Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Charleston
If you or a family member were a victim of negligent care by a doctor, dentist, or other licensed healthcare professional or facility, you might have a right to obtain compensation for the injuries you suffered. Seeking the assistance of experienced medical malpractice lawyers in Charleston can be a crucial step in this process.
Negligent care means your diagnosis and/or treatment failed to meet a “standard of care,” and this failure resulted in injuries or even death. Given that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, having skilled medical malpractice lawyers on your side can significantly impact the outcome of your case.
What is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is a particular legal area that seeks to provide compensation for people who were injured by licensed medical professionals and facilities before, during, and after health-related diagnoses and treatments. Medical malpractice covers many areas. Here’s a listing of the different kinds of malpractice claims that were filed in 2018, along with the percentage of total claims they represent for that year:
- Misdiagnosis 34.1%
- Surgery 21.4%
- Treatment 21.1 %
- Obstetrics-related 10.3%
- Medication-related 4.5%
- Anesthesia-related 3.3%
- Monitoring-related 3.2%
- Other miscellaneous, equipment-related, behavior health-related, and IV and blood products-related 2.2%
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(843) 376-4030
A history of success in Medical Malpractice Cases
$125,000
Car collision
$610,000
Boating Accident
$125,000
Police officer hit by fleeing suspect
$100,000
Car collision
$110,000
Bar Fight
A history of success in Medical Malpractice Claims
A total of $46,225,250 for 194 medical malpractice claims were paid out in South Carolina in 2018. The average amount paid out was $283,274, a 31% increase from the previous year.
On average nationwide, 95.5% of medical malpractice claims were settled before a formal lawsuit was filed or after filing but without input from the court. The remaining 3.5% were judgments, meaning a verdict from a court proceeding.
At Murphy Crantford Meehan, we have a proven track record of successfully obtaining compensation for our clients. We’ve won millions of dollars for our clients, and both Attorneys Crantford and Meehan have been admitted to the Million Dollar Advocates’ Forum. To become members of this exclusive group, they each had to be the principal counsel in at least one case where the award, verdict, or settlement was $1 million or more.
The Charleston medical malpractice attorneys of Murphy Crantford Meehan fight for those who’ve been injured due to the negligence of a medical professional or facility. Contact us today at 843-376-4030 for a free and confidential consultation. We’ll discuss your situation and how our team could help you get the answers and justice you deserve.
What to do if you have a Medical Malpractice Claim
What should I do If I Believe I Have a Medical Malpractice Claim?
- Find another doctor and get a second opinion. While not every doctor will agree on what constitutes proper treatment, especially since technology, philosophy, and medical understanding changes over time, a second opinion can still clue you in on whether your treatment is considered reason or unreasonable from another professional perspective.
- Request your medical records from the doctor. Generally, it’s good practice to have a copy of your medical records, especially if you suspect that there might be something wrong. Your medical record may make the difference between determining proper care or exposing malpractice.
- Do not post on social media about your situation. Don’t put up pictures or stories about what happened, or any of your activities after the accident.
- Try not to make extra contact with the parties involved. If you have decided that you are going to reach out to an attorney. It’s probably a good idea to have the attorney handle all or most of the communications.
- Keep a journal of what happens to you. It’s important to keep track of your symptoms and how medical treatments impact you over time. Sometimes indications of malpractice show up in accordance with how symptoms present over time.
- Contact an Attorney. An attorney can make a determination as to whether you may have a case and whether that case can provide the compensation necessary to help resolve problems that may have come out of the possible medical malpractice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
South Carolina law refers to an “acceptable standard of care” as “the reasonable and ordinary knowledge, skill, and diligence physicians in similar neighborhoods and surroundings ordinarily use under like circumstances.”
If you can prove you suffered damages due to your physician or medical facility not following an acceptable standard of care, you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
It’s not just your doctor or surgeon who can be held liable for the injury(s) you may have suffered. If your licensed health care professional belongs to a medical practice, the practice could also be held liable, along with the hospital, clinic, or other health care facility, nursing home or pharmacy.
At Murphy Crantford Meehan, your initial consultation is free. During our discussion, we will explain how our fees will be handled. We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we collect either a percentage of the monetary damages in your settlement or from a judgment awarded to you if your case goes to trial and you win. You pay no upfront fees when you work with us, and if we don’t win compensation for you, we don’t get paid. You’ll owe us nothing.
The amount of time you have to get your medical malpractice case started in a state’s civil court system is governed by a law known as the statute of limitations. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations is generally three years. There are a few exceptions, but the sooner you talk with us at Murphy Crantford Meehan Attorneys at Law, the more time we have to work with you to sort out the specifics of the timing and plan your case.
As soon as you suspect your injury(s) may have been caused by a licensed medical professional’s negligence, you should immediately contact the urphy Crantford Meehan medical malpractice attorneys at our Charleston office.
Medical malpractice claims in South Carolina generally must be made within three years from the date the injury was discovered or should have been discovered, or from the date the procedure or operation was performed.
These kinds of claims are frequently complex and may involve other medical professionals, medical facilities, pharmacies, extensive medical records, expert witnesses, and more. Getting a lawyer on your team as soon as possible increases your opportunity to make sure all relevant evidence is preserved.
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