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Approximately 400,000 hospitalized patients suffer some form of preventable injury each year throughout the country. This serious issue results in harm that often requires extensive further care. Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the country.  

If you have suffered harm in a New York hospital, it may not be simple to understand what steps to take. You may not even know for sure whether medical malpractice occurred. Learn more about what medical malpractice is and what you should do if you have been a victim of it.  

Understanding Medical Malpractice 

Medical malpractice is any type of conduct by a medical professional that falls below the accepted standard of care. Not all harm that you experience in a medical setting is malpractice, however, so what requirements do you need to meet for these claims?  

You must demonstrate that negligence occurred. This means proving that the professional owed you a duty of care and that they breached it by offering treatments that fell below the expected standard.  

Unlike with other personal injury claims, it’s not enough to show that another person wouldn’t have made the same mistake. Instead, you need to prove that another medical professional wouldn’t have done the same things the defendant did. This makes these cases more complex and requires testimonies from other professionals in the same field.  

What to Do After Suffering an Injury Because of Medical Malpractice    

If you’ve been hurt because of medical malpractice, what are the first things you should do to begin legal action? 

Get Immediate Medical Assistance 

The most important step to take is to get fast medical help. The goal is to protect yourself from further harm, and that means turning to another medical professional who can help you understand what injuries you suffered.  

This is essential not only for your health but also for your claim. You can start gathering evidence and documenting the injuries you sustained. Documents from the follow-up care you receive can help prove the extent of the injuries and can show a difference between your original condition and what happened after you received treatment.  

If you suffered medical malpractice at a hospital, it can be better to go to another one for your follow-up care. This helps to eliminate any potential conflicts.  

Request Copies of Your Medical Records 

To show that medical malpractice occurred, you will need to get your full medical records. These offer a variety of information, including the diagnosis you received and the treatments offered.  

Under New York law, you have a right to obtain these records. When you make your request, it can be helpful to ask for: 

• Lab test results 
• Office visit charts and notes 
• Surgical reports 
• Prescription notes 
• Results of imaging studies 
• Hospital discharge summaries 

Get all possible information. If you were sent to specialists or rehabilitation, get all of those records, too.  

Begin Documenting Everything 

For a medical malpractice claim, it’s extremely helpful to provide as much information as possible. That includes a detailed view of everything you are going through as you recover from the injuries you suffered. Keep thorough information on all of your doctor’s visits as well as the treatments and procedures you underwent originally and those you are getting now.  

Make a record of all of the names of those involved in your care, as well as the medications you were given and whether you experienced any side effects. Make sure you detail how the symptoms progressed and impacted your life.  

Speak With a Medical Malpractice Lawyer 

These are not claims that you should ever begin without legal representation. As soon as possible after you learn of the injuries you suffered, hire experienced medical malpractice lawyers who can help you navigate the process.  

The attorney will assess the claim to establish whether medical malpractice likely occurred and can work with expert witnesses, like other medical professionals, to corroborate that you didn’t receive care that met the standard. Vitally, your attorney will take care of all of the negotiations with insurance companies so that you can receive fair compensation.  

Ask4Sam After Experiencing Medical Malpractice 

If you suffered an injury because of medical malpractice, it is essential to act quickly. At Silberstein & Miklos, our attorneys can guide you through the complexities of these claims. We have been successfully helping people in New York for years, and that makes us a trusted firm for tough cases.  

Don’t wait to start legal action against negligent professionals. Contact our team to consider your options.