Harlingen Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Medical Negligence Attorneys in The Rio Grande Valley
Were You or a Loved One Injured by Medical Malpractice in Harlingen?
When we are sick or need medical attention we trust that doctors, medical staff, and hospitals will do everything they can to treat us safely and with a high standard of care. If that level of care and safety is breached due to a negligent or malicious act, resulting in further injuries or death of a patient, those liable may be subject to medical malpractice claims under Texas law.
Sadly, medical malpractice in the United States is not uncommon. A John Hopkins study found that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in an estimated 250,000 or more deaths per year. To make matters worse, it’s not uncommon for healthcare professionals to try and hide their mistakes to avoid a legal issue.
It's important to know that not all negative medical outcomes are considered "malpractice" under the law, regardless of severity. Human error and accidents happen and Texas injury statutes require that there be substantial evidence of negligence, malice, or a sub-standard care to warrant a malpractice lawsuit. In fact, Harlingen has some of the most strict laws in the nation with regards to malpractice claims.
Despite the difficulties of pursuing medical lawsuits in Harlingen, our law firm still chooses to specialize in this area of law. We've won 100s of cases for injured patients all across South Texas, helping people recover the compensation they need and deserve to live their lives as comfortably and normally as possible.
If you or a loved one have been injured due to a medical mistake, prescription drug, or other healthcare negligence, you need an experienced Harlingen medical malpractice attorney on your side. Contact our firm today for a free case review. If we accept your case, you pay nothing until we win.
What is Considered Medical Malpractice in Harlingen, TX?
A valid medical malpractice claim under Texas law must meet these four requirements:
- The defendant is a healthcare provider who owed the injured patient a legal duty of care
- The healthcare provider’s actions deviated from or fell below the required standard of care, breaching the legal duty of care owed
- The healthcare provider’s breach of the required standard of care caused or contributed to causing injury to the patient
- The injured patient suffered damages because of the injuries
Generally, to be considered malpractice you will need to prove negligence, meaning that the care provided by a healthcare professional or medical facility was below the prevailing standard of care within the medical profession.
Examples of Negligence Which Could Be Medical Malpractice in Harlingen:
- Surgical Errors
- Environmental Events
- Defective Medical Device
- Birth Injuries
- Misdiagnosis
- Care Management Mistakes
- Patient Falls
- Hospital Negligent Care
- Brain Injury
- Failure to Diagnose
- Medication Errors
- Defective Medical Product
- Wrongful Death
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Delayed Surgery
Regardless of the level of damage done or type of injury, medical malpractice cases are notoriously difficult to win in Harlingen. Not only are the cases complex, requiring both extensive medical and legal knowledge, but the laws concerning negligence in Texas tend to favor the medical industry.
You Need a Harlingen Medical Lawyer That Knows the Laws
The medical community has many deterrents in place to avoid being found accountable for its mistakes. Our Harlingen medical malpractice attorneys know how to remove these obstacles using the legal and medical systems together.
We have established a reputation among the medical community and insurance companies as being skilled and tenacious trial lawyers – this tends to make the defendant parties more agreeable to offering fair and agreeable compensation upfront.
That said, we never settle for less than you deserve and have no issues taking your case to trial if that's what is needed. Our priority is to get the care you need and the compensation you are entitled to for the harm done and the impact it has had on your life.
Countless patients across Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Harlingen who have suffered as a result of negligence have received compensation, thanks to the help of our team of experienced personal injury attorneys. Thousands of individuals in Harlingen have come to us for legal counsel and assistance because of our extensive victories and medical error expertise.
What Should You Do if You Think You Have a Medical Malpractice Claim?
If you feel that you have a medical malpractice claim in Harlingen it is important to do everything possible to preserve the evidence related to your claim. This means gathering medical records, seeking second opinions, subpoenaing witnesses, and most importantly - filing your claim before the statute of limitations expires.
First, you should gather all the evidence you currently have including copies of all of your medical records, your medical bills, bills associated with your medical injury, and start journaling all of your physical symptoms. Make sure to include dates in your journal.
