how to sue a hospital system without using an attorney

by Prof. Julia Hill 6 min read

File your complaint with the appropriate clerk of court. Once you've completed your complaint and any other documents, take the entire packet together with any copies to the clerk's office. You'll have to pay a fee to initiate your lawsuit, which can be as much as several hundred dollars.

Full Answer

Can I sue a hospital?

Apr 24, 2020 · Perhaps, for example, the hospital chose the doctor's fees or hours. A lawyer can help you make that distinction and determine whether the hospital is liable. Getting Proof for a Medical Lawsuit. Medical malpractice lawsuits are difficult to prove. You need to show: The hospital is responsible, and not just the doctor

How do I bring a medical malpractice lawsuit against a hospital?

7031 Koll Center Pkwy, Pleasanton, CA 94566. master:2021-12-22_10-02-24. As far as the legal system is concerned, you can handle your own medical malpractice case without hiring an attorney, but whether that's a good idea is the more important consideration. When you're considering any kind of legal action, the decision to hire an attorney or go it alone and …

What is an example of a hospital lawsuit?

Oct 13, 2020 · The most common legal theory used to sue a hospital is medical malpractice. Medical malpractice is when a medical professional acts negligent when treating a patient and they are injured as a result. These individuals will be held to a higher standard of care, which will depend on their type of profession/job title. As noted, the hospital can ...

What is a hospital mistake lawsuit?

Feb 09, 2015 · A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer or criminal lawyer can help you with a hospital lawsuit settlement in such cases. If You Have Issues With Healthcare Provision Contact Attorney to Sue Hospital. There are many ways a patient can sustain a preventable injury or suffer long-term health issues because of hospital negligence. From a study ...

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Can I sue a hospital without a lawyer?

How To Sue A Hospital Without A Lawyer? From a legal perspective, it is very possible to file a lawsuit against a hospital for medical negligence without a lawyer but before making that decision there are vital aspects of a case you must consider.Aug 24, 2021

How do I make a claim against a hospital?

Circumstances Which Could Lead To Claim Against HospitalsMisdiagnosis.Symptoms being ignored.Failure in a medical product.Unreasonable delays in diagnosis or treatment.Failure to administer appropriate pain treatment.Failure to provide hydration or nutrition.Lack of communication.More items...•Aug 7, 2021

Can you sue a hospital for negligence?

Wherever a medical practitioner is negligent and is employed by a hospital it may be possible to sue the actual hospital for negligence. ... In certain cases, it may be more applicable to sue the hospital rather than sue a Doctor or medical professional individually.

How successful are medical negligence claims?

It is authoritatively shown that around 10 to 11 % of hospital admissions each year end in an 'adverse outcome' due to a medical incident.Nov 6, 2012

What is classed as medical negligence?

Medical negligence is substandard care that's been provided by a medical professional to a patient, which has directly caused injury or caused an existing condition to get worse. There's a number of ways that medical negligence can happen such as misdiagnosis, incorrect treatment or surgical mistakes.

What is an example of negligence in the medical field?

Here are some examples of medical negligence that might lead to a lawsuit: Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis. Misreading or ignoring laboratory results. Unnecessary surgery.

What is an unsafe discharge from hospital?

Patients discharged with no home care plan, or kept in hospital due to poor coordination across services. Lack of integration and poor joint working between, for example, hospital and community health services can mean patients are discharged without the home support they need.Jun 20, 2016

What is the average payout for medical negligence UK?

£50,000This affects the amount of compensation in medical negligence cases. Medical negligence payout figures can therefore range from £1,000 to several millions of pounds depending on the specifics of each case. However, according to the NHS Resolution, the average payout for medical negligence in the UK is £50,000.Oct 1, 2021

How much does it cost to file a lawsuit?

Although it can cost anywhere between $100 and $500 to file a lawsuit, in many if not most cases, there’s no need to pay any money upfront. (As these types of cases are usually taken on contingency.) That said, the patient may be required to pay a small fee to the hospital to acquire their medical records.

What is medical negligence?

