Doctors and nurses undergo extensive education before working with patients. That, however, does not mean that these individuals are infallible. Some doctors and nurses might opt to ignore or invalidate a patient’s concerns, botch a person’s treatment, or neglect that person’s overall needs.

If you believe you or a loved one were impacted by any physician negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Schedule a time to meet with a Harrisonburg medical malpractice lawyer to discuss how you were harmed. A dedicated injury attorney can then investigate the circumstances surrounding your treatment and determine how best to present your case in court.

Negligence in Medical Malpractice Claims

There are different forms of medical malpractice under Virginia law that can impact a person’s life. Negligence, or a medical professional’s lack of care, typically worsens the patient’s condition. A professional’s deliberate mistreatment or refusal to treat an individual for a life-altering medical condition also qualifies as negligent care.

However, establishing certain behaviors indicative of health care malpractice often requires an outside opinion. Put simply, if you choose to file a civil suit against the medical professionals in Harrisonburg, you and your lawyer must seek a professional who can confirm that malpractice took place.

How to Build a Medical Negligence Complaint

A medical malpractice complaint must contain specific information related to a person’s case to be considered in court. When working with a local attorney, you or your representative should bring together the following:

  • The name of the health care professional who harmed you
  • Evidence supporting your assertion of liability
  • A statement from the third-party medical professional regarding the malpractice in question
  • Evidence of the abuse or neglect
  • Estimates your losses and potential compensation

To assert liability in a medical malpractice case, you must show clear lines of your condition, rights, and the party you wish to hold accountable. This also requires you to establish the medical professional’s duty of care, evidence of a violation of that duty, and a correlation between the violation and your ongoing losses.

Filing Within the Statute of Limitations

The state’s regulations on when medical malpractice victims can file complaints vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the party’s losses. Overall, Virginia gives injured parties two years from discovering their injuries to file their claim with a court. This deadline is outlined in Code of Virginia § 8.01-243. However, the same statute notes that parties who want to take legal action in medical malpractice cases may also file for extensions, should outside influences impede their ability to pursue a case.

Filing the appropriate paperwork for a medical malpractice claim within the statute of limitations takes deliberate speed and precision. An experienced lawyer in Harrisonburg familiar with filing physician negligence claims could work with you to make the filing process as straightforward as possible.

Schedule a Consultation with a Harrisonburg Medical Malpractice Attorney

Contending with any manner of medical trauma can make it more difficult for you to reconnect with daily tasks. Medical trauma that ends up complicated by medical malpractice, be it in the form of neglect or deliberate mistreatment, can even render it impossible for you to care for yourself or your loved ones.

If you believe the medical professionals in your area deliberately or even unintentionally complicated an existing medical condition, contact a Harrisonburg medical malpractice lawyer right away. A member of The Warren Firm is available to discuss your best course of action and potential consultation during an initial case consultation.