Medical Malpractice Attorneys Los Angeles

All of us have heard a lot about “Tort Reform” in the past 10 years or more on both a State and National level from politicians.  At first glance many people might think that it is a good thing.  However, limiting someone’s Constitutional Rights is never a good thing.  California passed tort reform in 1975 affecting disputes between healthcare providers and limiting the recovery of the injured victim of medical malpractice.  This has had the effect of limiting victims of medical malpractice access to attorneys, courts and juries, and ultimately justice for the harm caused to them by negligent health care providers.  If you or a loved one believe that you are the victim of medical malpractice it is imperative to seek the advice of an experienced medical malpractice attorney.  At the Haggai Law Firm we can help you navigate your claim against your healthcare provider that caused injuries to you or your loved one.

Statutes of Limitations

If you are in a car accident or have a slip and fall injury, the victim of another’s negligence generally has two years from the date of loss to file a lawsuit.  However, in California , a medical malpractice victim’s rights are restricted and they must, within one year from the date the victim discovered the negligent act of the healthcare provider, but no more than three years from the date of injury, file a lawsuit. For cases where the healthcare provider leaves a foreign object inside the human body after surgery, the statute is tolled until the victim discovers or should have discovered the injury.

In the case of a minor, in ordinary personal injury cases, a victim of negligence who is a minor at the time of injury has two years from his or her 18^th birthday to file a lawsuit.  However, the law is more restricting and the parents or guardians of the injured minor must move faster when a healthcare provider causes the injuries.  In medical malpractice cases involving a minor, the lawsuit must be filed within three years from the date of the negligent act, unless the child is under the age of six, in which case the action must be commenced within three years or prior to the child’s eighth birthday, whichever provides the longer time period.

Hospital May Be Responsible for the Acts of the Doctor and Nurses Causing Harm

California law allows a victim of medical malpractice to hold a hospital liable for the acts of a doctor if he or she is an agent of the hospital.  When a hospital holds out a physician as an employee, a patient may reasonably assume that the physician is an employee of the hospital without making an inquiry on the subject.

Expert Testimony

To establish a claim case of medical malpractice in Los Angeles against a healthcare provider, the negligence of that healthcare provider must be proven by expert medical testimony.  While it is not required to have an expert review a case prior to filing a lawsuit, we believe it is good practice and require all clients to have their claims reviewed by an expert prior to filing a lawsuit

Damage Caps

If you are injured in a car accident or other personal injury claim, not committed by a healthcare provider, you are entitled to receive full recover for the injuries you have suffered.  Unfortunately regardless of injury, California places a cap on non-economic damages for medical malpractice cases.  Non-economic damages, which are compensation for the greatest loss in a personal injury case – as compensation for pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, disfigurement, and other non-pecuniary injury, are limited to $250,000.  The cap applies whether the case is for injury or death.  While there are damages caps on the non-economic injuries you have suffered, there are no caps in California for your economic losses.  When you or a loved one is injured as a result of someone’s negligence, this loss may be accompanied by a life time of required medical care and treatment.  It may also mean that you or your injured loved one can no longer work and support your family.  In California, you are entitled to receive compensation for all your economic losses.  Therefore, it is imperative you contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to help you with your claim.  Call us today at the Haggai Law Firm to speak with an experienced medical practice attorney.

Periodic Payments

If you are injured in a car accident, and you settle or receive a verdict from a jury, you are entitled to payment for your damages immediately.  However, unlike other claims for personal injuries, for medical malpractice cases that result in judgments of future damages in excess of $50,000, either party may request the court to order periodic payments.

Statutory Cap on Attorneys’ Fees

California limits the amount attorneys in a medical malpractice case can collect pursuant to a contingent fee arrangement to 40 percent of the first $50,000, 33 1/3 percent of the next $50,000, 25 percent of the next $500,000, and 15 percent of any amount that exceeds $600,000.   This limit applies regardless of whether the recovery is by settlement, arbitration, or judgment.  However, the attorneys for the hospital or doctor who caused your injuries fee’s are not limited in anyway.  In other words, the hospital can pay the doctor market rates.  The effect of this law is that fewer attorneys take medical malpractice cases, making it more difficult for you to find an attorney willing to work for less compensation to represent you in your personal injury claim against a hospital or other healthcare provider.  We at the Haggai Law Firm still handle medical malpractice cases in Los Angeles despite these fee limitations.  We want to make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to under the law for the harm caused by a healthcare provider’s negligence.  Call the Haggai Law Firm today to speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Los Angeles.

You Need an Experience Medical Malpractice Lawyer to Help You

In California, because of the complexity of the law, it is imperative to hire an attorney with experience to help you and your family get the recovery you deserve to compensate you for the harms you and your family has suffered as a result of medical negligence of the healthcare provider.  Because of the strict timelines for filing a lawsuit, it is also highly important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to insure that your claim is timely.

At the Haggai Law Firm we have the experience to help you with your medical malpractice claims.  Please contact us immediately at 310-998-2420 to speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Los Angeles.

 

Christa R. Haggai