Getting hurt because of someone else’s irresponsible conduct can change one’s life in the blink of an eye. The victim may start to incur significant medical bills, lose time from work, and possibly be disabled. That’s to say nothing of the decreased quality of life or the pain and suffering.
One specific type of personal injury is that which results from medical negligence, also known as medical malpractice. These cases can leave patients with irreversible injuries and medical conditions that may cut short a once-promising career or necessitate major medical intervention. In some cases, the malpractice even costs the victim their life.
We understand the stress you are likely experiencing as you wonder how you will pay these bills and support yourself and your family. Flagstaff personal injury and medical malpractice victims have a trusted ally in the Gill Law Firm. Learn more about how we can serve you today.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Take
The Gill Law Firm represents personal injury victims in a broad array of cases, advocating for them with the dedication and professionalism they deserve. Our attorneys have handled such cases as:
- Car Accidents: Drivers owe a duty of care to other drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. From drunk driving to distracted driving, there are many ways they can breach this duty and cause an accident.
- Bicycle Accidents: Bicyclists lack the protective steel frames of automobiles, putting them at risk of serious injury in the event of a wreck. We fight to hold negligent drivers who cause these accidents accountable.
- Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists are also vulnerable to injuries, and may face unfair bias from insurance companies and juries. We stand up for their legal rights and seek the compensation they need to heal.
- Truck Accidents: Due to their size and weight, trucks tend to cause more catastrophic collisions and leave victims with significant injuries. We uncover why these wrecks happen and who should be held liable.
- Premises Liability: Property owners have a duty to keep their premises free of hazards. When someone gets injured due to the owner’s negligence, the victim may have the right to seek legal damages.
- Slips and Falls: A slip and fall is a specific type of premises liability case that results from slick, uneven, and other hazardous surfaces. We help victims recover compensation so they can focus on their healing.
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect: Flagstaff nursing homes owe a duty to their patients to provide for their care and keep them safe. When they don’t, our legal team helps victims and their families seek justice.
- Wrongful Death: If a party’s negligent conduct causes the death of the victim, eligible survivors can bring a wrongful death claim. These are similar to personal injury lawsuits but involve different legal damages.
What It Takes to Make a Medical Malpractice Claim
Medical malpractice is more than a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare professional or establishment making a mistake. The victim must show that the mistake amounts to a departure from the accepted standard of care that practitioners owe to patients. In other words, the mistake must be unreasonable in light of the circumstances.
Unfortunately, healthcare providers and businesses sometimes fall short of this duty. Some of the most common examples of malpractice that our firm deals with are:
- Medication errors: From administering the wrong medication to giving a patient the incorrect dosage, there are numerous ways to make a mistake.
- Surgical errors: These include such errors as operating on the wrong part of the body, failing to sterilize surgical equipment, and leaving surgical tools and other items inside the patient.
- Birth injuries: Many birth injuries are avoidable, but doctors and nurses who do not properly care for the mother or her baby can cause them.
- Anesthesia errors: Anesthesia is a serious drug that must be administered in the correct amount to alleviate pain, but without giving so much that it harms the patient.
- Diagnosis mistakes: A delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can prevent the patient from getting the treatment they need, potentially aggravating their medical condition.
- Failure to follow up: After treating a patient, a responsible healthcare provider will follow up to monitor their condition.
- Failure to check medical history: Before a doctor can properly treat a patient, they need to understand their medical history.
- Clerical errors: Mixed up records and other clerical mistakes can lead to avoidable health consequences for the patient.
How Our Attorneys Fight for You
Hiring an attorney means retaining someone who understands the personal injury and medical malpractice laws in Flagstaff. But your lawyer is responsible for knowing more than just the substantive laws. For instance, your attorney must be familiar with the rules of civil procedure, evidence, discovery, and local court rules.
One particularly valuable service your attorney can provide is to represent you during mediation, the out-of-court procedure by which parties negotiate and try to settle the case. Your attorney can advise you of the legal consequences of settling the case while working for the most advantageous terms of your agreement. In this way, you can make an informed decision of whether to settle or take your case to trial.
Your attorney should also be prepared to determine a fair value for your case that fully compensates you for your damages, including reasonably estimated future ones. Common examples of damages include medical bills, lost wages, decreased earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and reduced quality of life. Our firm has a network of reliable expert witnesses who help assess the monetary worth of these losses.
While we work towards a settlement with the insurance companies and their lawyers, we also recognize that insurers often negotiate in bad faith. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we will be prepared to take your case before a jury. We are experienced litigators committed to seeking the best outcome for your personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuit.
Contact Our Flagstaff Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you suffered a personal injury or medical malpractice, you should know that you have a limited amount of time to take legal action. Don’t delay seeking the compensation that you and your family deserve. Contact the Gill Law Firm today to begin working on your case.