Medical negligence. 2. Medical malpractice (A very specific type of negligence.) 3. Wrongful death (If a loved one died because of negligence.) If your reason falls into one of these categories and you want to sue your hospital, use the steps below to get the ball rolling.

Can a hospital settle out of court?

If the conditions are right, your lawyer will pursue a settlement. If the hospital realizes you’re in the right and they owe you compensation, they may choose to settle. For malpractice cases, 9 times out of 10, the hospital will settle out of court.

Can you sue a hospital?

And yes, the answer is yes: You can sue your hospital. And win. Naturally, you need a good reason. If you have one, you’ve probably already graduated from “ I want to sue the hospital” to “ how can I sue the hospital?”. If that’s the case, you’re in the right place. Because we’re going to cover precisely that.

What to do if a loved one dies in a hospital?

If a loved one died in the hospital as a result of negligence, you also may have the option of suing the hospital for wrongful death. In all of these cases, hiring an attorney is practically essential to a successful resolution of your claim. Steps.

Who is Jennifer Mueller?

Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 26,361 times.

Can you sue a hospital for malpractice?

These laws mean you can't just file a complaint in court if you want to sue a hospital for malpractice. For example, some states require you to have your claims evaluated by a medical expert, who will certify to the court that you have legitimate evidence of possible medical malpractice.

Can a nurse sue a hospital?

3. Determine if the doctor or nurse is an employee of the hospital. If your injury is the result of negligence on the part of a doctor or nurse, you won't be able to sue the hospital for negligence unless the doctor or nurse is classified as an employee of the hospital. A medical malpractice lawsuit against a hospital acts on the theory ...

What happens if a lawyer loses a case?

If the lawyer loses the case, the lawyer usually is not paid, though the client may be on the hook for certain costs. 3.

What is medical malpractice?

While medical malpractice laws are designed to protect the rights of patients who have been subjected to substandard medical care, the first step in asserting those rights must be taken by the patients themselves. This article describes those steps in-depth, in the context of a medical malpractice case against a hospital. 1.

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice?

1. Act Before The Statute of Limitations Deadline Passes. The biggest mistake a patient can make is waiting too long to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in court. Statutory time limits (called "statutes of limitations" in legalese) require patients to file legal claims promptly.

How long do hospitals keep medical records?

A hospital must keep every patient's medical records for at least a few years after treatment . Upon request, the hospital must give copies of the records to the patient (however, the hospital may charge a fee for copying expenses).

What is an affidavit of merit?

A patient might have to file an affidavit of merit in which a qualified medical expert attests that the plaintiff has a valid case. A patient also might have to submit a claim to a medical review board before filing in court, or agree to some form of pre-lawsuit alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Is a medical malpractice case a legal action?

A medical malpractice case isn't the kind of legal action you want to try handling on your own. These cases can get very complex from a legal, medical, and procedural standpoint. Proving your case is going to require not just a firm understanding of the law as it applies to your situation, but a familiarity with the kinds of hoops a medical malpractice plaintiff needs to jump through, including the retention of the right expert medical witness.

What do I need to do before filing a lawsuit?

You (and your attorney) will need a good understanding of the procedural requirements you'll need to meet before (or soon after) filing the lawsuit, including filing a certificate of merit, complying with pre-lawsuit screening, and other special steps.

What to consider when hiring an attorney?

When you're considering any kind of legal action, the decision to hire an attorney or go it alone and represent yourself is one that should be weighed very carefully. In particular, you might focus on two key questions: 1 What's at stake? 2 How complex is the legal territory?

Why is it important to have a lawyer?

First, almost every medical malpractice case turns on whether medical negligence on the part of a doctor (or other health care professional) was the cause of the patient's harm.

What happens if a doctor makes a mistake?

If a doctor or other staff member makes a mistake then the hospital can still be found liable as their employer. This is known as vicarious liability. However, if the doctor is not directly employed by the hospital but instead works on a contract or floating basis, then the hospital may not be an appropriate defendant.

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice is when a medical professional acts negligent when treating a patient and they are injured as a result. These individuals will be held to a higher standard of care, which will depend on their type of profession/job title. As noted, the hospital can face liability as the employer in these situations.

