Colton, CA Medical Malpractice Lawyer - Hospital Negligence Attorneys
Medical malpractice can cause immense suffering when doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals fail to provide adequate care. Hospital negligence often results in catastrophic injuries that change the victim’s life forever. If you or a loved one experienced medical malpractice in Colton or the surrounding region of San Bernardino County, you need legal advocates on your side. The medical malpractice lawyers of Moseley Collins Law have over 40 years of combined experience representing clients nationwide and obtaining multi-million dollar recoveries. We offer free consultations to review what happened in your case. And even if we cannot take on your specific claim, we will point you toward additional resources.
The Dangers of Medical Malpractice in HospitalsHospitals play a vital role in communities when illness or injury require advanced medical technology, testing capabilities, surgery with anesthesia, intensive care units, skilled specialists, infectious disease control, and around-the-clock monitoring. But these same complex settings also lend themselves to errors and oversights. With so many professionals involved in patient care, communication breakdowns or lapses in protocol can directly cause harm.
Some examples of preventable medical malpractice within hospitals include:
Surgical ErrorsSurgeries pose countless opportunities for mistakes with life-changing consequences. Whether injuries occur through the improper administration of anesthesia, mistakes made during the procedure itself, or failing to prevent post-operative infections, patients can face catastrophic harm. Botched surgeries may require multiple follow-up procedures, dramatically lengthen recovery periods, lead to permanent impairment, or result in wrongful death.
Misdiagnosis / Delayed DiagnosisDiagnostic errors continue plaguing healthcare. Whether from failing to order appropriate tests, misreading results, or not recognizing symptoms, inaccurate or late diagnoses rob patients of treatment opportunities. Misdiagnoses often snowball into more systemic medical errors as well. Cancer misdiagnosed as benign, heart attacks dismissed as acid reflux, and many other missed or delayed diagnoses can rapidly escalate harmful outcomes.
Hospital-Acquired InfectionsHealthcare facilities shoulder responsibility for preventing infections through scrupulous infectious disease control policies covering hand washing, sterilized medical equipment, isolated contaminated areas, etc. When these practices break down and cause MRSA, C. diff, staph, sepsis, or other often-antibiotic resistant superbugs, patients deserve accountability.
Medication ErrorsIn fast-paced hospital environments, medication mistakes may involve prescribing incorrect dosages, ignoring harmful drug interactions, administering to the wrong patients, or improperly filled prescriptions. Hospitals also must safely maintain drug dispensers, IV controllers, anesthesia machines, and related pharmaceutical equipment. Failure along any link in this complex chain can lead to permanent patient damage or death from overdoses, toxic interactions, or allergic reactions.
Additional examples of medical negligence include failing to order needed tests or lab work per established diagnostic protocols, not carefully reviewing test results for early signs of cancer or other issues, dismissively ignoring reasonable patient complaints of severe pain or worrisome symptoms, failing to adequately monitor higher-risk patients after surgery or those recovering on general hospital floors for potentially deadly complications such as pulmonary embolisms or sepsis, and hastily discharging patients who still require close observation without adequate follow-up care coordination.
Major Hospitals Serving Colton, CA and Surrounding AreasRegional Medical CenterA public hospital and trauma center offering a wide range of services including cancer care, dialysis, neurosurgery, pediatrics, stroke center, emergency medicine and more.
Loma Linda University Medical CenterAs a teaching hospital associated with Loma Linda University Health, this faith-based nonprofit hospital provides specialty care, transplantation services, behavioral medicine, clinical trials, burn treatment, and more.
Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical CenterPart of the large non-profit Kaiser healthcare system, this 146-bed hospital serves Southern California residents with primary care, urgent care, maternity, imaging, emergency, and various specialties.
Jerry L Pettis Memorial VA Medical CenterThe VA Hospital in Loma Linda offers veterans a full range of primary care and specialist medical services, surgical departments, physical therapy, mental health, residential care, geriatrics, and extensive outpatient programs.
Areas Served by Our Colton Medical Malpractice LawyersWe have helped injured victims and bereaved families across many Inland Empire cities and counties after experiencing medical negligence, including:
- Bloomington
- Chino
- Chino Hills
- Corona
- Fontana
- Highland
- Loma Linda
- Montclair
- Moreno Valley
- Ontario
- Pomona
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Redlands
- Rialto
- Riverside
- San Bernardino
- Upland
- Yucaipa
And more! If your city is not listed, please still contact us for a free review of your case.
