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Essex Medical Malpractice Attorney
Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Clients in Essex, Maryland
Attorney Spotlight A.J. Serafini
- Elite Lawyer, 2024 - Present
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2021 - Present
- The National Trial Lawyers, Top 100
- Herald-Mail Readers' Choice Award for Best Attorney, 2018
- Herald-Mail Media's "Best of the Tri-state", 2019 and 2020
Medical providers owe a specific duty of care to the patients that they treat. When this duty of care is breached and it results in real harm to a patient, a medical provider can be held responsible for the resulting damage. For legal help seeking compensation, get in touch with an Essex, Maryland medical malpractice lawyer today.
At Serafini Law, we are qualified to investigate medical malpractice claims. Attorney Andrew Serafini has over 15 years of legal experience, and in his career, he has secured millions on behalf of injury victims. You can trust Attorney Serafini to investigate your case in detail, pursuing the payment that you deserve.
GET JUSTICE FOR YOUR INJURIES –– CALL 240-744-1600
What Are the Elements of a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Medical malpractice claims require more than proof that a treatment did not work out as hoped. To succeed, a claim generally must establish four elements: a duty of care owed by the medical provider, a breach of that duty, a direct connection between the breach and the patient's injury, and actual damages resulting from that injury.
The duty of care arises once a doctor-patient relationship is established. Breach of that duty means the provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care that a reasonably competent professional would have followed under similar circumstances. Establishing causation can be one of the more challenging elements, since a patient's underlying condition may have contributed to a poor outcome as well. Expert testimony often plays a central role in showing that the provider's conduct, rather than the illness or injury itself, caused the harm.
Do You Need a Certificate for a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Maryland law requires a certificate of qualified expert before most medical malpractice claims can proceed. This certificate must be signed by a qualified medical expert who attests that the defendant's care fell below the accepted standard and that this failure caused the patient's injury. The certificate must generally be filed within ninety days of filing the initial claim with the Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office.
This requirement is meant to filter out claims that lack a legitimate medical basis before they proceed further. Failing to file a valid certificate within the required timeframe can result in dismissal of the claim, regardless of its underlying merit. Identifying a qualified expert and preparing a proper certificate takes time, which makes it important to begin the process well before any applicable deadline.
Seeking Compensation for Surgical Errors
Surgical procedures carry inherent risks, but patients are still entitled to competent care throughout every stage of surgery. Errors can occur before, during, or after a procedure, and each type of mistake can lead to serious complications. Wrong-site surgery, anesthesia errors, retained surgical instruments, and improper post-operative monitoring are among the most common forms of surgical malpractice.
Proving a surgical error claim often requires a detailed review of operative reports, nursing notes, and communications between members of the surgical team. Medical experts can review these records to determine whether the surgical team deviated from accepted protocols. Compensation in these cases can include the cost of corrective procedures, extended hospital stays, rehabilitation, and any long-term effects on the patient's health.
What Is My
Case Worth? Let's Find Out
The value of a personal injury case depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, the impact on your ability to work, and medical expenses. At Serafini Law, we evaluate each case to determine the potential compensation, including:
- Medical Expenses Coverage for past and future medical bills related to your injury.
- Lost Wages Compensation for the income you have lost due to your inability to work.
- Pain & Suffering Financial compensation for physical and emotional distress.
- Property Damage Reimbursement for damage to your vehicle or other property.
- Punitive Damages In cases of extreme negligence, additional compensation may be awarded as a form of punishment.
Think you
have a case?
Mr. Serafini was great about keeping us informed every step of the process of our case. He was always available to answer our emails or phone calls with concerns or questions. Mr. Serafini's Paralegal, Joanne, was also ex-tremely helpful and responded quickly to our concerns. Serifini Law shows their clients compassionate understanding.
Doctor Errors That Can Lead to Medical Malpractice Claims
Doctors are responsible for exercising sound medical judgment at every stage of a patient's care, from diagnosis through treatment. Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are among the most common forms of doctor error, occurring when a physician fails to recognize the signs of a serious condition or dismisses a patient's symptoms without adequate testing.
Medication errors can also form the basis of a claim, including prescribing an incorrect dosage, failing to check for dangerous drug interactions, or overlooking a documented allergy. Failure to refer a patient to a specialist, improper interpretation of test results, and inadequate follow-up care are additional errors that can result in serious harm.
When a doctor's error leads to a worsened condition, harmful and unnecessary treatment, or a missed opportunity for early intervention, the patient may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. Our firm can review the full course of treatment to identify where a provider's judgment fell short of accepted medical standards.
Injured? Call 240-744-1600 Now.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice in Essex
Parents can generally file a medical malpractice claim on behalf of a child who suffered a birth injury caused by a provider's negligence. This can include injuries such as oxygen deprivation, nerve damage, or complications from improper use of delivery tools.
A hospital can be held liable for the negligence of its employees, including nurses and staff physicians, under a legal doctrine known as vicarious liability. A hospital may also face direct liability for its own failures, such as inadequate staffing, poor credentialing practices, or a failure to maintain safe equipment and facilities.
After a case of medical malpractice, you should preserve all medical records, including admission notes, test results, imaging, and discharge summaries. Keep a record of your symptoms, follow-up appointments, and any communications with your medical providers. Billing records, photographs of visible injuries, and documentation of missed work can also help support the full scope of your claim.
Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Essex
Before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Maryland, claimants must generally first submit their claim to the Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office and complete an arbitration process, along with the required certificate of qualified expert. If the claim is not resolved through arbitration or a party elects to waive it, the case can proceed to circuit court. Claims arising from Essex are generally filed with the Circuit Court for Baltimore County at:
- 401 Bosley Ave, Towson, MD 21204
Meet With an Essex, MD Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical malpractice claims involve strict procedural requirements, detailed medical evidence, and a mandatory arbitration process. At Serafini Law, we help patients and families navigate these requirements while pursuing the compensation they need to move forward. Contact our Essex, Maryland medical malpractice attorney or call 240-744-1600 to schedule a free consultation. You only pay for our services if we help you win.
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