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Talk To Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Lawyers With Experience

At John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C., you can speak with a medical malpractice lawyer with a proven record of success handling medical malpractice claims for people throughout Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania. For almost 40 years, attorney John A. Caputo has been deeply involved and extremely successful in assisting patients and their families in cases of medical malpractice.

Some of the areas we help with include:

Helping With Nearly All Medical Malpractice Claims

Our firm handles a broad range of medical malpractice issues, including those involving:

  • Birth injuries: The overriding issue in birth injury claims is whether the injury could and should have been prevented by professional caregivers, including the obstetrician, nurses, pediatricians or neonatologists.
  • Misdiagnosis: We help people who have suffered unnecessarily due to misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis of cancer, heart disease and other medical conditions.
  • Emergency room errors: Errors in the emergency room can have devastating consequences. We stand up for victims of emergency room errors in Pittsburgh hospitals and throughout Pennsylvania.
  • Pap specimens: A misread Pap specimen can lead to devastating consequences such as the misdiagnosis of cervical cancer.
  • Brain injuries: There are times when medical professionals or hospital caregivers do not follow the well-known, accepted practices that would detect conditions that threaten the brain. Failure to investigate or even a slight delay in investigating symptoms can lead to irreversible brain injury that incapacitates the patient.
  • Strokes: Some strokes are preventable if only doctors would identify and act upon warning signs. Sadly, this is not always the case.
  • Surgical errors: Our law firm handles all types of surgical error claims, including those involving unnecessary surgery, wrong site surgery and objects left behind in the patient.
  • Infections acquired in hospitals: Hospital staff members are responsible for timely detecting and testing infections.
  • Anesthesia errors: Errors by anesthesiologists can result in brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and even wrongful death.

What Constitutes Medical Malpractice In Pittsburgh?

Medical malpractice in Pittsburgh follows similar principles to those in other jurisdictions in the United States. It occurs when a healthcare professional or facility fails to provide appropriate treatment or acts negligently, harming a patient.

Medical malpractice lawyers can assist patients and their families in proving negligence and seeking compensation for damages resulting from substandard medical care. If you suspect that you may have been a victim of medical malpractice, here are several signs that you may be correct:

  • The hospital or rehab facility you were in seemed understaffed.
  • There was a clear error made during your surgery.
  • You were never informed about the potential risks of a procedure.
  • You were left unmonitored when your condition suddenly worsened.
  • Your doctor failed to order basic lab tests.
  • Your doctor failed to refer you to a specialist when needed.
  • Your doctor failed to consider any other diagnosis.
  • You have received a different diagnosis from a second physician.
  • The treatments you received worsened your condition.
  • You received inadequate follow-up care after a procedure.
  • You have developed a hospital-acquired infection.

Remember: It is very rare for a medical provider or hospital to admit they made mistakes with a patient. They do not want the liability. If you feel something is wrong with your care or your loved one’s care, you need to trust your instincts. If you are unsure if you have a medical malpractice issue, you should consult with a medical malpractice lawyer right away who can:

  • Review medical records and documentation
  • Help you understand your legal options
  • Consult with medical experts to assess the standard of care
  • Gather evidence to support your case
  • Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
  • Represent you in court proceedings
  • Advocate for fair compensation for your injuries

At John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C., we provide compassionate and comprehensive legal representation to clients dealing with medical malpractice issues in Pittsburgh, leveraging our extensive experience and dedication to helping them obtain justice.

How To Find Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Pursuing claims of medical negligence has become increasingly challenging because of legislative efforts to curb health care costs through tort reform. Therefore, securing the services of a competent medical negligence lawyer is vital when pursuing a tort case. This move can help ensure you receive the rightful compensation.