Review Your Legal Options with Our Hospital Negligence LawyersNo amount of money can ever make up for losing a loved one or suffering permanent disabilities that forever take away your quality of life. But obtaining financial resources to pay for ongoing medical care, rehabilitation costs, loss of income, and other damages can make a tremendous difference for you and your family. Putting accountability back into our healthcare system also helps prevent the same mistakes from happening again so others avoid harm.
Connect with our compassionate medical malpractice lawyers online or call 800-426-5546 for clarity on your best path forward. We offer free consultations as well as no recovery / no fee representation arrangements if we take on your claim. Over 80% of our extensive experience handles catastrophic cases involving fatal mistakes or lifelong patient disabilities requiring 24/7 care. Please contact us today to learn more.
Signs Your Injury Stemmed from Medical NegligenceIn ideal world, doctors, nurses, surgeons, specialists, pharmacists, technicians, and all other hospital personnel perfectly coordinate care, follow every protocol, precisely carry out procedures, correctly diagnose conditions, administer appropriate medications, minimize risks of complications, monitor patients with vigilance, communicate clearly, and discharge people safely.
But hospitals represent complex, often chaotic, environments where mistakes and oversights frequently occur. From small errors to outright negligence, patients all too commonly suffer from avoidable harm. Many never even realize their pain and impairment directly stemmed from poor medical care.
Signs your situation warrants investigation into potential malpractice claims include:
- Unexpected complications arose during or after surgery
- Pain medications proved ineffective at managing severe discomfort
- Complaints of acute agony got dismissed rather than adequately investigated
- Lab work and test results showed dramatic changes without explanation
- Potential side effects or complications went undisclosed for prescribed drugs
- Symptoms clearly pointed toward one diagnosis that got ignored
- Reasonable medical questions went unanswered by staff
- Staff refused patient transfer requests to see specialist consults
- Discharge planning lacked proper follow-up coordination
Being left in the dark about what happened represents one of the hardest parts of experiencing medical harm. The litigation process opens doors to answers through extensive medical record review by independent specialists and legal discovery mechanisms. Although money can never make up for suffering or losing a loved one, financial recoveries also grant resources for long-term care needs.
Connect with our law firm for a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer if any negligent patterns stand out regarding your hospital care. Even if we cannot take on your specific claim, we will help point you in the right direction for next steps. Reach us 24/7 at 800-426-5546.
What Damages Can You Recover from a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?No two medical malpractice cases result in precisely the same damages. Unique circumstances surrounding patients' ages, health statuses, employment, family situations, and nature of injuries all impact potential compensation categories for economic and non-economic harm. Working with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer helps accurately quantify both tangible and intangible losses for negotiating fair recoveries.
Economic damages might include reimbursement for:
- Past and future medical bills: Both already paid expenses and predictable care needs
- Rehabilitation costs: Inpatient rehab, outpatient therapy, counseling, prescription drugs
- Lost income: Salary and benefits lost due to disability Leave of Absences (LOAs)
- Loss of future earnings: Permanent inability to work at certain jobs / income levels
- Out of pocket costs: Medications, medical equipment, hired home healthcare, transportation for care, etc.
Non-economic damages reflect harder to quantify but very real loss of well-being categories:
- Pain and suffering: Physical discomfort and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment: Diminished involvement in formerly pleasurable activities
- Loss of consortium: Negative impacts on marital relations and family life
- Psychological suffering: Depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma
Punitive damages also apply for especially egregious behaviors like drunk driving accidents or clear gross negligence. These fines aim to punish wrongdoers rather than simply compensate victims.
While no financial awards erase catastrophic harm from malpractice, obtaining fair compensation facilitates accessing vital resources for moving forward. Partner with determined lawyers to pursue your fullest entitled damages. Call 800-426-5546 or contact us online for a free consultation.
The Litigation Process for a Medical Malpractice ClaimMedical malpractice court cases progress through relatively standard phases, though precise timeframes and details vary. Understanding what to expect can better equip victims and families to weather difficulties accompanying complex litigation. Partnering with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer also helps smooth out the journey by keeping cases focused on the strongest arguments while preparing clients for each step.
Here is what to anticipate with the medical negligence litigation roadmap:
Investigating NegligenceLawyers start by deeply reviewing what happened in your case, assembling a timeline of relevant events from medical records and accounts. Finding medical experts from appropriate specialties to scrutinize details is crucial for identifying breaches of standards of care.
