Asheville Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Seeking Justice for Victims of Medical Negligence in North Carolina
Most of us aren’t medical experts, so we trust our doctors, nurses, and hospitals to make a good diagnosis and carry out our care in a responsible manner. Most of the time, that’s exactly what happens. But there are still far too many instances where it doesn’t, and the consequences can be seriously damaging — even fatal — for the patient. A medical malpractice attorney is there to hold the healthcare industry accountable and obtain some measure of justice for those who have suffered.
Hensley Cloninger & Greer will give you sound advice on your medical malpractice case. Call (828) 383-8414 or contact us online.
Understanding Medical Malpractice: The 4 Elements of Negligence
Winning a medical malpractice lawsuit requires proving that whoever is the target of the lawsuit was negligent. There are four things that must be proven in court to establish negligence.
Duty of Care
All four of these principles apply in all personal injury cases, not just medical malpractice. The first principle, the duty of care, will likely be self-evident in a medical lawsuit. If there’s a doctor-patient relationship in place, then the doctor and the staff owe a duty of care.
Breach of Duty
The plaintiff must prove that their injuries happened because the medical professional breached their duty. It’s not enough to simply establish that an adverse event occurred or even that it can be directly tied to the medical procedure. It must also be shown that all the above happened because the defendant failed to act within the boundaries of what would be considered reasonable care.
Causation
After the breach of duty is established, the court will want to see causation — that is, that the adverse event can be specifically tied to the breach of duty. In some cases, causation will be obvious, but not as often as you might think. The defendant will have access to medical records. They may seek to argue that your adverse event was caused by a pre-existing condition. A part of the pre-trial process will be a deposition where a plaintiff may be asked about their post-medical procedure activities. An attempt may be made to tie an adverse event to those activities rather than the breach of duty.
Damages
The plaintiff must show what specific damages they have suffered as the result of a healthcare professional’s negligence. The natural place to start is medical bills that resulted from negligence. Any time missed from work can be documented to show lost income. These are the economic damages that can be collected.
Non-economic damages can be more challenging. They involve finding some level of compensation for the plaintiff’s pain, suffering, and general loss of quality of life. North Carolina law currently limits non-economic damages in a medical malpractice case to $500,000.
A final challenge on the question of damages is the fact North Carolina uses strict contributory negligence. This means a court assesses the overall responsibility that lies with both plaintiff and defendant. Perhaps the court believes that there was negligence, but that the defendant did contribute somewhat to the adverse event by their post-procedure activities, or that a pre-existing condition was at least in some way responsible.
This is not unusual. What makes the state of North Carolina unusual is that we are one of just five states where if the plaintiff has any responsibility at all, they collect nothing. The more common approach is to allow a plaintiff to collect in proportion to their share of responsibility. All of this heightens the burden of proof that will be on the plaintiff’s legal team. It underscores the importance of having a deeply experienced medical malpractice attorney in your corner when battling against the healthcare industry.
North Carolina Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations
If you suffered from medical malpractice, you may find yourself wondering how long you have to sue for medical malpractice. The statute of limitations in general can be a complex law, that contains many exceptions or extensions depending on the specifics of an individual’s case. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases is typically even more complex. According to North Carolina General Statutes section 1-15 medical malpractice injury victims typically have at least 3 years from the date of their injury to file a claim.
Some circumstance that the law acknowledges can change this time period includes if the injury was caused by a foreign object left in the injury victim’s body. Another law that is typically associated with medical malpractice is sometimes referred to as the “discovery rule.” In short this law accounts for the fact that some injury victims do not realize they have been injured right away. When undergoing a medical procedure, particularly one that includes surgery, pain and discomfort are expected.
For some, it takes time to realize that their suffering is not par for the course for their procedure. If you believe you have suffered an injury at the hands of a negligent medical professional, it’s important to speak to an attorney about the details of your case as soon as possible.
Contact Our Asheville Medical Malpractice Attorneys Today
We have been fighting for victims of medical malpractice for over 30 years. At Hensley Cloninger & Greer, P.C, our Asheville medical malpractice lawyers don’t shy away from the high standards. We meet them and we secure justice for people who need and deserve it.
Call (828) 383-8414 or contact us online to set up a FREE consultation.
Commonly Asked Questions
What Is Strict Contributory Negligence & How Does It Affect My Medical Malpractice Claim in North Carolina?
Strict contributory negligence is a legal doctrine used in North Carolina that denies recovery of damages if the plaintiff is found to be even slightly at fault for the injury. This means if you contributed to your injury in any way, you may not be able to collect compensation. This underscores the importance of having an experienced medical malpractice attorney to navigate these complex legal challenges.
Why Should I Choose Hensley Cloninger & Greer, P.C. for My Medical Malpractice Case in Asheville?
Choosing Hensley Cloninger & Greer, P.C. for your medical malpractice case in Asheville means you'll be represented by a team with over 30 years of experience in securing justice for victims. Our firm is committed to meeting high standards, providing sound advice, and handling your case with the utmost care and professionalism.