Indiana Lawyers for Hospital Negligence

No one is perfect, and mistakes happen — but what if that mistake costs your life or causes severe harm?

When you put your life in the hands of doctors and other medical staff in the hospital, you expect that they will do everything they can to protect you and keep you safe. But unfortunately, medical errors and mistakes happen.

Studies show that medical errors are now the third leading cause of death in the United States. While some of these errors could happen genuinely by accident, some mistakes are made due to negligence on the part of the doctor, other staff members, or the hospital as a whole.

If you or a loved one are the victims of hospital negligence, you may be entitled to a settlement that can compensate you for your pain, suffering, and losses. At Crossen Law Firm, our Indianapolis hospital negligence lawyers provide results-driven representation for medical malpractice claims. We understand how devastating the results of medical error can be and are here to help.

What is Hospital Negligence?

Hospitals and the staff employed by hospitals have what is legally called a “duty of care.” This means they must follow a recognized standard of care when treating patients to avoid causing preventable harm. If a hospital or a medical professional employed by the hospital fails to uphold this duty of care and makes a mistake that could have been avoided, it is considered negligence, and they can be held liable.

What Are Common Causes of Hospital Negligence?

Hospital errors are made all the time, which is a scary thing to consider. However, most small errors do not end up causing patients harm. But more significant errors made due to negligence can cost a patient their life or lead to a complication that can alter their life.

Some of the most common causes of hospital negligence include the following:

Purposely ignoring a patient and their reported symptoms
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
Lab or test result errors
Medication errors
Failure to obtain a patient’s medical history
Poor communication between staff/departments
Understaffed hospitals
Overworked staff (burnt-out or fatigued doctors and nurses)
Filing or administrative errors
Lack of training
Poor hospital management

Are All Medical Mistakes Considered Hospital Negligence?

When it comes to medical errors, it’s important to understand that not all mistakes are legally considered hospital negligence. While hospital staff and doctors are expected to provide a standard level of care, they are not perfect and cannot save everyone.

For example, if a doctor makes a choice that they believe is best in their professional opinion and they do everything they can to save a patient but that patient still ends up dying, they cannot necessarily be held liable for negligence. Even if doctors do everything they can and provide a high standard of care, things can still go wrong that are often out of their control.

However, if a doctor or other staff member makes an error that could have been prevented or avoided had they been delivering better care, then they are more likely to be found liable for their actions. But you cannot simply blame a doctor or hospital any time there is an unfavorable outcome.

How to Sue a Hospital for Negligence

If you are suing a hospital for negligence, you will need to prove that the hospital or a member of their staff deviated from the professional standard of care. In other words, you must be able to prove that the mistake made could have been avoided had the person or hospital been upholding their duty of care.

Still, even if you think you have proof of negligence, medical malpractice lawsuits in Indiana are challenging and very complex cases. Before you can file a lawsuit, you will need to file a complaint with the Indiana Department of Insurance. From there, a Medical Review Panel will review your claim and determine whether or not you have grounds for a lawsuit.

The panel review process can be time-consuming, and even if it is determined that you can file a lawsuit against the negligent party, it can still take time and a lot of effort before the case is settled. As such, you must work with an attorney who can protect your rights and help you navigate the process so you can reach a settlement as quickly as possible.

There is also a deadline for filing a lawsuit in Indiana. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits in the state is two years from the date of the alleged negligence or injury.

Contact Our Experienced Indiana Lawyers for Hospital Negligence

Hospital negligence cases can be very overwhelming and traumatizing for patients and their families, but working with an experienced lawyer can help ease your burdens. With over 20 years of experience, Crossen Law Firm knows what it takes to win difficult medical malpractice cases and ensure the victims and their loved ones get the compensation they deserve.