We trust medical professionals with our health and well-being. Unfortunately, too often, this trust is misplaced. Doctors are only human, and they can make mistakes like anyone else. But when they do, the consequences can be profound. Delayed diagnoses can allow conditions to go untreated, surgical errors may cause unnecessary suffering, and the prescribing of contraindicated medicines can lead to terrible side effects.
If you’ve suffered the consequences of medical malpractice in Santa Ana, California, DJA Injury Lawyers wants to hear from you. Our experienced team of personal injury lawyers is dedicated to helping people in positions like yours demand fair compensation for what they’ve suffered. Let us build a strong case on your behalf so that you can focus on treating your injuries and getting better. Contact us today by calling (949) 229-7228 and tell a compassionate Santa Ana medical malpractice attorney about what happened.
Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals have a legal obligation to provide their patients with medical treatment that aligns with the generally accepted standards of the field. A medical professional commits medical malpractice when they deviate from this standard of care in a way that harms their patient. Here are a few practical examples of what that might entail:
- Failure to Obtain Informed Consent: A doctor performs a procedure without adequately informing the patient of risks, leading to unexpected complications and legal liability.
- Failure to Follow Up: A doctor does not provide proper post-treatment care, missing complications that could have been prevented with timely intervention.
- Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: A doctor fails to recognize a serious condition, such as cancer, leading to delayed treatment and worsened prognosis.
- Surgical Errors: A surgeon operates on the wrong body part or leaves a surgical instrument inside a patient, causing severe complications and potentially the need for additional surgeries.
- Medication Errors: A healthcare provider prescribes the wrong medication or incorrect dosage, resulting in harmful side effects, overdose, or ineffective treatment.
- Anesthesia Mistakes: An anesthesiologist administers too much anesthesia or fails to monitor the patient properly, leading to side effects like brain damage, organ failure, or even death.
- Birth Injuries: A doctor mishandles a difficult delivery, causing conditions like cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, or other long-term disabilities for the newborn.
- Hospital-Acquired Infections: Poor sanitation or improper sterilization in a hospital leads to infections such as MRSA, sepsis, or pneumonia, prolonging recovery and increasing medical costs.
If you’ve suffered adverse health consequences because of any of these errors, you could be entitled to compensation. While you recuperate, let the Santa Ana medical malpractice lawyers with DJA Injury Lawyers get to work uncovering evidence like the following:
- Medical records and charts regarding your care
- Testimony from eyewitnesses who saw the incident take place
- Accounts from other professionals about the relevant standard of care and how your provider deviated from it
Armed with this evidence, we can start pursuing your claim by:
- Reviewing relevant documents to determine if you must go through arbitration
- Filing notice of your intent to sue at least 90 days before filing your claim
- Negotiating with medical malpractice insurance providers to seek fair compensation for what happened
- Litigating your case in court as necessary to get you the full amount you deserve
Medical Malpractice Statistics
Serious medical mistakes are far more common than many people realize. A Johns Hopkins study found that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for about a quarter-million deaths annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one in 31 hospital patients develops a healthcare-related infection, while the World Health Organization reports that medication errors injure 1.3 million Americans every year.
The Medical Board of California reports that it received 9,521 complaints for fiscal year 2022-2023 and closed 9,099 of them. Of the received complaints, 4,951 alleged gross negligence or incompetence, and 2,047 alleged unprofessional conduct. The Board opened 1,099 cases that same fiscal year and closed 1,142, referring 448 to the attorney general, 17 for criminal action, and 42 for probation violation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Malpractice
Below, you’ll find the answers to some of the questions our Santa Ana medical malpractice lawyers most frequently get from our prospective clients.
How Much Is My Medical Malpractice Case Worth?
How much you could recover through your medical malpractice case will depend on a number of specific factors, including the extent of your injuries, your need for further medical care, how much income you’ve lost while recovering, and how your life will continue to be affected by your injuries in the years to come.
An important thing to note is that California caps the award of non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases—that is, the amount of money an injured patient can receive for pain and suffering. The cap was $350,000 as of 2022, increasing by $40,000 each January 1 until it reaches $750,000.
How Long Do I Have to File My Medical Malpractice Claim?
California’s statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims puts a deadline for how long you have to file suit. Under most circumstances, you have three years from the date the malpractice occurred or one year from the date you discovered your injuries. Children under six have three years from the date of the malpractice or until their eighth birthday to file, whichever is later.
How Much Does a Medical Malpractice Attorney Charge in Santa Ana?
The aftermath of a medical mistake is a painful—and expensive—time. That’s why DJA Injury Lawyers takes medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis. You only pay us an attorney fee if we win your case, and the amount we charge is a percentage of your recovery. Not only does this place the risk entirely with us, but it incentivizes us to get you as much money as possible.
Contact Our Santa Ana Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today
Were you or someone you love the victim of negligent medical care in Santa Ana, California? If so, you could be entitled to substantial compensation for what happened. Let the seasoned professionals with DJA Injury Lawyers fight to get you the full amount you’re owed. Call us at (949) 229-7228 or fill out our contact form for your free consultation with a medical malpractice attorney in Santa Ana.