What is mandatory arbitration?

This means that before the person can file a civil lawsuit, they will need to go through mandatory arbitration. This is when the dispute is put before an arbitrator, who is a neutral third-party. The arbitrator listens to both sides, looks at the evidence, and tries to help the parties reach a resolution.

What can a personal injury lawyer do for you?

A Fort Myers personal injury lawyer may be able to assist you with cases involving hospital negligence. An attorney may also be able to help if you want to sue a hospital for pain and suffering. An attorney can help by:

Why did Danielle Bellerose lose her baby?

After losing a premature baby due to necrotizing enterocolitis, a devastating intestinal complication that affects premature babies, just 8 days after delivery at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, bereft mother Danielle Bellerose, was looking for answers to her question, “Why had no one diagnosed her daughter’s condition sooner?”

Can you sue a hospital for pain and suffering?

If a botched medical procedure, a diagnosis error, a testing error, or errors involving the administration of drugs lead to injuries that should not have occurred, you may be able to sue a hospital for pain and suffering. You may also be able to sue for any additional healthcare costs or treatment expenses you are forced to cover, including payments for medications, therapy, and rehabilitation. Any income you lose by being unable to work and incidental expenses, such as childcare or eldercare expenses, can also be included.

What is a small claims court?

The first thing to know about small claims courts is that they are courts where parties can resolve some types of civil disputes at low cost. Procedures vary from one jurisdiction to another, as do the types of cases allowed, but they all have certain general characteristics:

Can you sue in a pro se case?

In most cases where the amounts in dispute exceed the limits of small claims courts , you should carefully consider the time and expertise required to sue in pro per or pro se – that is, without using an attorney. The procedural demands in higher trial courts (called superior courts, district courts or circuit courts in many states) are considerable. A typical trial court case may have several preliminary law and motion hearings before the trial itself. There may also be subpoenas that have to be written and served, and in-person interrogations, called depositions, to be scheduled where either party prepares a set of questions, or interrogatories, that the other side must answer. Each of these stages has its own deadlines and rules. While some judges extend themselves to help pro se plaintiffs in court, others do not. Opposing parties often pounce on technical violations committed by pro se plaintiffs to get the case thrown out. Neither opposing parties nor the court will overlook violations of the many deadlines and procedural requirements that occur in the course of a superior court lawsuit.

Why are hospitals being sued?

Lawsuits are filed against hospitals for a wide variety of reasons. As previously mentioned, negligence and malpractice are the most common. Some lawsuits may be for small or one-time incidents, while others are for larger or more far-reaching incidents.

What is hospital negligence?

Hospital negligence may be direct, such as: Losing, mishandling, or unlawfully transferring confidential patient records. Disregard of proper medical care standards. Due to the specific nature of a hospital environment, injuries that result in a lawsuit against the hospital often involve different areas of the law.

What are the consequences of hospital negligence?

Hospital negligence may be direct, such as: 1 Failing to ensure that all staff meet required standards for licensing, training, and education; 2 Not maintaining sufficient staff to ensure appropriate levels of patient care; and/or 3 Losing, mishandling, or unlawfully transferring confidential patient records.

What is negligence in medical malpractice?

Negligence is based on a person’s failure to do something, rather than their actual actions. However, lawsuits against hospitals may involve various legal claims and theories besides negligence. Lawsuits involving hospitals are most commonly related to some sort of medical malpractice.

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice refers to the negligence of a healthcare professional resulting in the injury of a patient with whom they have, or previously had, a professional relationship. Under the corporate negligence doctrine, the hospital itself may be held responsible for a mistake made by a doctor or other staff employed by the hospital.

Is a doctor considered an independent contractor?

While some doctors are employees of the hospital, many are actually legally considered to be independent contractors. This is generally the case with surgeons. What this means is that if a patient is injured while in the doctor’s care at the hospital, the hospital is not legally responsible for the injury.

Can a hospital be sued for medical malpractice?

Due to the specific nature of a hospital environment, injuries that result in a lawsuit against the hospital often involve different areas of the law. Each state has its own specific laws meant to govern medical malpractice, as well as what is required to bring a lawsuit against a hospital.

