What is the difference between a job and a profession? Many would argue that a profession embodies a higher level of training and ongoing development in a specific practice or field. For example, personal injury attorneys must engage in ongoing training and continuing education in order to ensure their licensure is kept up to date. Physicians and other medical experts are another profession where ongoing training is essential to reduce the likelihood of medical malpractice.
Although doctors receive an immense amount of training and ongoing professional development, accidents and negligence are still possible. In fact, medical errors have been rated the third-leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease and cancer. When these errors occur, victims and their families are often left wondering how to pursue civil litigation in order to recover compensation for damages incurred.
To successfully achieve this goal, victims need the counsel and guidance of an experienced local medical malpractice attorney. Our legal professionals can help plaintiffs understand the legal frameworks that guide the litigation process. Part of this consultation will inevitably involve a discussion about what types of damages can be awarded to victims in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Although consultation and communication with an experienced medical malpractice attorney should always be considered a plaintiff’s best course of action, there are some general points of knowledge regarding types of damages to which all victims in Nevada should be made aware. Here is some basic information on types of medical malpractice damages available for victims in Nevada.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are those assessed to a guilty defendant (i.e. medical professional or healthcare provider) in order to directly punish the defendant for their negligence. These damages are typically assessed in order to make an example of the medical malpractice behavior involved in the case. Although punitive damages are not inherently designed to compensate you as the plaintiff, you will nevertheless receive the damage amount as compensation if your case is successful.
Compensatory Damages
While punitive damages punish the defendant for their negligence, compensatory damages are designed to actually compensate you for your experience and loss due to medical malpractice. This type of compensation can be used to pay for medical bills, reparative treatments, and any other needs you now have, such as the need for therapy due to the traumatic experience.
Know Your Timeline
Nevada state law indicates that the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in the state is three years after the date of the injury or one year after the plaintiff should have discovered the injury through reasonable diligence, whichever occurs first. So, if you are thinking of pursuing litigation due to suspected negligence, it is best to act as quickly as possible.
When to Contact an Attorney
Medical professionals are often associated with large hospital and healthcare organizations, which means they have the resources to employ strong legal representation when faced with a medical malpractice lawsuit. To stand a chance at winning your case, you need an experienced medical malpractice attorney who is not afraid of a challenge.
For years, the attorneys at H&P Law have been helping victims in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada navigate this complex legal process. Contact H&P Law today for legal insight into your case.
