New Britain Medical Malpractice Attorney

Physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals study for years so that when they go out into the world and start caring for patients, they are able to provide them with competent care. However, many doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, nurses, and other medical professionals in New Britain make negligent mistakes that harm patients.

While the law does not require medical professionals to achieve guaranteed results, it does require them to administer treatment that is in keeping with the standard of care widely accepted within their profession.

When a medical professional’s negligence or recklessness causes their care to fall below that standard, and a patient suffers as a result, that patient file a medical malpractice lawsuit in order to recoup their losses.

Proving medical negligence is challenging. The professional, facility, and their insurers will likely fight back to protect their reputation and avoid financial liability. The New Britain medical malpractice lawyers of the Kocian Law Group have the skill necessary to investigate your case, confirm that malpractice occurred, and help you seek compensation.

Call us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation. If we take your case, we’ll work on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t owe us anything unless and until we recover compensation for you.

Common Types of Medical Malpractice Claims We Handle in New Britain

The attorneys at the Kocian Law Group have experience with a wide variety of medical malpractice claims. No matter how big or small the case is, we are committed to handling each client’s representation with the utmost care, professionalism, and tenacity.

Some of the most common types of medical malpractice claims include:

Understanding the Medical Malpractice Claims Process

Medical malpractice lawsuits in Connecticut generally follow the same claims process as any other personal injury case. The injured party discusses their case with a local personal injury lawyer, and they gather the documentation needed to prove their case. They then attempt to enter into settlement negotiations with the defendant. If necessary, they file a claim against the defendant and argue their case in court.

However, medical malpractice cases in Connecticut include one other important component: the reasonable inquiry certification.

Section 52-190a of the General Statutes of Connecticut states that before a medical malpractice claim can be filed, the injured party must conduct a reasonable inquiry into whether there are grounds for a good faith belief that the defendant acted negligently in caring for or treating the plaintiff.

As part of this inquiry a qualified medical expert must certify that, in their professional opinion, the plaintiff was in fact harmed by the defendant’s medical negligence. Evidence of this reasonable inquiry certification must be filed with the court before a medical malpractice claim addressing the alleged negligence can be filed.

Compensation in a New Britain Medical Malpractice Case

Compensation in medical malpractice cases can be broken down into three main categories: special damages, general damages, and punitive damages.

The terms “special damages” and “economic damages” refer to the quantifiable costs that the injured individual incurred due to the medical malpractice. For example, their medical-related expenses (hospital bills, the cost of necessary medications, and physical therapy bills, for example) as well as their lost wages carry a precise dollar amount.

On the other hand, “general damages” or “non-economic damages” are for losses that do not have a precise dollar amount attached to them. For instance, courts may award general damages to compensate a successful med mal plaintiff for their pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and more.

Courts in Connecticut sometimes award “punitive damages” in medical malpractice cases. Unlike the other two categories of damages, which are designed to make the plaintiff whole again, punitive damages are awarded in order to punish the defendant if their negligence was particularly egregious. However, it should be noted in Connecticut punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice cases are limited to the actual cost of the litigation.

Time Limits on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits in New Britain

Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584 limits the timeframe within which a medical malpractice victim is entitled to file a resulting lawsuit in Connecticut. The statute of limitations states that “No action to recover damages for injury to the person… caused by… malpractice… shall be brought but within two years from the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered.”

In other words, anyone who has been harmed by medical malpractice in Connecticut has two years to file a lawsuit. After these two years have passed the injured party will have likely lost their right to sue.

The deadline set by the Connecticut statute of limitations on medical malpractice makes it important for victims to seek help from a qualified attorney as soon as possible. Don’t let your right to pursue compensation expire.

How Our New Britain Medical Malpractice Attorneys Can Help You

Medical malpractice lawsuits are extremely complex. You should immediately consult with our medical malpractice attorneys to discuss your case in a free consultation.

Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys will be able to evaluate the circumstances surrounding your injury, determine the merit of your claim, advise you on the possible outcomes of pursuing compensation, and advocate on your behalf should you choose to proceed.

Here at the Kocian Law Group, we understand that the harm caused by medical malpractice can be so devastating that no amount of money will make you feel whole again, but we also know that recovering the compensation that you deserve can do a lot for your recovery and can help get your life back on track.

We know that the work we do changes lives and that’s why we fight tirelessly for each and every one of our clients. To find out what the Kocian Law Group can do for you, simply give our New Britain office a call today.