Daniel Paul Buttafuoco

I agree with the other attorneys that "Patients that suffered negligent care from medical providers which caused them injuries can seek compensation for their damages." Find a medical malpractice attorney and call for a free consultation.

Edgardo Rafael Baez

In Texas, private hospitals cannot be sued for discrimination; however, they can be sued for negligence. The facts that you have provided are not enough to make a determination of negligence. Please, contact a medical malpractice attorney in your area. Good luck and God bless you.#N#More

Brent Schafer

I'm sorry that you feel like you have been discriminated against. However, that, in of itself, is most likely not an actionable claim. The situation you describe would more appropriately be a possible medical malpractice issue. You should contact and visit with a medical malpractice attorney in your area.

Jacob Adam Regar

Patients that suffered negligent care from medical providers which caused them injuries can seek compensation for their damages. It's unknown under these facts whether your sister is a victim of medical malpractice. She can speak to medical malpractice attorneys in your state to learn the full scope of her rights.

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1 – Check Your Statute of Limitations

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Every state has their own statute of limitations (a specific period of time where you’re able to file a lawsuit). So if you want to sue the hospital, it’s important to check your state’s specific limitations. Because if you’re suing a hospital, you may have less time than if you were suing an individual.In some states, you only get a …
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2 – Find Out Who to Sue. and Why. and…

  • “I want to sue the hospital” may be a great place to start. But “I want to sue my doctor” might be even better. Which is your best bet? You want answers, and you need them. Especially in this step toward compensation. Was the injury the result of negligence? Maybe someone wasn’t doing their job, wasn’t truthful about a complication, or maybe the hospital’s equipment was faulty? Let’s sta…
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3 – Consult Your Attorney

  • Keep this in mind — when you sue a hospital, whether it’s for malpractice, negligence or wrongful death, you’re taking on a professional team of hospital law attorneys. This is a far cry from their first rodeo. It probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — if you want to win and get the most money out of the hospital and into your pocket, you need to find a good lawyer with the rig…
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4 – File Your Complaint Against The Hospital

  • This is where your lawyer files the complaint with your state court. This complaint is pretty much exactly what it sounds like it is. It’s an official complaint against the hospital including what they did wrong, and the amount of money you expect as payment for the damage done. Next, it’s off to the races! Starting with what may be the most molasses-slow, tedious game you’ve ever played. …
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5 – Do The Discovery

  • What’s discovery, you ask? It’s a somewhat intrusive process where their team interrogates you and gathers evidence from your team. Your team does the same to them. This is a very good thing because it gives your lawyer the chance to gather convincing information to win your case with. And that brings us to the final phase in our hospital-suing journey: The trial.
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6 – Get Paid

  • After your lawyer investigates, and you file your complaint, and complete discovery, now it’s time (ideally) to get paid. If the conditions are right, your lawyer will pursue a settlement. If the hospital realizes you’re in the right and they owe you compensation, they may choose to settle. For malpractice cases, 9 times out of 10, the hospital will settle out of court. If they do, your attorney…
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7 – Prep & Get to That Trial

  • Your lawyer and the rest of the team will hold pre-trial conferences with you (and your witnesses and experts too), to make sure everyone’s on the same page and knows exactly what to expect. That way, by the time you get to the trial, you’ll be well-prepped and ready to win your case. At the end of your trial the jury will make their decision. If they decide in your favor, congrats, you win! Y…
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Hospital Lawsuits FAQs

  • Is it hard to sue a hospital?
    Although proving medical malpractice can be challenging, settling is much easier in most cases. In fact, about 93% of malpractice cases do not go to trial, and instead, are settled out of court. In these cases, it’s not nearly as difficult to sue the hospital as you might think. Now, to prove malp…
  • How much does it cost to sue a hospital?
    Although it cancost anywhere between $100 and $500 to file a lawsuit, in many if not most cases, there’s no need to pay any money upfront. (As these types of cases are usually taken on contingency.) That said, the patient may be required to pay a small fee to the hospital to acquire …
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