Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical Malpractice Attorney Overview
- Work With a Team of Experienced Attorneys
- Medical Malpractice: Facts & Statistics
- Schedule a Free Consultation
- Examples of Medical Malpractice
- What to Do as a Victim of Medical Negligence
- Damages for Med Mal Victims
- Meet Our Team of Attorneys
- The Importance of Working With an Attorney
- Contact Thomas Law Offices
When visiting a medical facility, whether for a routine checkup or seeking emergency attention, you expect to leave in a better state than when you arrived. If physicians make mistakes, injuries can happen. When malpractice is a factor, you need help from a medical malpractice lawyer.
Medical malpractice refers to instances where doctors or other medical professionals injure patients because of negligent actions or inactions. A personal injury claim can be filed to help the victim seek compensation for their losses and hold the at-fault person or facility accountable for what happened. Filing a claim isn’t easy, but Thomas Law Offices by your side.
According to the American Hospital Association, there are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States. Millions of Americans are treated in those facilities on a daily basis, with total annual admissions at over 36 million . Hospitals are often understaffed or are working around budget cuts, so patients do not always receive the highest quality of care. However, when this results in injury or death, legal action should be taken.
Safety experts from Johns Hopkins spent eight years examining deaths due to medical errors. Their findings concluded that 250,000 people die each year from physician and hospital errors, makingmedical malpractice the third leading cause of death in the United States.
If you’ve been injured in a medical facility, it’s important to have an idea of the type of malpractice you fell victim to—this will depend on your injuries, as well as when and where they happened. Your lawyer can help you determine the type of malpractice you experienced.
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
Misdiagnosis is one of the most common types of medical malpractice. This is when a doctor diagnoses you with a different condition than what you have and, as a result, your condition worsens. For example, you have chest pain and go to the emergency room. There, you are diagnosed with indigestion and sent home, but later have a heart attack and must undergo surgery. In this instance you were misdiagnosed and injured.
A delayed diagnosis is similar, except the diagnosis is correct; it just comes later than it should have. This sometimes happens with cancer diagnoses. A doctor can failto notice a mass or other signs of cancer and lead to a patient being diagnosed with a later stage of cancer that could have been avoided.
Birth Injuries
The birth of a baby is often one of the most joyous occasions in life. When something goes wrong during labor and delivery, it can send the parents-to-be in an overwhelming situation. While issues do arise naturally, there are instances where a doctor or nurse can fail to notice fetal distress or use a birthing instrument incorrectly,injuring the child or mother.
Surgical Errors
From routine surgeries to one-in-a-million situations, surgeons must have a steady hand and an even steadier head. If they lose focus, fail to seek assistance when needed, or act without thinking, a patient’s life or livelihood could be at risk. Patients who experience surgical injuries may have medical instruments left inside their bodies or have the wrong body part operated on.
Anesthesia errors are also a possibility in the operating room. The anesthesiologist is responsible for ensuring the patient is properly sedated during surgery. With too much anesthesia, there’s risk of brain damage . With too little, the patient could become aware during surgery and suffer from unnecessary pain and PTSD.
Medication Errors
The doctors and nurses that treat you are responsible for ensuring the medications they provide will solve your problems, not add more. While medications often come with side effects, most are mild or tolerable. If, however, you’re given a medication you are knowingly allergic to and suffer an extreme reaction, you may be able to hold the facility accountable if the allergy was recorded in your medical charts.
Defective Medical Devices
Medical devices, like heart valve implants, implanted port catheters, and hip replacements, are used to help patients live a high quality of life. When a manufacturer cuts corners to save money or fails to run adequate testing, patients could experience unexpected injuries and illnesses.
Depending on your injuries, you may not realize you are a victim of malpractice until you leave the hospital. If you notice something is wrong while still admitted, speak with the doctor or nurse and ensure your concerns are recorded and also tracked separetely, so you have your own documentation.
While you focus on healing, you will want to keep track of your hospital bills and statements, as well as any other related receipts, so your lawyer will be able to value your case faster. If needed, seek a second medical opinion to address any issues you are still experiencing.
Once the situation has stabilized, it is time to get in touch with an attorney from Thomas Law Offices. They will be able to take a look at what you have been through and determine how best to help.
As a victim of medical negligence, you have the legal right to file a civil case to seek compensation for your losses. To determine what you should seek, your attorney will evaluate the situation and come up with a fair valuation, which will include your economic and noneconomic losses.
Economic damages are those that are directly calculable, like medical expenses and lost wages. Noneconomic damages are for more personal losses like pain and suffering. While rare, there are also instances where punitive damages are available. Depending on the circumstances that caused your injury, punitive damages could be awarded if the doctor was grossly negligent— for example, if they were under the influence of drugs and alcohol while treating you.
No matter the extent of your losses, your attorney will make sure your claim is properly valued. They will not settle until you are offered what you deserve and need to get your life back in order.
