Cowlitz County Medical Malpractice Lawyer - Hospital Negligence Attorneys

Dealing with a medical mistake can leave your world shattered. In an instant, your health, finances, and future may be jeopardized by the negligence of a trusted medical provider. Pursuing compensation seems pointless when your only focus is trying to heal and move forward. But holding the responsible party accountable is important - not just for you, but to prevent the same mistake from hurting others.

If you or a loved one suffered due to medical malpractice in Cowlitz, WA, reach out to our team. At Moseley Collins Law, we have over 40 years of experience representing victims of medical negligence. Our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for people injured by substandard healthcare. Now we’re ready to fight for you.

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional fails to meet accepted standards of medical care, resulting in injury or death. Doctors, nurses, specialists or any licensed medical provider can commit malpractice by acting negligently. Some examples include:

• Misdiagnosing or delayed diagnosis of a serious illness
• Surgical mistakes during invasive procedures
• Administering the wrong medication or dosage
• Maternal negligence during pregnancy or delivery
• Improper infection control practices
• Failing to order necessary tests or scans
• Not carefully monitoring patients with serious medical needs

To build a strong malpractice case, our lawyers must prove:

• A doctor-patient relationship existed so the provider owed a duty of care
• The doctor breached this duty of care by deviating from accepted standards
• This breach of duty directly caused the patient’s injuries
• Damages resulted, such as physical harm, pain, lost wages, and lower quality of life

Simply being unhappy with treatment or an undesirable outcome does not necessarily mean malpractice occurred. There must be proof the doctor acted negligently resulting in harm that would have otherwise been avoided.

The main hospitals in Cowlitz County where we often see malpractice cases originate are:

PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center (Longview)

• 268-bed regional medical center
• Level III trauma center providing specialized emergency medicine
• Wide range of services including cancer care, neurology, cardiovascular, orthopedics, oncology, and advanced surgery

Ocean Beach Hospital (Ilwaco)

• Critical access hospital with 15 beds
• 24/7 emergency department
• Provides surgery, swing bed recovery, and rehabilitation

Along with the major hospitals, Cowlitz County has many other healthcare facilities where medical negligence occurs regularly:

• Nursing homes & long term care centers
• Rehabilitation facilities
• Pediatricians’ and obstetricians’ offices
• Ambulatory surgery centers
• Psychiatric care facilities
• Rural health or urgent care clinics
• Hospice care centers

No matter where substandard care occurs in Cowlitz County, our team can investigate and file a malpractice lawsuit against the responsible party. Some of the most heartbreaking cases we see involve elder abuse and negligence at understaffed nursing homes. All facilities must maintain reasonable safety and care standards.

The tragedies we see from medical malpractice range widely depending on the specifics of each case. Some common injuries include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• Facial paralysis
• Bone fractures
• Hypoxic brain damage

When doctors or nurses fail to provide adequate prenatal care or make mistakes during delivery, children can be left with permanent disabilities. Birth injuries are especially tragic given the life-long implications. We advocate aggressively for families to obtain funds to cover the child’s extensive medical care, equipment, and therapy needs.

• Unintended damage to organs/tissues
• Retained foreign objects
• Wrong site surgery
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Paralysis or nerve damage

Surgeries of any type involve inherent risks. But patients trust their surgeon has the needed skills and experience to avoid preventable mistakes. When this trust is broken, we help victims recover damages to pay for additional procedures, pain management, and lifelong disability care costs.

• Cancer
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Meningitis
• Appendicitis
• Embolism
• Aneurysm

Catching these conditions early is critical for positive outcomes. When misdiagnosis or delayed testing allows diseases to rapidly advance, patients suffer. We fight to hold physicians liable for missing clear symptoms and not ordering appropriate diagnostic tests.

• Wrong medication or dosage
• Pharmacy dispensing mistakes
• Adverse drug interactions
• Allergic reactions

Whether in the hospital or at a pharmacy, patients assume they are receiving the correct drugs per the doctor’s orders. Medication errors can quickly become life-threatening. We fight for victims to recover damages when negligent prescribing, dispensing or administration causes harm.

• Sepsis
• MRSA
• C. diff
• Surgical site infections
• Central line infections
• Ventilator pneumonia

Simple infection prevention practices can protect patients. When hospitals fail to follow protocols, the results are often deadly. Superbugs and antibiotic-resistant infections prolong ICU stays, require repeat procedures, and can quickly overwhelm the body. We advocate for victims and hold hospitals accountable.

• Bedsores
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Improper use of restraints
• Medication errors
• Falls

Families trust care facilities to treat their loved ones with dignity and compassion. When inadequate staffing and training leads to neglect and harm, we fight to obtain justice. Victims should not suffer without accountability.

No matter where in Cowlitz County you or your loved one was injured, our dedicated team can help. We handle medical malpractice cases in:

Longview - As the largest city in Cowlitz County, much of the advanced healthcare for surrounding communities is located in Longview. The main hospital, cancer center, surgical centers, and specialty practices are located here. Our lawyers are very familiar with Longview healthcare facilities and doctors. We help victims hold negligent providers fully liable.

