- Get a Free Consultation
"*" indicates required fields
Are you struggling with complications and expensive medical bills because of a doctor’s mistake? You may have the right to compensation. However, Virginia medical malpractice cases involve complex rules, tight deadlines, and high-stakes negotiations.
The Alexandria medical malpractice attorneys at Marks & Harrison have decades of experience with these cases and know how to protect your interests throughout the legal process. We’ll handle all the legal work and fight on your behalf so you can focus on healing. We charge no fees unless you recover compensation. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation and learn more about how our dedicated legal representation can make a difference.
What Should You Do If You Believe You Are a Victim of Medical Malpractice in Alexandria?
Quick action is crucial to protect your rights after an Alexandra medical malpractice injury. Here’s what to do:
- Get medical attention right away to protect your health and establish a record of your condition.
- Keep copies of your medical records, test results, prescriptions, and bills.
- Write down details about your treatment, including the names of your providers, the dates of your treatments, and any conversations with your doctor.
- Save any written communication with doctors, hospitals, or insurance companies.
- Avoid discussing your situation with your medical provider or insurance company before you speak with a lawyer.
- Contact an Alexandria medical malpractice lawyer at Marks & Harrison so we can review your case and explain your legal options.
How Can an Alexandria Medical Malpractice Lawyer Help with My Case?
If you move forward with a medical malpractice lawsuit and don’t have proper legal support, you risk missing critical deadlines, losing access to key evidence, or accepting a settlement that does not cover your losses. At Marks & Harrison, we aim to protect your rights and put you in the strongest position to recover full compensation. We can investigate what happened, gather your medical records, and consult medical professionals who can explain how your provider failed to meet acceptable standards of medical care.
We also handle all communication with insurance companies and hospitals. So, you won’t face pressure to settle for less than your case is worth. Most medical malpractice cases settle out of court, but we’ll be ready to take your case to trial if necessary. We know how to present a compelling case to a judge or jury, and our results reflect our skill as negotiators and litigators.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider harms a patient by failing to follow the accepted standard of care. The standard of care is the level of treatment a reasonably skilled provider in the same field would have given under similar circumstances. If your doctor, nurse, or hospital did not meet this standard and you suffered an injury, their actions or failure to act correctly can form the basis of a medical malpractice claim.
What Are Different Types of Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice encompasses many mistakes that doctors or other healthcare providers might make, including:
- Incorrect or delayed diagnoses that lead to worse symptoms or other complications
- Surgical errors, such as operating on the wrong site or leaving tools inside the body
- Medication mistakes, including prescribing the wrong drug or incorrect dosage
- Birth injuries resulting from improper prenatal care or delivery errors
- Anesthesia errors that cause severe complications
- Failure to monitor a patient’s condition after treatment or surgery
- Emergency room errors which can occur when a patient is in critical need of proper treatment for a serious and possibly life-threatening condition.
What Must You Prove in a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Medical malpractice cases are slightly different from other types of personal injury cases. To pursue fair compensation in a medical malpractice claim, you must show that your healthcare provider owed you a duty of care, failed to meet the accepted medical standard, and directly harmed you with their actions. It is not enough to prove that you received poor treatment or that your condition did not improve due to your provider’s actions. You must connect the provider’s mistake directly to the injury you suffered.
Meeting this legal standard requires strong evidence. Common types of evidence in medical malpractice cases include:
- Medical records and test results
- Expert testimony from qualified professionals
- Prescription and medication records
- Hospital or clinic policies and procedures
- Documentation of your ongoing medical costs and treatment.
What Health Care Providers Can Be Held Liable for Medical Malpractice?
An Alexandria medical malpractice lawsuit can involve many potentially liable parties, including:
- Doctors, including surgeons and specialists
- Nurses and nurse practitioners
- Hospitals and surgical centers
- Clinics and urgent care facilities
- Pharmacists and pharmacies
- Anesthesiologists
- Radiologists and imaging technicians
- Dentists and dental providers
- Other healthcare professionals who provided treatment.
What Compensation Could You Receive in an Alexandria Medical Malpractice Case?
Your compensation for a medical malpractice injury can include money for your medical expenses, lost income, diminished quality of life, emotional distress, and more. An Alexandria medical malpractice attorney can assess your situation and collect evidence to maximize your claim’s value.
Does Virginia Place a Cap on Medical Malpractice Damage Awards?
Virginia law establishes strict caps on compensation in medical malpractice cases. The cap increases slightly each year to account for inflation, but it’s a hard limit on your compensation. While some states limit your compensation for non-economic losses, such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress, Virginia’s law applies to all your losses, not just the injury’s intangible effects. Working with an experienced medical negligence lawyer gives you a stronger chance of recovering maximum compensation.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Alexandria?
Virginia law allows you to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit in Alexandria. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the injury. However, special rules apply to specific situations. For example, if a doctor leaves a foreign object in your body, you have one year from the date you discovered or reasonably could have found the object to file a lawsuit. No matter the circumstances, you typically cannot file a lawsuit if more than 10 years have passed since your injury.
Get Help from an Experienced Alexandria, VA Medical Malpractice Attorney
With over a century of experience fighting for injury victims, 32 skilled attorneys, and over 130 support staff to meet your legal needs, you can trust Marks & Harrison to protect your interests and hold negligent healthcare providers accountable in Alexandria. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.