Sending NoticeBefore commencing lawsuits, state laws require mailing notice of intent to sue. This allows medical providers opportunities to settle, which most refuse. After statutory notice periods pass, the litigation gears up.
Filing the LawsuitPaperwork gets submitted to designate defendants and frame arguments around how they failed duties of care, leading to patient harm. Answer periods give defendants time to respond before floating settlement offers, which nearly always disappoint.
Discovery PhaseExtensive information exchanges ensue, including interrogatories (questions parties must answer) and depositions (recorded Q&A sessions). Lawyers dig into all evidence and witness testimonies building the strongest case.
Settlement PeriodRight before trial commences offers some last opportunities for resolution. But with such severe injuries commonly involved, negotiations frequently stall out.
TrialOccurring before either a judge or jury, trials represent the apex presenting arguments, questioning witnesses, establishing facts and records, and ultimately determining if negligence transpired - as well as correlating damages awards.
Post-Trial MotionsRegardless of trial outcomes, various motions often follow seeking adjustments to decisions or verdicts. Common examples include requests to throw out unfavorable verdicts for plaintiffs due to lack of evidence or reduce awarded monetary damages as excessive.
AppealsDefendants who lose at trial frequently appeal by claiming some aspect like evidentiary issues or jury instructions got handled improperly according to statutes. Navigating appeals requires lawyers specializing in this complex process.
Recovering fair compensation for all your losses takes grit and perseverance. But the right lawyer can help steer you through the turbulence. Contact our firm for dedicated legal guidance at 800-426-5546.
Why Choose Us for Your Medical Malpractice Needs?With extensive experience representing clients nationwide for over 40 years and achieving numerous multi-million dollar recoveries across the country, Moseley Collins Law stands ready to diligently investigate what went wrong in your medical malpractice case while treating you like family. Some top reasons injured victims and bereaved families select us include:
Compassionate SupportCaring counsel and genuine concern for our clients as human beings anchor our firm. We understand representing far more than legal issues - but families devastated by medical errors.
Seasoned LawyersOur lawyers and case managers average over a decade handling these highly complex cases. We stay fully versed on the latest legal decisions plus medical standards shaping these specialty cases across the nation.
Objective InvestigationsRelying on independent medical experts from diverse specialties, we constructively critique care standards looking beyond superficial explanations for deeper answers.
Meticulous PreparationThoroughness and tenacity drive every case pursuit. We assemble robust arguments covering how patients suffered readily preventable harm when reasonable care got abandoned.
Results DrivenOver 80% of our practice focuses specifically on catastrophic cases where medical negligence so severely impacted victims that full-time care became necessary. We zealously pursue maximum financial recoveries for 24/7 medical and life needs.
Contact us online or call anytime 24/7 toll-free with questions at 800-426-5546. Partnering with Moseley Collins Law places professional advocacy firmly on your side when errors altered everything.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)What are typical out of pocket costs for a malpractice lawsuit?Our firm works on a contingency fee basis meaning we only get paid if you recover damages, thereby requiring no money upfront from clients. We also cover all case costs needed to build arguments like hiring medical experts. If no recovery comes, you owe us nothing.
Do I need a lawyer to sue a hospital or doctor?Technically no, but the complex legal and medical issues surrounding proving malpractice make working with a specialist lawyer essential. Seasoned counsel adeptly guides you through the emotionally and procedurally difficult litigation process.
How long do I have to file a malpractice lawsuit?Every state enacts different statutes of limitations - strict deadlines for taking legal action. In California, adults have 1 year from the date of discovery while minors have until age 8 or 26 depending on circumstances. Move promptly to preserve rights.
Does malpractice also include nurses, technicians, or other staff?Yes, liability extends beyond just lead physicians down through all ancillary staff who failed to adhere to reasonable standards of patient care and skill, thereby causing preventable harm through acts or oversights.
Can I recover money damages if a loved one died?Yes, states allow close family members to file wrongful death suits regarding earning capacity losses, funeral bills, pain and suffering of the victim prior passing, and loss of companionship damages. Our firm handles these sensitive cases.
Partner with Our FirmConnect with our compassionate medical malpractice attorneys online or call 800-426-5546 for clarity on your best path forward. We offer free consultations as well as no recovery / no fee representation arrangements if we take on your claim. Over 80% of our extensive experience handles catastrophic cases involving fatal mistakes or lifelong patient disabilities requiring 24/7 care. Please contact us today to learn more.