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AttorneyAlex Cassell
Alex grew up in Wildwood, Missouri and currently resides in Columbia. She graduated from Truman State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Justice Systems and a minor in French. Alex graduated from the University of Missouri School of...Practice Areas
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AttorneyAlex Ernst
Alex Ernst grew up in southeastern Ohio and went on to study English and writing at Morehead State University. While at Morehead, Alex volunteered with the Welcome House of Northern Kentucky assisting people struggling with disabilities and homelessness to get...Practice Areas
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PartnerAshley Abaray
Ashley Ervin Abaray is originally from Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa in 2012. She then moved to Louisville and graduated from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in 2015. Ashley began working for...Practice Areas
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PartnerBo McNulty
Bo McNulty is a 2010 graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Dayton in 2006. While at Dayton, he played on the school’s NCAA Division 1-AA...Practice Areas
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PartnerBrian Jasper
Brian Jasper is a 2011 graduate of Mercer University School of Law in Macon, GA. He earned his juris doctorate cum laude while serving as the Chief Justice of the Honor Court and a member of the Mock Trial team....Practice Areas
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AttorneyCameryn Gonnella
Cameryn is originally from Virginia and graduated early from George Mason University with a double major Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies and Political Communication. She moved to Kentucky in 2022 to attend University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, and...Practice Areas
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PartnerDavid Barber
David Barber is a Kentucky trial lawyer whose practice focuses on negligent security and other preventable crime cases, as well as injuries caused by unsafe service of alcohol (dram shop liability). He represents people harmed when businesses and property owners...Practice Areas
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AttorneyEric Kiser
Since 2015, Eric has dedicated his career to being a voice for those who have been harmed by the negligence of others, whether in nursing homes, on the road, or in their own communities. Eric’s approach is defined by a...Practice Areas
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AttorneyJoseph Spinuzza
Joseph Spinuzza is a seasoned personal injury attorney licensed to practice in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. He brings a deep well of experience to his work, having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in complex litigation matters. Joseph is widely respected...Practice Areas
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AttorneyJulie Pahler Anderson
Julie Pahler Anderson was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated with her undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky in 2018 and obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law in 2021. Julie...Practice Areas
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AttorneyKelly King
Kelly is an attorney at Thomas Law Offices’ Missouri Office. As a former prosecutor and former Deputy Attorney General of Missouri, Kelly brings nearly two decades of courtroom experience and a distinguished record in advocacy. A graduate of University of... -
PartnerKevin Weis
Since 1999 Kevin Weis has continuously represented people seriously injured or killed as the result of negligent individuals and corporations in such areas as Motor Vehicle Negligence, Medical/Healthcare Negligence, Premises Liability (“slip and falls”), Products Liability, Dog Bites, Tractor Trailer...Practice Areas
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Partner and General CounselLindsy Lopez
Lindsy Lopez serves as Thomas Law Offices’ General Counsel and has established the firm’s Des Moines, Iowa, office, where she relocated to be closer to family. Lindsy attended Iowa State University, earning a double major in Political Science/International Studies and...Practice Areas
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PartnerLou Schneider
After more than 15 years serving clients in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, Lou Schneider joined Thomas Law Offices in June 2018. He brings knowledge and experience from his years as a partner in a mid-sized Cincinnati law firm and owner...Practice Areas
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PartnerMike Campbell
Mike grew up in Mid-Missouri and currently resides in Columbia. His private practice, The Law Office of Mike Campbell, joined forces with Thomas Law Offices in 2020, and he now heads the firm’s Missouri office. Mike represents individuals who are seriously...Practice Areas
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PartnerNick Haynes
Nick has represented hundreds of people seriously injured or killed by negligent medical care, birth injuries, car and motorcycle wrecks, and big truck collisions. His hard work and commitment to clients establishes him as a leader in his field, with...Practice Areas
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AttorneyNick Horne
Nick Horne was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended Jefferson Community and Technical College, where he earned his associate degree in 2017. Nick studied Political Science at the University of Kentucky, earning his bachelor’s degree and graduating magna...Practice Areas
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AttorneyNick Thompson
James Nicholas “Nick” Thompson was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a 2006 graduate of St. Xavier High School. He attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and swam competitively on...Practice Areas
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PartnerRon Parry
Ron Parry is a seasoned trial attorney with decades of litigation experience representing clients in high-stakes class actions, complex commercial disputes, and personal injury matters. As an attorney at Thomas Law Offices, Ron draws on his experience in more than...Practice Areas
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Managing PartnerTad Thomas
Tad Thomas is the Founder and Managing Partner of Thomas Law Offices, a nationally recognized plaintiffs’ civil litigation firm that has grown under his leadership from a solo practice into a multi-state firm with offices across the Midwest. A seasoned...Practice Areas
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AttorneyTerry Gaffney
Terry Gaffney brings nearly three decades of first-chair trial experience to the Cleveland office of Thomas Law Offices. Since beginning his legal career in 1997, Mr. Gaffney has devoted his practice to catastrophic medical malpractice, wrongful death, and complex products...
Every medical malpractice claim is unique, and most have the potential to be challenging. However, with the right attorney, you will not have to worry about anything jeopardizing your claim. Your lawyer will handle the paperwork and conversations while being sure to abide by state laws when it comes to the time you have to file your case.
In addition, your lawyer may also have the resources to have a medical expert review your case and support you being owed compensation. No matter what your case requires, your lawyer will be with you every step of the way.
While most injury claims result in a settlement offer through negotiations, hospitals aren’t always willing to negotiate fairly. If that is the situation you are in, your attorney can guide you through the lawsuit process to get you a favorable verdict from a judge or jury.
Medical malpractice claims are among the most challenging personal injury claims to tackle, which is why it’s crucial to have a medical malpractice lawyer by your side. Thomas Law Offices is well versed in managing physician and hospital negligence claims, and we are prepared to help you understand your legal rights and options.
No matter the extent of your injuries, you deserve the best chance at recovery. When you seek legal representation from Thomas Law Offices, we will start by evaluating your claim and discussing how you would like to proceed. Contact us today for more information.
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