Experienced Washington Medical Malpractice Lawyers Handling Your Malpractice Case

Cases involving medical malpractice and negligence are often very complex. Sometimes, the caregivers in whom you have placed your trust won't tell you that a mishap has occurred. Therefore, particularly in cases of birth injury, the knowledge that your medical condition has been exacerbated by medical negligence may not be immediately apparent. Plus, medical personnel who are defendants in malpractice cases often have colleagues who will defend them, and hospitals have been known to cover up mistakes. This results in the burden of scientific proof lying heavily on the victim. However, the Bellevue, Everett, and Seattle area medical malpractice lawyers at Phillips & Webster have abundant experience litigating these types of cases, and they are ready to take on the fight for you. If you feel that you or someone you love may have a medical negligence claim, let our Washington medical malpractice lawyers guide you through the legal process with compassion and proven expertise.

• Defendants in Medical Malpractice Cases
• Pre-trial Arbitration Required by Washington State
• Proving Medical Malpractice Liability
• Possible Awards in Medical Malpractice Case
• Attorney Fees for Medical Malpractice Litigation

Defendants in Medical Malpractice Cases

If you feel that you or someone you love has been the victim of medical negligence, our Seattle, Washington area medical malpractice lawyers can help you build a successful case. There are a number of people or entities that may be liable in a medical malpractice case. These include:

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Physicians' assistants
• Pharmacists
• Dentists
• Hospitals

Any person or entity involved in giving you negligent care may be held responsible for compensatory damages in a medical malpractice case. However, if you wish to file a medical malpractice claim against the state of Washington, you must first file a claim with the state's Risk Management Office. Our Washington medical malpractice lawyers can help you with this and other details crucial to the success of your case.

Under the statute of comparative negligence, your award in a medical malpractice case may be diminished if it is discovered that you have any fault in your injuries. However, no matter how great your fault may be, you will still be eligible for some compensation if it can be proven that a healthcare provider's negligence or malpractice was in some part responsible for your damages.

If a defendant can prove that another party also contributed to your injury, they may file an action for contribution within one year of the date of your original complaint. You should also know that under the statutes of joint and several liability, each defendant in cases involving numerous defendants is personally liable for the entire amount of the judgment. Thus, if one defendant is unable to pay, the other defendant or defendants are responsible to pay his or her share of the judgment. In Washington, this statute only applies where one or more defendants are found to share equal fault in the medical negligence, and where the plaintiff has no fault. Our Seattle, Washington area medical malpractice lawyers can help you determine whether joint or several liability applies to your case, and we will ensure that you obtain complete and just compensation for your injuries.

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Pre-trial Arbitration Required by Washington State

The state of Washington has implemented a system of mandatory mediation in all medical malpractice and healthcare claims. This pre-trial arbitration extends the statute of limitations for a claim by one year, and it does not preclude claimants from the right to trial by jury.

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Proving Medical Malpractice Liability

In any personal injury case, the responsibility of prosecutors to prove or disprove the claims of the plaintiff or defendant is known as the burden of proof. To prove that a healthcare provider has committed an act of medical malpractice to your detriment, you need to establish the following:

• The healthcare provider had a responsibility to provide treatment to you or the claimant in question
• The healthcare provider failed to provide a reasonable standard of care
• You or the claimant in question suffered injury
• This injury was the result of the aforementioned healthcare provider's negligence in care

In order to prove that the healthcare provider, or defendant, did not provide a reasonable standard of care, the majority of medical malpractice cases require the testimony of an expert witness. This witness could be another healthcare provider who has a similar specialty or any other professional whose testimony can reasonably prove your claim. Our Washington medical malpractice lawyers can help you interview and acquire the most appropriate expert witnesses for your case.

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Possible Awards in Medical Malpractice Case

If you or someone you love can be proven to have incurred harm or wrongful death as the result of medical malpractice, you may be eligible to obtain financial medical malpractice awards. Our lawyers can provide additional information on this topic after reviewing your claim.

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Attorney Fees for Medical Malpractice Litigation

When you present your claim to our Seattle, Washington medical malpractice lawyers, you will not be charged a consultation fee. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will not be charged for our services unless you obtain a financial settlement.

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Contact Seattle, Washington Area Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Serving Seattle and all of Washington, the medical malpractice lawyers at Phillips & Webster have extensive experience and a superb record with medical malpractice cases. If medical malpractice has affected you or a loved one, contact our offices today for a case evaluation.

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