The medical industry is filled with professionals who have invested years of education and training into becoming doctors. This is why many patients trust their doctors to provide life-saving treatment in cases of illnesses and medical conditions. 

However, doctors are not perfect and can be prone to mistakes. In some cases, their negligence may cause errors that affect their patient’s overall health and quality of life. For those who suspect being a victim of medical negligence, there are many potential solutions for compensation, especially if you’re working with experienced medical malpractice attorneys. 

At Kroot Law, we provide extensive experience helping medical malpractice victims understand their situation and explore their best options. Here’s a guide to helping you determine if you might be a victim of medical malpractice and should reach out to a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer. 

Undergoing surgery is not an easy decision to make. Then, when the time comes for the procedure, you trust that the team in charge of the operation will do their best to help you feel better. 

Most of the time, surgeries successfully treat injuries and illnesses. However, complications from surgical mistakes can also happen. A study showed that at least 4,000 surgical errors occur in the U.S. every year and that they comprise the majority of hospital malpractice claims. Unfortunately, mistakes in the operating room do more than cause physical injury or even death to the patient. The consequences can also be life changing the patient’s family. 

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a surgical mistake and are interested in pursuing legal action, it helps to understand what surgical errors are. This article also shares the common types of surgical errors and the next steps you can take with a Chicago surgical error lawyer to seek the compensation you deserve. 

As you live your daily life, you try to stay safe and healthy in different ways: from following traffic regulations and wearing protective equipment at work sites to attending your doctor’s appointments. However, accidents can happen, and even the most careful of people can get hurt as a result of someone else’s negligence.

If you have been harmed by the negligence or recklessness of another party in Illinois, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. With the help of a Chicago personal injury lawyer, you can receive fair compensation for the expenses and losses you’ve incurred due to the injury. 

The steps you’ll have to take will be unique to your case. To give you an idea of how to file a personal injury claim, here’s a quick overview of what you have to do and what you can expect through the process. 

When preventable errors occur in medical settings, patients can suffer devastating consequences such as physical pain, permanent disability, and even the loss of life. Unfortunately, medical mistakes happen more often than you might think. A John Hopkins study revealed that medical malpractice is among the leading causes of death in the US, following heart disease and cancer. 

Medical malpractice takes many forms, from misdiagnosis and medication errors to surgical mistakes. If your healthcare provider’s negligence has injured you or a loved one, it’s essential to understand each type and its unique set of circumstances to determine if you have a case. 

While the best first step is still to consult a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer, we explore the most common types of medical malpractice below to help you protect your health and well-being. 

Medical providers are there to provide you relief from your pain or discomfort, treat life-threatening conditions, and help you get back to enjoying your life again. However, mistakes can also happen in the healthcare industry, and a John Hopkins University of School and Medicine study showed that misdiagnosis is the leading cause of serious medical errors. 

Without a proper diagnosis, patients can experience adverse drug reactions or receive the wrong treatment. Incorrectly diagnosing a severe medical condition can also lead to permanent disabilities and even death. 

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a medical misdiagnosis, understanding its common types and learning what to do after discovering a diagnostic error can help you preserve your right to use the court process. This also gives you enough time to work with Chicago wrong diagnosis lawyers to seek compensation for the injuries you’ve suffered. 

The Illinois Civil Liabilities Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/) defines wrongful death as a person’s untimely demise due to other people’s negligence or wrongful actions. The state also considers it wrongful death if the deceased (or decedent) could have filed for personal injury claims if they survived. But since they can no longer defend their right to claim compensatory damages, other people can have the right to file a lawsuit on their behalf. 

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Chicago?

Illinois law allows the immediate family and, potentially, other relatives of the decedent to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Although all states have their own set of laws on wrongful death claims, they all allow immediate family members to initiate a lawsuit. 

Suffering from any life-altering injury, regardless of the cause, can be devastating and overwhelming. Aside from the physical pain and emotional suffering it has caused , you may also have to deal with other consequences like costly medical care, lost wages, and emotional trauma. 

Many victims try to handle their personal injury claims themselves to avoid legal fees. However, not all personal injury cases are simple, and not all personal injury lawyers in Chicago ask for upfront fees. Moreover, they can handle the complexities of your case and fight for your rights so you can receive fair compensation. 

Knowing if you should hire a personal injury attorney might not be crystal clear when you’re going through a difficult time. Here are some considerations to help you decide.  

If you have suffered intense physical or emotional damage due to a medical misdiagnosis, know that you have legal recourse to file a medical malpractice lawsuit and seek damages. Know your options by seeking the help of a medical malpractice attorney in Chicago.

What Constitutes a Misdiagnosis?

On its own, a medical practitioner’s failure to diagnose an illness or injury does not automatically constitute malpractice. Even the most experienced and highly competent physicians can make diagnostic errors from time to time. 

Prescription and over-the-counter medications help you manage symptoms or recover from illnesses so you can ultimately get back to healthily enjoying your life. However, the same drugs you regard as your lifeline through your difficult times can also cause serious complications and even death when medication errors occur. 

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a medication error due to pharmaceutical negligence, knowing your rights and understanding the next steps in reporting medication errors can help you seek the compensation you deserve. 

Understanding Medication Errors — How Do They Happen?

The loss of a loved one is a devastating experience in and of itself. The pain becomes more significant, however, when the death was wrongful, untimely, and preventable had others been mindful of their actions or performed their duties diligently. 

But emotional distress is just one of the many problems surviving families of wrongful death victims experience. There are also funeral and burial expenses to contend with, plus the long-term impact on the family’s quality of life if the decedent provided important financial contributions to the family. Therefore, as the distressed party, the family is well within their rights to hire a wrongful death lawyer and file a lawsuit. 

If a beloved family member or relative dies as a result of another person’s negligence, hiring an experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer should be a priority. Winning a wrongful death lawsuit will bring justice to your loved one’s death, secure financial compensation for your loss, and prevent the people responsible from committing the same mistakes and putting others in peril in the future.