Healthcare practitioners are obligated to treat their patients with utmost care while addressing any complications promptly and effectively. Unfortunately, they sometimes act negligently and fail to uphold this standard.
If you or a loved one was a victim of medical malpractice in Baltimore, you may have grounds to sue the hospital. Damages you can claim in your lawsuit include medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and even wrongful death compensation if your loved one passed away from related complications. One of our lawyers can assist and guide you throughout the legal process.
Suing a Hospital in Baltimore for Medical Negligence
If you’re the victim of medical negligence or an immediate family member of the victim, you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Note that you’ll have to convince the hospital’s insurance company or a court that your suit and damages are legitimate, which can be difficult.
Showing the Insurance Companies that the Healthcare Practitioner Was Negligent
To convince an insurer or a court about the legitimacy of your case, you’ll have to present evidence of your damages and the hospital’s or its employee’s negligence. This documentation may include medical records related to the incident and a statement from a family member who witnessed the incident.
Additionally, you’ll have to establish the criteria for negligence in your case, which include:
- You and the healthcare worker had a patient-doctor relationship, which demonstrates their duty of care to you.
- The medical professional breached their duty of care, or their responsibility to act in a way that would keep you from harm.
- The breach of duty caused the incident and your injuries.
- Your injuries resulted in damages, such as more medical bills and pain and suffering.
You must prove these elements whether you are filing a case for yourself or on behalf of a family member who passed away from the malpractice.
How Long do You Have to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Maryland?
Once you know which kind of suit to file, you’ll have to consider the applicable filing deadline. If you miss the deadline, you may not be able to recover damages in your case, so you may want to hire your lawyer soon.
In Maryland, the filing deadline for a medical malpractice lawsuit is usually the earlier of either five years from the date of an incident or three years from the date of your discovery of medical malpractice, according to Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-109. Generally, the filing deadline for a wrongful death suit is three years from the date of death, per Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-904.
What Damages Can You Sue a Baltimore Hospital for?
If you or a loved one was harmed due to a medical professional’s negligent actions or inaction, you can sue the hospital the professional works for. The hospital is responsible for its employees, including all of its doctors, nurses, and other medical staff, so when any staff member is negligent and a patient suffers harm, the hospital is responsible.
In your lawsuit, you could sue for:
- Any pain and suffering you or your loved one experienced
- Mental anguish
- Medical bills for past and future treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Wrongful death damages, like funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship, and lost family income
How a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help You Sue a Hospital in Baltimore
You should take the time to heal from your injuries, not find your way through medical malpractice law. Have an attorney take on all aspects of your case for you, such as:
- Collecting evidence of the malpractice, including witness or expert testimony, such as a statement from a doctor
- Handling all correspondence with other parties
- Listing and valuating your damages
- Negotiating a fair settlement
- Arguing your case in court if they cannot reach a settlement
Many law firms that manage medical malpractice cases work on a contingency-fee basis. That way, you won’t have to worry about upfront or out-of-pocket costs. Your lawyer will only ask for payment if they obtain a settlement or court award for you.
Contact Brown & Barron Today to Help You Sue a Hospital in Baltimore
After your or your loved one’s medical malpractice incident, you may want to leave legal matters to an attorney on our team. At Brown & Barron, our lawyers have over 137 years of combined experience litigating medical malpractice cases like yours.
During a consultation with us, we’ll tell you more about us and advise you on how to proceed with your case. This consultation will be completely free of charge, so don’t hesitate to reach out to Brown & Barron. We will take your case on contingency. Call today.