In the case of medical malpractice after undergoing an injury, a patient can recover various damages. These can range from medical bills to the pain and suffering from the injury.
This article focuses on the types of damages that a patient can recover under a medical malpractice lawsuit. If the medical malpractice results in a person’s death, their families can claim for reimbursement.
#1 Economic Damages
Economic or special damages compensate a patient for financial expenses concerning medical malpractice. These primarily include medical bills and loss of income due to the missed work.
Special injuries are more speculative than general damages. Hence, a victim can redeem future medical expenses by following some guesswork and submitting a certified medical bill copy. While at it, a medical malpractice lawyer can support a request for future damages.
#2 Non-Economic Damage
Non-economic or general damages are less quantifiable expenses incurred due to medical malpractice. These generally refer to:
- Pain and suffering of the victim
- Reduced life quality or loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of future earning capacity (in case of permanent disability)
However, there are no defined rules for determining the exact amount of damage and the compensating price. Thus, general damages often need to be supported by evidence or witness testimonies by family members or friends.
Herein, personal injury lawyers can better work to testify the impacts, estimating the correct reimbursement value under the medical malpractice lawsuit.
While at it, know that general damages are only accountable for injuries after medical malpractice, not for any pain or suffering that pre-medical malpractice injury will cause in the future.
#3 Punitive Damages
Although punitive damages are relatively uncommon, a victim can recover them in case of some heinous situations. To claim punitive damages, a patient will need to prove the intent of reckless conduct that was beyond the act of delinquency. In case of punitive damage, the judge or jury estimates a substantial amount of rebate.
#4 Wrongful Death Damages
Wrongful death damages are only applicable for certain families, concerning the death statute of different states. Herein, the wrongful death actions are compensated, depending on the nature of the claim. These may cover the victim’s funeral expenses and pay families for future financial losses.
#5 Common Types of Medical Malpractices
Any medical practice that fails to meet the appropriate standard of care comes under medical malpractice. Some of the common types of medical malpractices are:
- Medication errors
- False diagnosis
- Birth injuries
- Surgical errors
#6 Damages Caps in Medical Malpractices
Damages caps refers to the maximum amount of damages a patient can recover under a medical malpractice lawsuit. More often than not, it’s the non-economic damages that the cap applies to as they cannot be calculated at a dollar value. While the economic damages can be recovered, consulting an experienced personal injury lawyer is your best bet.
Medical malpractice lawsuits often follow complex proceedings that require professional expertise. If you are looking for personal injury lawyers in Macon, GA, The Hurt 911 Injury Centers is the best medical malpractice lawyer in Macon, GA, and is here to help you. Reach out to us today at 1-800-487-8911.