Second, if you are in pain you should seek the care of another physician. Not seeking treatment for an injury that later becomes worse could actually hinder your claim.
Finally, contact our medical attorneys as soon as possible. Because of the time limit on malpractice cases in Harlingen it’s crucial that our attorneys begin researching your claim as soon as possible. It can often take weeks to receive all of the information we need, have our medical experts review your medical records, and then determine if you have a claim.
Realizing that you or a loved one were harmed due to a medical error can be an overwhelming and emotional experience. You don't have to face this difficult time alone or with uncertainty. Contact our law firm today for a free case review. Even if we cannot accept your case, we can provide answers and helpful information that can guide your next steps.
Harlingen Attorneys Specializing in Medical Malpractice Litigation
Kathy Snapka has over 40 years of experience handling personal injury cases involving serious medical injuries, defective medical products, pharmaceutical litigation, and wrongful death. Her medical law firm has been recognized throughout the South Texas legal community for its commitment to excellence in law and dedicated work on behalf of her clients.
While other Harlingen personal injury attorneys refer out most of their medical malpractice cases due to their difficulty, the Snapka Law Firm is focused primarily on these cases. Decades of experience in this area of law have given us unique insight and litigation skills that not only set us apart from other law firms, but established our reputation as one of the best plaintiff medical malpractice law firms in Harlingen.
If you're looking for medical attorneys that will handle your case with a personal touch, have decades of experience, and are dedicated to getting you fair and just compensation for your losses and injuries with the least amount of inconvenience to you - then call the Snapka Law Firm, Injury & Malpractice Lawyers today.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Harlingen Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
It costs nothing up front to hire our dedicated medical malpractice lawyers. We work on a contingency basis, meaning that we only receive a percentage of your settlement or verdict once we win or settle your case*. When you contact us for a free case review, we will be able to provide you exact details on our fee structure as it relates to your claim.
How Our Lawyers Can Help With Your Medical Malpractice Case
At the Snapka Law Firm, Injury & Malpractice Lawyers we don't judge our success based on the number of cases won - we base it on the positive impact we have on our clients' lives. That starts with handling your case with a personal touch and constant support. We keep you up-to-date on your case and deal with all the aspects of your claim so you can focus on recovering and getting back to your life.
Finding Evidence and Proving Negligence Caused the Malpractice
Medical injuries are difficult to prove and require sufficient evidence that the standard of care was not upheld causing injury or death. Our lawyers will assist with gathering evidence, and can usually go much further than the average person representing their own case. Our legal staff and medical experts will take the time to investigate every angle, using their knowledge to find anything that may have otherwise gone overlooked. This results in a thorough collection and documentation of various forms of proof for your case.
Hiring Medical Experts as Witness for Your Malpractice Case
Expert witnesses are industry specialists who are hired to offer their professional opinion in cases where their expertise may be useful. In medical malpractice cases, an expert witness provides technical, healthcare-specific insight that could prove negligence. With the extra evidence that they can provide, these experts tend to be crucial for successful outcomes.
Typically, injury lawyers provide a professional opinion outside of their own by calling in expert witnesses. It's not uncommon for a defendant’s legal team to change their strategy depending on who is hired as an expert witness. Our top-rated Harlingen medical malpractice lawyers have some of the most well regarded medical experts in the nation at their disposal to assist with your case.
Negotiating a Fair Settlement with Medical Providers and their Malpractice Insurance
Not all medical injury suits in Harlingen immediately go to court, and in most cases it is beneficial to attempt to negotiate a settlement before involving the court at all.
That said, medical mistakes can have terrible consequences and often cause lifelong pain, suffering, and disability for those who were injured. This can be costly both financially and emotionally, and in ways that you may never have considered. Our medical lawyers are adept at revealing all the many ways your injuries will impact your life and calculating just compensation amounts for these hardships.
In general, negotiations are usually faster and for higher amounts with an experienced medical attorney on your side. Additionally, we can help you decide whether or not a settlement is reasonable, depending on your level of damages and suffering.
Handling 3rd Parties on Your Behalf
If you’ve suffered an injury or personal loss you should be focusing on recovery and healing, not the stress of a lawsuit. That’s why our staff will help you deal with parties involved including insurance companies, bill collectors, and even your employer.
