Market St Suite 2900
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 567-3500
Fax: (215) 567-6019
Over 40 Years of Outstanding Results and Hundreds of Millions Recovered for our Medical Malpractice Victims and Others.
Our lawyers have over four decades of experience representing individuals injured by medical malpractice and other types of preventable accidents. The attorneys of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, PC have a track record of successfully recovering compensation for our clients, and were recognized as winning one of the “Top 100 Jury Verdicts” in 2005 by The National Law Journal. Other examples of successful recovery on behalf of our clients include:
$7.5 Million
$7.5 million for a newborn injured during childbirth.
$14.5 million
$14.5 million recovery for a child that sustained brain damage due to a physician’s substandard post-operative care.
$3.25 million
$3.25 million on behalf of an individual who sustained vision loss because of improperly administered anesthesia.
Multi-Million
Several other multi-million dollar verdicts on behalf of individuals injured by medical negligence.
While results in prior cases do not guarantee similar results in your case the following listing of recent case victories should hopefully provide you with the assurance that we are experienced and know how to get you the compensation you deserve.
Being injured by medical malpractice can leave victims scared, confused, and unsure of what to do next. The Allentown medical malpractice attorneys of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, PC are dedicated to helping individuals hurt by the negligence of others recover. All of our medical malpractice cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, meaning that our clients do not pay anything in legal fees unless we bring their case to a successful outcome. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, send us an email through our online contact form available here or call our office today at (888) 818-2562.
Let us use our experience to help you obtain financial compensation for your medical malpractice case.
Or complete our convenient Web form.