Harlingen Hospital Malpractice Lawyers
Were You or Loved One Injured as a Patient in a Harlingen Hospital?
Whether you walked into a medical facility for an emergency, an illness, or a scheduled surgery, you should be treated accurately with safety and care. If your hospital visit resulted in errors, mistakes, infections, or other injuries, you might be a victim of hospital malpractice.
Unfortunately, medical malpractice is not uncommon. With hundreds of thousands of people visiting Harlingen hospitals every year, according to the DSHS, there are hundreds of serious errors resulting in patient injury and even death. A Johns Hopkins Study revealed that more than 250,000 deaths per year are due to medical errors by medical staff. You have a right to safety as a patient in a hospital, this means that if you or a loved one were injured or wrongfully killed during your hospital stay, you may be entitled to compensation.
Hospital malpractice claims are tough to win in the state of Texas, that’s why you need a team of dedicated personal injury attorneys that specializes in medical malpractice litigation in South Texas. The Snapka Law Firm has spent decades helping families across South Texas win and settle their cases. We’re here to provide you with the knowledge, care, and dedication you deserve. Our principal and founder, Kathy Snapka has been working hard for over three decades to deliver justice for families throughout Texas, and has won or settled numerous multi-million dollar cases . We are ready to provide you with that same care and determination. Our case evaluations are free and we don’t charge any fees unless we win your case*.
Common Hospital Errors That Can be Malpractice
While every hospital malpractice case is different, the following hospital errors are more commonly the result of malpractice:
- Misdiagnosis
- Medication errors
- Surgical mistakes
- Hospital-acquired infections
- Gross negligence
- Birth injuries
Misdiagnosis means that you or a loved one was given the wrong diagnosis, or no diagnosis when sick. Receiving a misdiagnosis can be extremely dangerous. A misdiagnosis can mean being given potentially dangerous medications unnecessarily. It could also leave your actual condition untreated which may worsen as a result.
A surgical mistake or error can be caused by any member of your surgical team including your surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nurse. Some surgery errors that you can file a hospital malpractice claim include: leaving an object inside your body, performing surgery on the wrong body part, being given insufficient anesthesia and waking up mid-surgery, and being operated on with unsanitary equipment. A surgical mistake can lead to a hospital-acquired infection which can affect your recovery. About 4% of hospital patients end up with at least one infection.
Gross negligence goes beyond ordinary negligence and is a lack of care that demonstrates reckless disregard and the lack of safety for the lives of others. Proving medical malpractice in Harlingen can be difficult, so if you think that you or a loved one has experienced one or multiple hospital errors, it is best to contact an experienced hospital lawyer to discuss your case.
Can You Sue a Hospital in Harlingen Texas?
If you or a loved one were injured or wrongfully killed in a Harlingen hospital due to a medically negligent act, you can sue for compensation. Harlingen hospital malpractice lawsuits have a two-year statute of limitations for claims. This means that your hospital lawsuit must be filed no later than two years after the negligent act or omission occurred or from the time it was realized.
For cases involving patients on a treatment course, you will have two years from when treatment ends to file a lawsuit. There are a few exceptions to the rule and these include:
- Minors: The medical malpractice statute of limitations in Texas for minors is different. A minor injured before the age of 12 years old have until age 14 to file a lawsuit. For example, if your child was injured at age 7, you can file any time before age 14.
- Undiscovered Negligence: If you were not able to discover the medical negligence within two years, you may be able to file within a “reasonable” amount of time after the discovery.
Exceptions are very rare, so if you believe that you were a victim of medical malpractice do not wait. Contact our personal injury law firm as soon as possible.
How Much Does it Cost to File a Hospital Lawsuit in Harlingen?
If our law firm accepts your case, there are no costs to file a hospital lawsuit in Harlingen. As with most legal action, there are certain costs involved with suing a hospital for medical malpractice, but the Snapka Law Firm works on a contingency basis. This means you pay nothing upfront but agree to pay a percentage once your lawsuit is won or a settlement is reached. Even if we don’t win your case, there is no fee*. Call today to get a free case evaluation.
What Compensation Can I Receive From a Harlingen, TX Hospital Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one were injured in a Harlingen hospital due to negligence or a malicious act you can be awarded compensation for “damages”. These damages include:
- Economic damages – These damages reimburse medical bills and lost wages from missing work.
- Non-economic damages – These damages reimburse the patient for their suffering and pain as well as any negative effects of the misdiagnosis or wrong treatment.
- Punitive damages – These damages are awarded to punish the healthcare professional who committed negligence and malpractice because of maliciousness.
Texas medical malpractice law has a cap that limits how much a patient can receive if they win a case. If you sue a hospital in Harlingen Texas for malpractice the cap is $250,000 for non-economic damages. You can also receive $250,000 from up to two healthcare professionals, for a total cap of $750,000, There is no cap on economic or punitive damages. Despite these caps, Snapka Law Firm has won and settled numerous multi-million dollar cases.
Do I Have a Hospital Malpractice Case?
If you believe you were a victim of a hospital error or a loved one suffered from a wrongful death while a patient in a hospital, you may have a hospital malpractice case. Every case is different and the best way to determine if you have a valid claim is to speak with our hospital malpractice lawyers in Harlingen, TX. We will review your case history and consult with medical experts to determine if Texas law will allow for a suit to be filed.
How Our Harlingen Medical Malpractice Law Firm Can Help
At the Snapka Law Firm, we want to help anyone that has suffered from an injury or loss due to a hospital mistake receive justice and compensation. Not only do we believe that everyone deserves a right to fair compensation if they’ve been negligently injured, but we believe you also deserve a welcoming and warm environment with a legal team that cares. We are a compassionate, dedicated team that is invested to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Our attorneys we specialize in medical malpractice litigation. We have decades of experience handling healthcare and medical-related injuries throughout South Texas. Kathy Snapka, founder, and principal of the Snapka Law Firm is a highly regarded medical attorney who has had a long and successful career obtaining verdicts and settlements for her clients. She has secured millions of dollars in compensation for people and families who were wrongly injured in Harlingen hospitals.
Speak With a Local Harlingen Hospital Malpractice Attorney Near You
Our entire law firm is here to help you. If you suspect that you or a loved one were injured or wrongfully killed due to hospital malpractice or patient neglect, call us today for a free case review. Our attorneys will review your claim and patient history, discuss details with medical experts, and give you an honest assessment of where you stand according to Texas laws.
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.