Rockford Medical Malpractice Lawyer

The careless actions of a medical professional represent a breach of trust. If those actions hurt you, a Rockford medical malpractice attorney can help you seek fair compensation.

Your treating physician may have a stellar track record and show no outward signs of incompetence, but that doesn’t mean he or she won’t ever commit a costly mistake.

While a medical professional’s errors may cause long-term damage, there’s a way to at least help ensure that your physical and financial health will one day be restored. To get a sense of your legal paths to receiving compensation, contact a Rockford medical malpractice lawyer at Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC.

How Does Medical Malpractice Happen?

Much like the many types of professions in the medical field, Rockford medical malpractice cases come in a number of shapes and forms. These include the following:

• Improper Treatment – This type of malpractice often takes the form of discrimination, in which a physician, nurse, or other health professional treats you differently from other patients on the basis of your race, gender, ethnicity, and so forth. Any type of careless or haphazard treatment that causes harm also qualifies as improper treatment.

• Misrepresentation – If a doctor tells you he or she holds a certain degree or qualification, it should be true. Any physician who misrepresents credentials, even saying he or she graduated from a different medical school than he or she really did, may be subject to a medical malpractice suit if injury occurs.

• Failure to Diagnose – While it’s always nice to exchange pleasantries with your longtime doctor or nurse, you expect him or her to tell you what’s wrong with you first and foremost. Anytime you develop a condition that you can demonstrate that a physician should have detected, you may be eligible for compensation.
• Failure to Warn – Whether you’re considering surgery or having an experimental procedure done, you must be told of any known risks associated with the procedure. If you’re later injured, and you’re able to argue you wouldn’t have chosen the procedure had you known the potential dangers, you may have a viable Rockford medical malpractice case.

Laws Relevant to Medical Malpractice Cases in Illinois

Although medical malpractice cases share many fundamental similarities across the nation, there are some legal considerations that victims in Illinois must take into account.

You will learn that it is often difficult to prove negligence on the part of a physician, meaning that you will usually need both solid proof of harm and expert testimony. Proof of harm may include medical reports that validate your complaints; expert testimony will usually involve having a doctor who specializes in a similar field vouch for your side of the story.

In any Rockford medical malpractice case, it is extremely important to act both quickly and diligently in obtaining the evidence you need.

Another major consideration is Illinois’ statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases, which is two years. You will be given two years from the date of your initial procedure or visit to actually file a claim or suit. Note that, for minors who are victims of medical malpractice, the relevant statute of limitations is extended.

Compensating Victims of Medical Malpractice in Rockford

One fairly unique perk for those injured by medical malpractice in the state of Illinois is the fact that there is no cap on damages, which theoretically allows you to receive as much compensation as a court believes is warranted.

This rule has been in place since an Illinois Supreme Court decision in 2010. It applies to all subsequent cases.

It’s important to not only document all injuries that you’ve suffered as a result of your medical malpractice case, but any and all losses.

Examples of losses that may apply to your case include medical expenses, lost income or reduced earning potential, emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and reduced enjoyment of life.

Speak with a Rockford Medical Malpractice Attorney

Whether your doctor is well-intentioned or not, you can’t simply dismiss serious lapses in judgment for the sake of helping a medical professional save face.

Fortunately, Illinois law allows victims of medical malpractice to receive fair, uncapped compensation for their injuries, giving them all the resources they need to resume a long, healthy, and productive life.

To help maximize your chances of a full recovery, contact a Rockford medical malpractice lawyer at Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC today. Give us a call at 815-656-4600 or fill out the form below to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.