Medical Negligence: Are You Being Treated Right? [Infographic]

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, if all medically-negligent deaths were reported like other causes of death, medical negligence would be the third leading cause of death in the U.S. — just behind heart disease and cancer.

Medical negligence is difficult to prove, but its effects are often dire. It’s estimated that medical negligence kills between 210,000 and 440,000 people each year in the U.S. alone. Despite these high estimates, the majority of medical negligence cases don’t even make it to litigation and 93% of the cases that do make it to litigation are resolved through out-of-court settlement.

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But what about the people behind those numbers? It’s estimated that the average medical negligence victim is a female between the ages of 35-49. She was probably undergoing an inpatient procedure and the negligence that she suffered was probably related to a diagnostic error. If she chose to take legal action, it would take about 5 years from the date of her injury to the closure of her case. And if her case resulted in payment, it would probably be from a settlement and not a judgment in her favor.

Over 93% of medical negligence cases don’t make it to litigation, yet the average amount awarded in settlements is almost $340,000 less than that awarded through judgments for the plaintiff. These statistics leave many feeling as if they’re ultimately punished for being victims of medical negligence

So, do you still think you’re being treated right?

If you think you or a loved one has been a victim of medical negligence, contact an experienced malpractice attorney as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to track down records and documents related to your case. A medical malpractice lawyer will review your case with you and help to decide the best course of action.