As most medical malpractice claims emerge from complex circumstances, you need to work with an attorney equipped to handle the nuances of medical negligence cases effectively. Here are some factors to consider when looking for a medical malpractice attorney:

  • Experience: Checking the lawyer’s track record and tenure in the field can provide insight into their proficiency and ability to handle your case effectively. Look for attorneys with a proven history of success in similar cases.
  • Previous case results: Beyond experience, ask about the lawyer’s previous verdicts and settlements. Understanding the outcomes the lawyers have achieved for past clients can give you confidence in their abilities and help gauge the potential trajectory of your case.
  • Referrals and recommendations: Seeking recommendations from trusted sources such as friends, family members or healthcare professionals can be invaluable. Personal referrals can provide insights into the lawyer’s communication style, professionalism and overall effectiveness. This can aid your decision-making process.
  • Fee structure: It is essential to discuss the lawyer’s fee structure upfront to avoid any surprises. Some medical malpractice attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only collect payment if you win your case, while others may charge hourly rates or flat fees.
  • In-person meeting: Arrange a face-to-face meeting with potential lawyers to discuss their communication style and approach to handling your case. Building a rapport and assessing how well you communicate with each other is crucial, as open and transparent communication is vital throughout the legal process.

Finding the right medical malpractice lawyer requires thorough research and consideration of multiple factors. This way, you can increase your chances of securing competent legal representation and achieving a favorable outcome in your medical malpractice claim.

Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers’ Process

Before starting your medical malpractice claim, knowing what to expect from the process is important. As your injury lawyers, we are here to guide you through the entire process:

The First Steps

Before contacting us, you may have already been in touch with the involved medical professional to understand what had happened to you and also contacted the related medical licensing board to seek discipline against the liable party. From the date of the accident, you have two years to file a claim, which is where we begin helping you.

One of the first steps we take is to secure a ‘certificate of merit’ from a medical professional to confirm that the medical negligence injuries you sustained are outside the acceptable range of injuries that could result from your health care.

Pursuing A Resolution

Once we have proven the grounds for your claim, we will approach the healthcare provider to negotiate a fair and swift settlement. Even though the defendant’s medical malpractice insurance will often cover your compensation costs, they will still fight to minimize the amount of money you receive. We are ready to represent you through litigation if negotiations cannot provide you with the money you deserve.

We bring in a team of experts – including the best doctors in the relevant practice area – to review your case, identify what was done wrong or could have been prevented, and testify at trial if necessary. We do everything in our power to bolster your case, from establishing the facts of your injuries and examining every aspect of your claim. Our objectives in suing medical practitioners and facilities are to hold them accountable for their mistakes and negligence and to get you compensation for the resulting injuries.

We are committed to making you as whole as possible after your injuries and holding the liable parties accountable for their actions. We use the full extent of our legal abilities to guide our clients to the outcome they deserve in their cases with as little time and difficulty as possible.

Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Take On The Most Challenging Aspects Of These Cases

Medical malpractice lawsuits are filled with intricate aspects that victims should not have to deal with on their own. At John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C., we have the experience to provide clients with sophisticated legal guidance as they work through these details and challenges.

One challenge victims face is determining what type of medical malpractice case they have. More than one form of medical malpractice exists, including:

Lack of informed consent: Doctors who proceed with procedures or treatments without receiving the written consent of their patients may not only be guilty of medical malpractice, but battery as well.
Negligence: When doctors make errors performing procedures and writing prescriptions, they put patients’ lives and health at risk. This constitutes medical malpractice.
Res ipsa loquitur: When patients suffer injuries at the hands of doctors but are unaware of how these injuries occurred, the latter may have committed malpractice if it can be proven the injury speaks for itself.

The approach victims should take depends on the hospital errors they experience. With an attorney’s help, they can understand how to proceed.

Another complex part of medical malpractice lawsuits is establishing how medical professionals failed to meet the standard of care, which is the level of treatment similarly credentialed professionals would have provided in the same situation. Proving this is crucial for prevailing in a medical malpractice lawsuit and requires copious evidence, bulletproof arguments and expert help. Fortunately, you don’t have to take these tasks on by yourself. An attorney can gather evidence for you, consult with experts and build your case as you focus on your recovery.

Medical malpractice victims must also contend with Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for their cases. Victims must bring forth their medical malpractice lawsuits within two years of discovering their injuries. By working with a medical malpractice lawyer, they can ensure they meet this deadline.

Securing Your Compensation Is Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer’s Highest Priority

We are dedicated to the pursuit of justice and obtaining appropriate compensation for the victims of medical malpractice. If you or your family members have been hurt by substandard or negligent medical care, contact us online or call 412-620-6361 for a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your situation. When we accept your case, you owe nothing out of pocket until we recover compensation for you.