Experienced Lawyers For White Plains Medical Malpractice Victims

We must occasionally place our own and our loved ones’ health in the hands of medical professionals. We do so knowing that all medical procedures have risks – but we also have a right to expect professional diligence and adherence to standards of care. The medical malpractice lawyers at Meagher & Meagher, P.C., know how important it is to help those affected by medical malpractice.

If you or a family member has been severely injured and you believe medical negligence is the reason, our White Plains medical malpractice lawyers want to know about it.

Turn To A Firm With A Track Record Of Historic Results For Clients

In an era when many lawyers avoid the complexities and costs of medical malpractice litigation, our principal attorney, Christopher B. Meagher, has achieved widespread recognition for his trial work on behalf of our clients. He was inducted into the New York Law Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements Hall of Fame in 2014 in recognition of two of the largest medical malpractice verdicts ever awarded in New York. Our medical malpractice lawyers have a history of excellence in fighting for victims across New York.

We work with premier physicians and other medical professionals across the spectrum of medical specialties to qualify, build and present our cases in White Plains and throughout New York.

Many of our successes at trial have involved multiple defendants and taken place in notably conservative jurisdictions. Our medical malpractice lawyers are well-equipped to evaluate and pursue medical malpractice claims involving, for example:

• Infant brain injuries resulting in cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, Erb’s palsy or other birth injuries due to negligence during labor and delivery
• Surgical errors with devastating or fatal consequences
• Medication errors resulting in serious damage or death
• Failed or missed diagnosis in regard to cancer, stroke or other conditions that demand prompt medical treatment
• Acts of malpractice in the dental field resulting in serious or permanent injury

Frequently Asked Questions Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Receive

Experiencing substandard care or hospital negligence can leave you with many questions. Our medical malpractice lawyers can answer those questions and provide you with the insights you need to make informed decisions about your claim.

• What is medical malpractice?
• How do I know if I have a valid medical malpractice claim in New York?
• Who can be held liable in a medical malpractice lawsuit?
• If I had signed a consent form before the incident, can I recover damages in a claim against my doctor?
• What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in New York?
• How hard is it to prove medical malpractice in New York?

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider falls short of a reasonable standard of care and their actions or neglect harm a patient. This can involve a wide variety of errors or omissions, including:

• Misdiagnosing or not diagnosing a patient’s condition
• Surgical errors, including unnecessary surgeries or surgery on the wrong body part
• Not ordering important tests when a patient’s symptoms merit those tests
• Not taking steps to prevent infections
• Prescribe or provide the wrong medication or medication dosage to a patient
• Failing to appropriately care for mother or child during pregnancy or birth, leading to birth injuries

These errors can occur at any stage of a patient’s treatment.

How do I know if I have a valid medical malpractice claim in New York?

A medical malpractice claim must involve a few key factors:

• The health care provider had a duty to care for you
• The health care provider failed to uphold that duty
• Their negligence or mistake led to your injuries

An experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you identify whether a medical malpractice claim is an option in your situation and pursue fair compensation for the harm you suffered.

Who can be held liable in a medical malpractice lawsuit?

When health care providers are negligent in their duties to patients, that negligence makes them liable in a medical malpractice lawsuit. This could include anyone who was responsible for caring for that patient, including doctors, surgeons, nurses and other hospital staff.

If I had signed a consent form before the incident, can I recover damages in a claim against my doctor?

Every medical procedure comes with risks, and a consent form is meant to inform patients of the challenges they can reasonably expect due to that procedure. However, accepting a medical procedure’s risks does not mean accepting a health care provider’s negligence. As a result, you may still be able to make a claim and recover damages for hospital negligence. Our medical malpractice lawyers will examine the details of your case and help you make a determination if medical malpractice could be suspected.

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in New York?

New York medical malpractice victims generally have two years and six months from the date of the medical error to pursue a claim. However, that time limit varies depending on the details of your claim. For example, if the injured person was under the age of 18 when the malpractice occurred, they usually have more time to file a lawsuit.

Because the statute of limitations for a malpractice claim can vary, you may want to discuss your situation with a lawyer with experience in these lawsuits.

How hard is it to prove medical malpractice in New York?

There are a few things that you need to prove in a medical malpractice claim. They are as follows:

● The medical professional owed you a duty of care.
● The professional breached that duty.
● Due to this breach, whether it was negligent or intentional, you suffered harm.
● The harm that you suffered is going to have a financial impact on you and your future.

For example, say that you were in the hospital having surgery. The surgeon owed you a duty of care. If they made a negligent mistake – such as anesthesia errors or performing wrong-site surgery – then they breached their duty. Because of the results of this incorrect surgery, you may have a lifelong disability, or you may need further medical treatment to address the issue. You have also experienced pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lost wages. If you have suffered lifelong harm, you may have experienced a loss of enjoyment of life – you can no longer enjoy your hobbies, play with your children, etc.

All of these issues are going to have an impact on your life, so you can likely seek financial compensation from the medical professional who made the mistake and perhaps the hospital where they work.

Often, the hardest thing to prove is negligence. Remember that all poor outcomes are not examples of medical malpractice. If someone has a heart attack and the doctors work to save them but are unsuccessful, that does not mean it is automatically the doctor’s fault. You need to show that they made negligent errors and that you did not receive the level of care that you would have reasonably expected in a medical institution.

To show negligence, it is often wise to bring in a medical expert. They can testify regarding the type of care you should have received and show how mistakes were made that meant your care did not reach that level. It is also helpful to have medical records and other documentation to directly show your injuries and financial costs.

At this time, it can be highly beneficial to work with an experienced law firm. Our attorneys are ready to help you defend your rights, explore your options and navigate a complex medical malpractice case. We can help you prove that malpractice occurred, adhere to deadlines like the statute of limitations and seek full compensation.

Informed Case Evaluations Based On Experience. Focused, Trial-Proven Advocacy

Experience and reputation matter greatly when selecting a medical malpractice lawyer. Christopher Meagher, our principal trial lawyer, is known for taking complex, high-value matters through trial and achieving superior results.

We welcome client inquiries and referrals throughout Westchester County; the entire New York City metro area; Dutchess, Putnam, Orange and Rockland counties; and in Connecticut. To request a consultation, call 914-246-2958 or send us an email now.