Kelso – Right across the Cowlitz River, Kelso residents often go to Longview for major medical care. But Kelso also has its own clinics, nursing facilities, dental offices, and pharmacies. Patients trust these local providers and expect competent care. When negligence occurs, we fight on the victim’s behalf.

Castle Rock – With a population around 2,000, Castle Rock residents rely on the hospital in Longview for advanced care but seek primary care locally. We help victims of malpractice that occurred in Castle Rock receive full compensation when a trusted local provider causes preventable injury or death.

Woodland – Home to just over 6,000 residents, Woodland has a few family practices, an urgent care clinic, nursing home, dental offices, and other healthcare providers. Our lawyers are ready to investigate malpractice that occurred here and recover damages so victims can move forward.

Kalama – Kalama has just under 2,500 residents and lies along the Columbia River. The town has limited medical facilities besides a few primary care clinics. But negligence can happen anywhere. We help victims in Kalama receive justice after malpractice by local providers.

Vader – As an extremely small town of around 650 residents, Vader has minimal medical facilities. Victims often must travel to Longview or Kelso for major treatment. But mishaps can still happen locally when seeking basic care. Our lawyers can assist anyone in Vader injured by substandard healthcare.

Ryderwood – Ryderwood is an unincorporated rural area, but medical care is still available nearby. Regardless of where an error occurs, victims deserve compensation. We represent those harmed in Ryderwood and surrounding communities.

Lexington – Lexington is another small unincorporated area with just a few hundred residents at most. Our legal team helps victims of malpractice in Lexington pursue cases – even against smaller family clinics and rural providers. Mistakes causing injury deserve consequences.

Toutle – The small town of Toutle only has around 1,300 residents. Seeking healthcare often involves driving to larger cities. But negligence can happen anywhere, and we handle local cases in Toutle when substandard practices cause harm.

Silver Lake – Silver Lake is a very tiny unincorporated community situated between Castle Rock and Toutle along Highway 504. We help victims of medical error receive compensation – even when cases involve smaller rural healthcare providers.

Ostrander – Located along the Cowlitz River, Ostrander is unincorporated with a minimal population. But all victims of malpractice deserve advocacy. We are willing to take on cases from this remote area when medical negligence results in injury or loss.

Carrolls – Carrolls is another small unincorporated community in rural Cowlitz County, located south of Longview. No matter how small the town, we represent victims of medical malpractice and work toward fair compensation.

Our lawyers are proud to help victims throughout every part of Cowlitz County – rural or metro. Medical facilities have a duty to provide reasonable care everywhere they operate. When that duty is breached, we fight for your rights.

With over 40 years representing medical malpractice victims across the U.S., our award-winning lawyers have the skills and track record to maximize results for you too.

We have the expertise to take on major hospitals, top medical experts, and insurance giants. Our thorough approach when building cases sets us apart:

• Obtain complete medical records from all involved facilities and providers
• Have at least 4+ independent medical experts review records
• Identify each breach in the standard of care
• Determine precisely how those breaches caused avoidable harm
• Calculate current and future financial losses due to injury or death
• Aggressively negotiate for maximum compensation

Medical malpractice cases require extensive time and resources to pursue. They also have strict requirements under Washington law. An experienced lawyer protects your rights every step of the way.

Our goal is to alleviate your stress while fighting for the outcome you deserve. Your focus is recovering physically and emotionally– let us handle the legal complexities. Together we can seek justice.

Contact our office for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Even if we cannot accept your case, we are always happy to provide recommendations and point victims in the right direction. You don’t have to shoulder this burden alone. Call today at 800-426-5546.

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional fails to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in injury or harm to a patient. Examples may include surgical mistakes, birth injuries, misdiagnosis of serious conditions, medication errors, hospital-acquired infections, nursing home abuse, and more. For a malpractice claim in Cowlitz County, there must be proof that the provider's negligence directly caused the patient's injuries.

We handle cases against all types of healthcare providers in Cowlitz County, including the major hospitals, small rural clinics, nursing homes, individual doctors, dentists, pharmacies, and more.

We handle malpractice cases of all sizes, no matter the potential value. We understand that even "smaller" cases can still have devastating impacts on victims and their families. Our Cowlitz County lawyers are always ready to investigate malpractice and advocate for local victims, whether the case involves a major hospital's error or a rural clinic's mistake. Every victim deserves justice.

With over 40 years of experience handling healthcare negligence cases, our legal team has an extensive track record of success. We have recovered millions for clients across Washington, including multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Our lawyers take an aggressive, thorough approach when investigating malpractice allegations, and have the resources and expertise to go up against even the largest hospitals and insurance companies. We fight for maximum compensation so victims can focus on healing.

If you suffered injuries because of a healthcare provider's negligence, take action right away. Save and gather all records related to your treatment. Be sure to request the complete medical file from each facility and provider involved. The sooner we can review records with medical experts, the better. Our consultations are always free - we'll evaluate your potential case and help determine the best path forward. Don't wait, as statutes of limitations apply. Call today.