7 Types of Monetary Compensation for Medical Malpractice

It is the duty of healthcare providers to provide you with the best healthcare possible. When you visit a doctor, you trust them to diagnose your condition and offer treatment.

However, in spite of the extreme care that most medical professionals take, there have been many instances of medical malpractices. Sometimes, a medical practitioner may make errors in the process of administering treatment to a patient, thereby causing him or her harm. When this happens, one can apply for a medical malpractice claim.

A malpractice suit can be lodged against an individual doctor, the medical institution, nurses or whoever else may have caused the malpractice.

There are many types of monetary compensation for medical malpractice you can seek in a suit. These include:

1. Compensation for Medical Bills

Medical malpractice cases usually result in serious injuries that may take a long time to cure. The cost of treatment can be quite high. A claim for treatment of injuries incurred as a result of medical malpractice should, therefore, factor the long-term nature of treatment of such injuries.

A competent injury claims lawyer will help their client get the most comprehensive medical bills compensation package depending on the severity of the injuries and estimated length of treatment.

2. Cost of Care

Besides medical bills, cost of care for injuries from a medical malpractice can sometimes be very high. These costs could run for a prolonged period. Always ensure that your claims lawyer understands your need for care and the expected duration of care before a cost of care compensation is determined.

3. The Demise of a Loved One

In the unfortunate event that a loved dies due to medical malpractice, the closest family member can claim damages. Although no amount of damages awarded can compensate for the loss of a life, the monetary compensation can go a  long way in assisting the bereaved family member to cope with the loss.

4. Compensation for Physical Pain and Emotional Distress

One can also seek compensation for physical pain and emotional distress in a medical malpractice case. This claim usually attracts a higher dollar amount in terms of compensation than any other medical malpractice claim. A competent medical malpractice lawyer should help you get the highest possible compensation for the pain and suffering you have gone through after a medical malpractice situation.

5. Loss of Earning Capacity

One can seek damages for the inability to work. However, they will have to prove that the negligence compromised their ability to earn in the future.

6. Reduced Earning Capacity

One can also claim compensation for reduced earning ability. This could be short term or long term and must be proven to have resulted from physical or mental illness arising from a medical malpractice incident. It should also be proven to have resulted in the reduction of a person’s ability to work.

7. Significant Mental Anguish

Non-economic damages for significant mental anguish could also be lodged in a medical malpractice claim. Mental anguish may include anxiety, fright, distress, grief, trauma, or depression. These are damages that do not have an intrinsic financial or economic value. A successful mental anguish claim must demonstrate that the plaintiff has been psychologically affected by the injuries incurred from a medical malpractice case. In some cases, the jury may award a higher compensation for a non-economic damage such as mental anguish than for damages with intrinsic economic value.

Seeking compensation for injuries with economic and non-economic value requires the services of an established law firm with a proven track record of success in handling compensation for medical malpractice claims. This alone can determine whether or not a client gets the compensation he or she deserves.