Bellevue Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Representing Injured Patients in Washington

When you need medical care, you trust that your healthcare provider will prioritize your safety and well-being. Unfortunately, medical errors can and do occur, leaving patients grappling with serious injuries, worsened illnesses, or even life-changing consequences. When such a mistake reasonably could have been avoided by a different medical provider in the same situation, it might constitute medical malpractice. 

Do you think you have been injured due to medical malpractice from a medical provider in Bellevue, Washington, or the surrounding area? Come to Carpenter & Zuckerman to discuss the situation with highly experienced medical malpractice attorneys and trial lawyers. We can see if your medical injury was caused by medical malpractice and what to do next if it was. Let us fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve to rebuild your life after a life-changing injury or medical complication.

To learn more about why so many people trust us with their injury claims, we invite you to visit our:

• Case results, including several multimillion-dollar victories.
• Client testimonials, showing how we go above and beyond for clients in need.

Call our Bellevue medical malpractice lawyers at Carpenter & Zuckerman and request a free case review now.

Types of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice comes in many forms, and these errors can occur at any stage of care. According to certain research, it is so common that it might be the leading cause of preventable death in the country.

Common types of medical malpractice include:

• Surgical Errors: Mistakes during surgery, such as operating on the wrong site, leaving surgical instruments inside the body, or performing unnecessary procedures.
• Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: Failing to correctly identify a condition or delaying the diagnosis long enough to cause harm.
• Medication Errors: Prescribing or administering incorrect medications, improper dosages, or failing to review potential drug interactions.
• Birth Injuries: Negligence during childbirth that can harm the mother, baby, or both, including incidents of oxygen deprivation and nerve damage.
• Anesthesia Mistakes: Giving the wrong dosage or failing to properly monitor the patient while under anesthesia can have fatal consequences.
• Failure to Treat: Dismissing symptoms, providing inadequate care, or delaying life-saving treatments.

Each case of medical malpractice is unique, but they all share a common thread of preventable errors that harm patients.

How Medical Malpractice Happens

Medical malpractice is often the result of a combination of preventable factors, which may include the following:

• Healthcare Professional Negligence: Careless errors made by doctors, nurses, surgeons, or other staff, such as failing to adhere to standard procedures or misreading test results.
• Systemic Failures in Medical Facilities: Understaffing, improper employee training, and poor communication between departments can all contribute to patient harm.
• Defective or Faulty Medical Equipment: Devices or tools that malfunction or are improperly maintained can lead to devastating consequences.

Uncovering the root cause of malpractice is important to prepare a strong case. Our legal team works meticulously to identify sources of negligence, so we can find out who is liable for your losses.

Who Is Liable for Medical Malpractice?

Determining liability in medical malpractice cases is often complex. Is one individual medical practitioner to blame for your injuries? Or did medical malpractice occur due to a larger failure in the medical system? Our Bellevue medical malpractice attorneys ask these questions and more when investigating the cause of medical errors and determining what party or parties should be liable. 

Depending on the circumstances, several parties may be held responsible, including:

• Doctors and Surgeons: For errors made in diagnosis, treatment, or surgical procedures.
• Hospitals and Clinics: For systemic issues such as unqualified staff, poor facility management, or unsafe practices.
• Nurses and Medical Technicians: For errors made during patient care or in handling diagnostic tests.
• Pharmaceutical Companies: For harm caused by defective drugs or insufficient warnings about side effects.

Elements of Medical Malpractice

Proving medical malpractice usually requires demonstrating four critical elements in court:

1. Duty of Care: The healthcare provider owed a duty to deliver competent medical care that meets acceptable standards to the patient.
2. Breach of Duty: The provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care expected in similar circumstances.
3. Causation: The breach of duty directly caused the patient’s injury or worsened their condition.
4. Damages: The patient suffered measurable losses, such as medical expenses, pain, emotional suffering, or lost wages, as a result of the malpractice.

Can a Successful Medical Malpractice Claim Pay for Future Corrective Medical Care?

Yes, compensation from a medical malpractice claim often includes coverage for future healthcare needs. If the malpractice has caused lasting injuries or health problems, a successful claim can provide compensation for the care you need to move forward at no additional cost to you. We know that it might be difficult to trust another medical provider to help you after suffering from medical malpractice, but we hope that if we win your case, you’ll feel more confident in getting the continued medical care you need.

Common future damages in a medical malpractice claim include:

• Corrective Surgeries or Treatments: To address injuries caused by the initial malpractice.
• Long-Term Rehabilitation or Therapy: Physical, occupational, or psychological support to aid your recovery.
• Ongoing Medical Costs: For chronic conditions, medications, or assistive devices required as a direct result of the malpractice.

We Always Welcome New Clients – Call Now for Help

Medical malpractice can shatter your trust in a medical provider and leave you with significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges. At Carpenter & Zuckerman in Bellevue, we are committed to standing by your side to seek justice and hold negligent parties accountable for the harm they’ve caused. Our compassionate attorneys understand the stakes and are prepared to fight for the compensation you need, even if it means going to court.

Talk to our medical malpractice trial lawyers now. Just dial (425) 585-4009 and request a free case review.