If you are a victim of medical malpractice, you deserve compensation for the harm you suffered at the hands of negligent medical professionals. Our attorneys at Fieger Law are recognized as among the best medical malpractice lawyers in the country. We are ready to fight on behalf of medical malpractice victims across the state. Whether you’re in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Traverse City, or elsewhere, we will hold responsible parties accountable and get you the compensation you deserve.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice arises when a healthcare provider neglects to meet the standard of care expected from a competent professional. This can involve doctors, hospitals, HMOs, nurses, chiropractors, therapists, or other licensed individuals or entities tasked with providing medical treatment.

You may be the victim of medical malpractice and need a medical malpractice attorney if you have encountered any of the following:

Financial Compensation in Medical Malpractice

If you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice, you have the right to seek compensation for the harm you’ve endured. This can encompass various damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and compensation for pain and suffering.

In cases of severe misconduct, exemplary measures may also be pursued. At Fieger Law, our experienced attorneys are dedicated to helping you recover these damages through a settlement with the responsible party and their insurer.

 

Type of Compensation Description Purpose
Medical Expenses Costs for past and future medical care, including surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and rehabilitation. To cover all healthcare-related expenses incurred due to the malpractice.
Lost Income Income lost due to inability to work, both past lost income and future earnings potential. To compensate for the financial loss and secure future living expenses.
Pain and Suffering Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life. To acknowledge and provide relief for non-economic harm suffered.
Exemplary Damages Awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were found to be especially malicious, willful, or in reckless disregard of others’ rights. Given as a deterrent to punish egregious conduct and prevent similar actions in the future.

 

Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims

In Michigan, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit against healthcare providers. Understanding these time limits is crucial to preserving your right to seek compensation for damages. You could lose the right to financial support if you don’t initiate your claim in time.

Here’s an overview of the state’s statutes of limitations for medical malpractice claims:

  • General Deadline: You have two years from the date of the malpractice or from when the injury was (or should have been) discovered to file a claim. However, if you were under 18 or mentally incapacitated at the time the claim occurred, you get one year after the disability is removed to file, even if the standard limitations period has passed.
  • Minors under 8 Years Old: If the claimant is a minor under 8 when the claim happens, they have until their 10th birthday or the standard two-year period to file, whichever provides more time.
  • Minors and Reproductive System Injuries: For minors under 13 at the time of injury to the reproductive system, the deadline extends to the 15th birthday or within the two-year period, whichever is later. The standard two-year limitations apply for those 13 or older at the time of such an injury.
  • Notice of Intent: A Notice of Intent to File must be submitted at least 182 days before initiating a lawsuit.
  • Ultimate Cut-off: A 6-year statute of repose applies, limiting the time to file a claim from the date of the act or omission, with few exceptions. For instance, if the defendant knowingly hid or destroyed evidence to delay the claim.

Common Challenges in Medical Malpractice Cases

Medical malpractice cases are inherently challenging due to the specific demands of proving negligence and the complexity of medical evidence. At Fieger Law, we’re equipped to address these obstacles head-on, prove your case, and obtain a fair outcome:

  • Proving Negligence: One major challenge is proving that a healthcare provider’s conduct fell below the accepted standard of care. We overcome this obstacle by drawing on extensive legal expertise and a strong network of medical professionals to establish negligence.
  • Complex Medical Evidence: The technical nature of medical records and terminology often complicates medical malpractice claims. Our attorneys are skilled at simplifying complex medical information, making it clear and persuasive for both judges and juries.
  • Expert Testimony: The credibility and clarity of expert witnesses are vital in validating the extent of malpractice. We have access to a wide range of medical professionals ready to provide clear, convincing testimony that bolsters your case, including:
  • Surgeons: They can offer insights into surgical standards, procedures, and whether there was a deviation from the accepted medical practices.
  • General Practitioners: They can testify about the standard care expected in non-specialist settings and whether the treatment met those standards.
  • Nurses: Their testimony can highlight the standard of care in patient monitoring, administration of medication, and communication between medical staff and patients.
  • Specialists: They can provide detailed information on the standard of care for specific conditions, treatments, and whether the actions taken were appropriate. For instance, we can consult a neonatologist or pediatrician for birth injury cases.
  • Pharmacists: They can discuss medication errors, including improper medication selection, dosage errors, and drug interactions.
  • Medical Ethicists: They can address breaches in patient consent and autonomy, confidentiality issues, and other ethical violations in medical practice.
  • Radiologists: They can offer expertise on imaging studies, interpreting results correctly, and whether appropriate diagnostic tests were ordered and interpreted correctly.
  • Pathologists: Their input can be crucial in cases involving misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, especially in interpreting laboratory results and biopsy specimens.

Fieger Law: Medical Malpractice Lawyers That Fight for You

Award-winning attorney Geoffrey Fieger and his team of lawyers based in Southfield (Detroit metropolitan area) will investigate what happened and get you the financial compensation you deserve for your medical malpractice claim.

Under the leadership of Geoffrey Fieger, our firm has won record-setting medical malpractice verdicts and settlements for clients who have been victims of medical mistakes, including:

  • $12.3 million verdict in Michigan for misadministration of a drug
  • $19.76 million verdict in Pennsylvania for medical malpractice
  • $30 million verdict for medical malpractice in South Carolina
  • $114.4 million verdict for a birth injury in Michigan

More Than 70 Years as Michigan’s Leading Medical Malpractice Firm

For over seven decades, the medical malpractice lawyers at Fieger Law have successfully represented victims’ rights across the country. You deserve legal representation with the experience, confidence, and determination to confront insurance companies and secure a fair settlement. At Fieger Law, our attorneys are ready to go to trial and advocate for you before a judge or jury. We proud to serve residents from all over the state, including those in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Traverse City.

If you have questions about a potential case or want to understand your options, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential case review so we can discuss the details surrounding your situation.