When To Hire a Hospital Negligence Attorney

When you visit a hospital, you put a special kind of trust in the institution and its medical staff, including nurses and doctors. For most people, that trust is often rewarded through exceptional medical care. But for some patients, the actions of hospitals and their staff fall below the accepted standard of care required in the medical field.

Medical malpractice is alarmingly common in the U.S. It is "the failure of a professional person to act in accordance with the prevailing professional standards, or failure to foresee consequences that a professional person, having the necessary skills and education, should foresee."

If you suspect that you or a loved one is a victim of medical malpractice and you believe the hospital is to blame, it is advisable to reach out to a hospital negligence attorney for legal counsel. You may have a valid medical malpractice case in Wyoming if your healthcare provider is responsible for your injuries.

Can You Sue a Hospital for Negligence?

Hospital negligence is a form of medical malpractice that can happen to any patient visiting a medical facility to receive treatment. It occurs when a hospital fails to provide the expected standard of medical care, resulting in the injury or wrongful death of a patient. Doctors, nurses, or other hospital employees may make mistakes that result in negligence lawsuits.

After an injury due to hospital negligence, it is normal to ask yourself questions like, "Can you sue a hospital for negligence?" "How much can you sue a hospital for negligence?" "How can an attorney for hospital negligence help?"

You can sue a hospital for negligence if the facility's misconduct led to your injuries. You can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital to recover damages like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Some of the grounds your hospital negligence lawyer may use to file a claim against a hospital include:

• Improperly trained staff
• Negligent security staff
• Dangerous conditions on the premises
• Lost records
• Unsanitary practices or equipment
• Lack of communication
• Understaffing, including low nurse-to-patient ratio
• Outdated or defective equipment

Hospitals can fail patients and their families in various ways that are entirely preventable. Many of these hospital negligence cases can be traced back to a lack of facility maintenance, a lack of resources, or a lack of protocol. Such preventable oversights can result in severe, catastrophic injuries, such as organ damage, birth injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries.

To succeed in a hospital negligence case, your hospital negligence attorney must prove:

• A doctor-patient relationship existed
• Hospital negligence was involved
• The hospital's negligence led to your injuries
• You suffered damages due to the facility's misconduct

How Long Do You Have To Sue a Hospital for Negligence?

When suing a hospital for negligence, you must adhere to Wyoming's statute of limitations, which is generally two years from the date of the medical error that led to your injuries. In New Mexico, plaintiffs generally have three years to file medical malpractice lawsuits. If you don't file your case within these time frames, you risk losing your ability to recover compensation.

3 Signs It's Time To Hire a Hospital Negligence Attorney

If you've been injured due to hospital negligence, here are some telltale signs that you need the help of a hospital negligence attorney.

1. You Don't Know How To Negotiate With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are profit-driven entities that prioritize their bottom lines over the needs of policyholders and injured victims. The insurance company will always look for ways to devalue or deny your claim. But with experienced medical negligence attorneys by your side, insurance companies are more likely to pay more to settle your claim. This is because lawyers can aggressively negotiate on your behalf to get you the best possible settlement.

2. You're Unsure What To Expect as Far as Compensation

Hospital negligence victims in Wyoming need full financial compensation. However, it may be hard for injured victims to assess the value of their damages on their own. For this reason, it's best to contact a lawyer to help you calculate all your damages, including projected future expenses. 

An experienced hospital negligence attorney can help you secure the best possible compensation by:

• Gathering evidence and investigating potential hospital negligence
• Submitting evidence such as medical bills and records in court
• Proving elements of medical negligence
• Working with experts to assess the value of your case

3. You're Unfamiliar With the Hospital Negligence Lawsuit Process

If you've never filed a lawsuit before, it's best to hire a hospital negligence attorney who is experienced in trial cases to help you with your claim. Remember, the lawsuit process in medical malpractice cases can be long and complex, mainly depending on the specific circumstances of the case. 

An experienced trial lawyer can help you throughout all the stages involved in the lawsuit process, including:

• Investigation and gathering evidence
• Filing a hospital negligence lawsuit
• Discovery
• Pretrial motions
• Settlement negotiations
• Trial
• Verdict and appeal

Why You Should Contact a Hospital Negligence Attorney as Soon as an Injury or Wrongful Death Occurs

There are several reasons why you should contact a skilled Wyoming hospital negligence attorney soon after an injury or wrongful death occurs, including:

• Statute of limitations. Medical negligence cases are subject to strict legal deadlines. Contacting an attorney early enough will ensure you meet all necessary deadlines.
• Evidence. Evidence in a medical malpractice case, such as medical records and photographs, may be lost or destroyed as time goes by. By contacting a lawyer immediately after sustaining an injury, they can gather and preserve critical evidence to bolster your case.
• Witness recollection. As time passes, memories may also fade. To get reliable witness accounts, hiring an attorney as soon as possible who will interview the eyewitnesses soon after your incident is advisable.

An experienced lawyer can also help you hire experts, avoid legal pitfalls, and handle negotiations and litigation. Contacting a lawyer as soon as possible allows them to begin building a solid medical malpractice case, increasing your chances of obtaining maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.

Schedule a Consultation To Discuss Your Hospital Negligence Claim

Healthcare professionals in Wyoming are required to offer patients acceptable standards of medical care. If they or the medical facilities they work for ignore their duty of care, they may be liable for a patient's injuries.

If you believe you suffered harm due to hospital negligence, you may be able to file a case against the facility. At The Spence Law Firm, our hospital negligence attorneys can help you with all aspects of your medical malpractice case. Call contact us online to discuss your legal rights and options. Find out how our hospital negligence lawyers can help you today.