Everyone knows that accidents happen. Sometimes accidents happen, and any harm that results from them is nobody’s fault. However, in the medical profession, standards exist that help to determine when someone should be rightfully held accountable for harm resulting from mistakes. For example, if an accident occurs in a hospital setting because hospital administrators failed to minimize the risk of harm to patients or workers, that facility may be held liable for the injuries suffered as a result of its negligence or recklessness. If you or a loved one has suffered harm as a result of a hospital accident, you may be in a strong position to seek compensation from that facility.
Accidents Happen – When Are They Actionable?
As an experienced hospital accident lawyer – including those who practice at Cohen & Cohen – can confirm and explain thoroughly, specific legal criteria must be met before a hospital can be held liable for harm resulting from any accidents that may occur on its grounds. Hospitals are generally held to the same duty of care that individual health care providers are. Meaning, hospitals must provide the standard of care that another reasonably competent facility would provide if facing similar circumstances.
Practically speaking, this means that if another hospital would have taken specific steps to minimize the risk of harm to patients and/or workers under similar circumstances and the facility named as a defendant in a lawsuit did not take such steps, that facility may potentially be held liable for any harm resulting from the negligent or reckless scenario in question.
Suing a Facility vs. an Individual Healthcare Provider
Suing a medical facility is much like suing an individual health care provider. With that said, most medical facilities have a strong team of lawyers working around the clock to minimize the facility’s liability. As a result, if you are in a position to sue a facility, you’ll need a lawyer on your side who has a proven track record of being able to get results in the face of such challenging legal odds.
Contact a Knowledgeable Personal Injury Lawyer to Learn More
Even if you are not sure of whether you have grounds to file legal action, it is important to speak with an attorney to clarify your rights under the law and any opportunities for legal and financial recourse that may be available to you at this time. Similarly, it is important to speak with an attorney if you have already been offered a settlement by a negligent medical facility. If you accept the terms of a settlement without confirming that the offer is fairly valued, you may be signing away your rights to receive the maximum amount of rightful compensation that you are owed.
If you have been harmed due to hospital negligence, don’t remain burdened by the financial consequences of the facility’s misconduct. Connect with an attorney today to pursue any and all compensation to which you are rightfully entitled.