If you're dealing with medical bills related to your malpractice claim we can request that these accounts be deferred while in litigation. If certain bills cannot be deferred then we will pay them to avoid them going into collections. Repayment will come out of your settlement.
Prepare Your Case for Trial
If negotiations are unsuccessful, we will begin preparing your case for trial. This includes gathering any additional documents, taking depositions, subpoenaing witnesses and documents, and hiring expert witnesses to testify.
We know how to navigate medical litigation, what tactics the defense will attempt to use, and how to win these cases in trial when necessary.
We take into account all the details of your case, and show the life-long impact of your injuries as a dollar amount to the court. Our lawyers are here to help you fight and get the justice you deserve all at no cost to you.*
How Much Time Do You Have To File a Medical Malpractice Claim in Harlingen?
In Harlingen you have just two years to file your medical malpractice claim. This is known as the Statute of Limitations and has only a few exceptions.
That means that a medical malpractice claim must be filed no later than two years after the negligent act or omission occurred. If the medical error occurred during a continuous treatment, the two year statute of limitations usually starts on the last day of the scheduled treatment.
One of the few exceptions to the two year statute of limitations is if the medical injury happened to someone under the age of 12. A lawsuit may be filed on the minors behalf anytime before their 14th birthday. For example, if your child was injured due to negligence when they were 10 you’d have 4 years to file your claim in Texas.
Exceptions are extremely rare so if you believe you’ve been injured due to medical malpractice contact our experienced attorneys today.
What Makes a Good Medical Malpractice Case in Harlingen?
For a successful medical malpractice claim in Harlingen a doctor or hospital must have been clearly negligent in connection with a medical injury or additional diagnosis. You must be able to show that a medical professional caused you harm in a way that a competent one under the same circumstances would not have.
If you’re unsure if you have a medical malpractice case, contact us for a free case evaluation.
What Compensation Can You Receive for Medical Malpractice in Harlingen?
In Harlingen you can receive compensation for economic, non-economic, and sometimes punitive damages. Non-economic damages refer to compensation for non monetary losses such as pain, suffering, emotional distress and inconvenience. The 2003 Texas tort reform act, also known as the medical liability reform act, places a cap on these damages. The maximum amount you can receive for non-economic damages is $250,000 per provider or facility, for up to three providers or facilities and a maximum total amount of $750,000.
There are no caps on economic and punitive damages.
Punitive damages are rare in medical malpractice cases but can be awarded when the negligent act is particularly egregious. An example of such negligence is when a medical professional knows they made an error and tries to cover up their mistake by destroying medical records or replacing them with false records.
Contact Our No Win No Fee Harlingen Medical Malpractice Law Firm for a Free Case Review
If you suspect that you or a loved one sustained an injury or worse due to a medical error, we urge you to contact our law offices as soon as possible. We will research your claim for free and give you an honest and professional opinion about the viability of your case.
We have offices across South Texas but in most cases you won't even need to leave your home. If we do need to meet in person, our attorneys will travel to your location. Call now to get the answers you deserve.
