No Fees Unless We Win
No Fees Unless We Win
If you were harmed by a negligent doctor, hospital, nurse or physician — contact a Seattle Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Colburn Law today. Medical errors are one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States, and it’s crucial for everyone to know how to identify medical malpractice. Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals all have a duty to do no harm to their patients and use acceptable, proven methods. When healthcare professionals violate this duty of care to their patients and cause injuries, this is medical malpractice. Medical negligence leading to patient injury or a medical professional’s failure to competently perform a procedure can also constitute medical malpractice.
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Medical malpractice is a very complicated area of law, and it’s essential to find an attorney with extensive experience in medical malpractice claims. Contact the Colburn Law Offices today to schedule a consultation about your medical malpractice claim in Seattle with one of our attorneys. After we review the details of your situation, we can let you know what to expect from the legal process.
Greg Colburn’s path to personal injury law is rooted in personal experience. After a devastating fall left him in a wheelchair for two years, he took on insurance companies and legal obstacles to win his own case. That journey inspired him to fight for others facing similar challenges. Today, Greg is dedicated to helping injury victims hold negligent parties accountable and secure the justice they deserve.
Years of Experience: 20 years
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Medical malpractice lawsuits work very similarly to personal injury lawsuits with a few notable exceptions. First, your Seattle medical malpractice claim will likely require approval from the appropriate medical review board. This could be the board that oversees the doctor or professional who injured you or the establishment where he or she works. Once the board reviews your claim and determines you have grounds for a lawsuit, you and your attorney may proceed with filing a complaint against the defendant in your case.
There are several steps for proving negligence in a medical malpractice case in Seattle. First, the plaintiff must show the court that an official doctor-patient relationship existed between the defendant and plaintiff. This means there must be some kind of record indicating that the defendant agreed to treat the plaintiff and the plaintiff agreed to the defendant’s treatment. If a doctor makes a joke at a party that eating raw chicken cures baldness and a guest takes the joke seriously and gets sick, the guest couldn’t file a medical malpractice claim because it wasn’t official advice given in a medical setting with an official doctor-patient relationship. Speak to a medical malpractice lawyer for more information regarding your specific case.
The statute of limitations is a law that restricts how long a medical malpractice victim has to bring a claim against the defendant. The point of the statute is to promote prompt filing, for a more just legal system. Otherwise, a plaintiff could wait too long and compromise the defendant’s ability to defend the charge. Statutes of limitations vary by state and by practice area. The courts take statutes of limitations very seriously, and generally will not agree to hear a claim if the plaintiff has missed the deadline to file. Know your time limit before you file.
In the state of Washington, a patient has three years from the act of negligence that caused the injury to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. This is a basic time limit that can change according to the situation. If the patient does not discover his or her injuries until after the date of alleged negligence, he or she has one year from the date of injury discovery. For example, the clock would start ticking the date a patient discovers a foreign object left inside the body canal in a surgical error case, rather than the date upon which the surgeon left the item.
Minors get an exception when it comes to Washington’s statute of limitations. In 1995, Gilbert v. Sacred Heart Medical Center established a precedent when a minor is the injured victim of medical malpractice. In this case, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the statute of limitations will extend until the minor reaches age 18. Thus, parents or guardians can either file a lawsuit on the child’s behalf within three years of the injury or discovery, or the child can wait until he or she turns 18 to file. Wrongful death medical malpractice lawsuits must come within three years of the deceased person’s death.
No Fees Unless We Win
Medical malpractice cases center on the legal doctrine of negligence. It is a plaintiff’s job to prove the defendant’s negligence, and thus to establish the defendant’s legal responsibility for the injuries in question. Proving negligence takes showing the existence of a duty of care, a breach of duty, and a link between the breach of duty and the injury. Anyone involved in negligently causing the injury could be responsible for damages.
Many medical malpractice claims in Seattle involve more than one defendant. This could increase the plaintiff’s odds of securing compensation, as multiple insurance companies could cover the costs of a settlement or judgment award. Identifying the responsible party and obtaining evidence against the person or entity is easier with help from an attorney. A lawyer can investigate your case and determine the at-fault party if you are unsure who is responsible.
Once you have identified the most likely defendant and filed your claim against that entity within the state’s deadline, it is time to negotiate your case. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to take advantage of injured patients. An insurer may try to convince you to settle for much less than your case is worth. Do not say yes to the first settlement offer. Instead, call a lawyer and request assistance.
Going up against a major medical insurance provider is easier with help from an attorney. A lawyer will have experience navigating complex medical malpractice laws and fighting for fair compensation. Do not agree to allow an insurance claims adjuster to record a statement. The adjuster could use what you say against you later. Politely answer questions using the facts. Then, seek help from a lawyer before settling your case.
If you’ve been hurt by someone’s carelessness, here’s what you need to know:
I will listen. I will believe you. I will make sure your story is heard — and I will fight with everything I have to help you get back on your feet.
I don’t pick cases by their dollar signs — only by whether they deserve to be fought for. I’ll come to your home, sit with you in a café, or visit you in your hospital room. I understand how hard recovery is — I’ve been there myself.
Unfortunately, not all patients will enjoy positive health outcomes – or even fair chances of recovery – after visiting a doctor or hospital. Negligence, recklessness, and carelessness can compromise the prognosis of a patient. Medical malpractice may seem like a fluke if this is your first encounter, but in reality doctors and hospitals make preventable errors every day. Medical malpractice is relatively common, in Seattle and around the world.
In 2016, United States courts recorded 8,500 successful medical malpractice claims. New York has the highest percentage of medical malpractice lawsuits, followed by New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Washington falls lower on the list, in 25th place. Washington’s annual per capital medical malpractice costs were an average of $9.18 per person from 2012 to 2016.
You may never expect to become the victim of medical malpractice until it happens to you. Since malpractice a relatively common occurrence in the U.S, it is important to understand your rights and protect them with help from an attorney. Contact a lawyer as soon as you suspect medical malpractice as the cause of your injuries or a loved one’s unexpected death.
Tracking medical malpractice statistics can help officials understand how and why it happens. It can also spread greater awareness to patients of the potential dangers of negligent and incompetent physicians. National medical malpractice statistics have decreased overall. The number of medical malpractice claims has dropped by almost 50% in the last 16 years. The most recent data nationwide and in the state of Washington still show a significant risk to patients, however.
Medical malpractice is a serious issue in Washington and around the world. As the victim of medical malpractice, you are not alone. Thousands of patients have also suffered preventable injuries, illnesses, health complications, and wrongful death at the hands of negligent physicians and hospitals. Speak to an attorney at Colburn Law for more information about your case and the potential for compensation.
At Colburn Law Personal Injury Lawyers, PLLC, we represent Medical Malpractice victims across the Seattle area with dedication and experience. Visit us at IBM Building, 1200 5th Ave Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98101, United States — GeoCoordinates: 47.60843898311899, -122.33309121349147
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If you only contact one lawyer after an accident, I would tell you to contact Greg Colburn.
What can I say – Greg put in a vast amount of effort to accomplish what I thought would be an impossible feat. He was able to get the result I wanted and the settlement I could have only dreamed of – If you only contact one lawyer after an accident, I would tell you to contact Greg Colburn and you wont be sorry!!!! Thank you so very much.
We will gladly meet you at the hospital, at your home, or at a coffee shop. We believe meeting a client at his or her home helps us fully understand our client’s story.
You’ll have direct communication with our team. We will know every client’s story because we’ll take the time to listen and understand.
We are passionate about ensuring the best possible results for each and every client, no matter the case size.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney, Greg Colburn who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a Washington Personal Injury Attorney.
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