Baltimore Malpractice Lawyers: Medical Malpractice a Continuing Concern for Patients

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Despite the rapid advancements and discoveries occurring in the medical field, medical malpractice still accounts for a staggering number of deaths in the United States every year. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, medical negligence is currently the third-leading cause of death in the country, surpassed only by cancer and heart disease.

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from the accepted “standard of care,” defined as the actions that competent medical professionals would have taken under the same or a similar set of circumstances. The most common examples of medical malpractice include medication errors, birth injuries, surgical errors, misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, and nursing home neglect and abuse.

These mistakes occur with such frequency that, as recently as 2012, more than $3 billion was spent on medical malpractice lawsuit payouts. Spread out over the year, that averages to one payout every 43 minutes. And while some states are taking measures to curb medical malpractice lawsuits, instances of doctor negligence have not decreased with time.

All states have statutes of limitations, setting a time period within which you must file your lawsuit. In Maryland, it’s five years. Additionally, each state has its own procedural guidelines that need to be met before a lawsuit can be filed. Thoroughly reviewing your experience with a lawyer can help you determine whether your case has a good chance at success.

Contact an experienced Maryland malpractice attorney at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton, P.A. today to learn more about how to file a claim in Maryland.