The Snapka Law Firm, Injury & Malpractice Lawyers
722 Morgan Blvd. Suite 108
Harlingen, TX 78550
Phone: 956-688-8420
- Altered Hospital Records
- Anesthesia Error
- Anesthesiologist Malpractice
- Aneurysm
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Arteriography
- Athetosis
- Bedsores
- Biliary Duct Injury
- Birth Injury
- Blood Clot or Thrombosis
- Bowel Perforation
- Brachial Plexus
- Brain Damage
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiologist Malpractice
- Carotid Endarterectomy
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cholecystectomy Injury
- Colonoscopy Injury
- Cut or Severed Bile Duct
- Cystic Duct Injury
- Decubitus Ulcer
- Delayed C-Section
- Delayed Surgery
- Delivery Trauma
- Detached Placenta
- Dialysis Error
- Doctor Error
- Doctor Malpractice
- Doctor Mistake
- Doctor Negligence
- Drop Foot
- Drug Injury
- Drug Interaction
- Drug Recall
- Dystonia or Torticollis
- Early Discharge Complications
- Emergency Room Malpractice
- Endocrinologist Malpractice
- Erb’s Palsy
- Error Trap
- Failed Diagnosis
- Failed Surgical Implant
- Failure to Diagnose
- Failure To Monitor Patient
- Failure To Treat
- Fetal Hypoxia
- Gallbladder Surgery
- Gastric Bypass
- Gastroenterologist Malpractice
- Geriatric Malpractice
- Gynecologist Malpractice
- Healthcare Malpractice
- Hip Implant
- Hip Replacement
- Horners Syndrome
- Hospital Assistant Malpractice
- Hospital Error
- Hospital Infection
- Hospital Injury
- Hospital Liability
- Hospital Malpractice
- Improper Delivery Technique
- Infant Kernicterus
- Infant Leptomeningeal Cyst
- IV Fluid Contamination
- Klumpke’s Palsy
- Knee Implant
- Knee Replacement
- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Medical Amputation
- Medical Device Failure
- Medical Equipment Failure
- Medical Error
- Medical Facility Malpractice
- Medical Implant
- Medical Injury
- Medical Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Medical Mistake
- Medical Negligence
- Medical Paralysis
- Medical Professional Malpractice
- Medication Error
- Misdiagnosis
- Nephrologist Malpractice
- Nerve Damage
- Neurologist Malpractice
- Neurosurgical Malpractice
- Nurse Malpractice
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Nursing Home Neglect
- Nursing Malpractice
- Obstetrician Malpractice
- Organ Perforation
- Organ Puncture
- Osteopath Malpractice
- Otolaryngologist Malpractice
- Over Prescribed Medication
- Paramedic Malpractice
- Patient Informed Consent
- Pediatric Hydrocephalus
- Pediatric Malpractice
- Pediatrician Malpractice
- Perinatal Asphyxia
- Pharmacist Malpractice
- Pharmacy Malpractice
- Physician Malpractice
- Podiatrist Malpractice
- Postoperative Care Error
- Prescription Drug Error
- Prescription Drug Injury
- Pressure Ulcer
- Prolonged Surgery
- Pulmonologist Malpractice
- Radiation Overdose
- Radiologist Malpractice
- Rheumatologist Malpractice
- Robotic Surgery Error
- Robotic Surgery Injury
- Sepsis
- Shoulder Dystocia
- Shoulder Replacement
- Sue a Doctor
- Sue a Hospital
- Surgeon Malpractice
- Surgery Injury
- Surgery Malpractice
- Surgery Mistake
- Surgical Error
- Surgical Implant
- Surgical Injury
- Surgical Mistake
- Surgical Object Left in Patient
- Toxoplasmosis
- Urologist Malpractice
- Wrongful Death
What Makes the Snapka Law Firm, Injury & Malpractice Lawyers Different?
At the Snapka Law Firm, we understand the devastating consequences of a serious injury resulting from another's negligent actions. Not only do we provide tenacious legal representation, we help you get through this trying time by dealing with the burdens of your personal injury case on your behalf. Every case we accept is handled personally by one of our attorneys who will be committed to helping you understand the process while preparing your case for resolution. As a small but highly focused firm, we provide a more personalized attention to detail that you won't often find with larger law firms. With decades of courtroom experience, the Snapka Law Firm, Injury & Malpractice Lawyers has delivered our clients millions of dollars in compensation as a result of successful verdicts and settlements. With our personalized touch, extensive experience, and strong relationships with investigation specialists and industry experts, you'll be represented by one of the best personal injury law firms in South Texas.
Kathryn Snapka is one of the few attorneys in Texas that is board certified in personal injury trial law and her firm has been recognized by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Super Lawyers, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American College of Trial Lawyers, and American Board of Trial Advocates. Our firm has won hundreds of cases for injury clients resulting in a reputation amongst defense attorneys that deters them from taking their case to trial against us. When working with the Snapka Law Firm we fight for the highest compensation for your losses and damages with the least amount of inconvenience to you. If you have been a victim of a serious injury, contact us for your free personalized consultation today.