Did a doctor, hospital, or other health care provider cause you harm in Stonecrest, GA?
At Moriarty Medical Malpractice Lawyers, we help injured clients in Stonecrest pursue full recovery in medical malpractice matters.
If a physician, surgeon, nurse, or hospital in Stonecrest harmed you through substandard care, we can build a timeline of your treatment from the medical records, show where that care broke from accepted practice, and pursue the compensation Georgia law allows. Moriarty Medical Malpractice Lawyers handles medical negligence claims for patients throughout southeast DeKalb County.
Our Stonecrest, GA medical malpractice lawyer brings six years of experience defending health care providers to each patient’s claim. Contact us to discuss your situation at no cost.
Medical Malpractice Lawyer Stonecrest, GA
Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider’s treatment falls below the level of care and skill Georgia law requires, and a patient is injured as a result. Georgia’s malpractice statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-1-27, places that obligation on anyone who practices medicine for compensation. Claims can involve physicians, surgeons, nurses, anesthesia providers, dentists, and the hospitals where they work. Each provider’s conduct is compared with what a reasonably careful provider in the same field would have done in similar circumstances.
Health care and social assistance businesses in Stonecrest reported about $264.5 million in receipts in 2022, according to Census QuickFacts. A Stonecrest medical malpractice attorney evaluates care delivered across the city’s hospitals, clinics, and medical offices when a patient is harmed.
Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle in Stonecrest
Malpractice claims in Stonecrest arise from emergency visits, outpatient procedures, hospital stays, and routine office care. As medical malpractice attorneys in Stonecrest, we pursue claims in each of the categories below.
- Surgical errors. Wrong-site procedures, damage to nearby organs or nerves, and retained surgical items can require additional operations. We compare the operative report with accepted technique to separate recognized risks from preventable mistakes.
- Anesthesia errors. Improper dosing, inadequate airway management, and gaps in monitoring during sedation can cause oxygen deprivation and brain injury.
- Emergency room malpractice. Emergency physicians must evaluate chest pain, severe headaches, and signs of infection before discharging a patient. Premature discharge and unreviewed test results can support these claims.
- Failure to diagnose. A missed or delayed diagnosis of cancer, stroke, or infection allows the condition to progress. These claims ask whether the warning signs in the chart should have led to testing or a referral.
- Medication errors. Wrong drugs, incorrect doses, and overlooked interactions can occur when a medication is prescribed, dispensed, or administered.
- Birth injuries. A delayed response to fetal distress, improper use of delivery instruments, or a missed maternal condition can cause lasting injury to a newborn or the mother.
- Nursing negligence. Nurses who fail to monitor vital signs, report changes in a patient’s condition, or follow physician orders can cause serious harm. Claims may extend to the facility that employs them.
- Negligent blood transfusions. Mismatched blood types, contaminated blood products, and transfusion reactions that go unmonitored can lead to organ damage or death.
- Hospital-acquired infections. Sepsis and surgical site infections can follow when sterile technique lapses or early signs of infection go untreated.
- Dental malpractice. Dentists and oral surgeons may be liable for nerve damage, untreated infections, and anesthesia complications during dental procedures.
Why Choose Moriarty Medical Malpractice Lawyers as My Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Stonecrest, GA?
Building Each Case From the Medical Record
Our firm builds each claim from the provider’s own documentation, including orders, nursing notes, test results, and the time stamp on each entry. Where needed, we consult physicians in the specialty involved to explain how the documented care compares with accepted practice. Attorney Daniel J. Moriarty tries malpractice cases in Georgia courts, and his appellate work includes cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit. He completed his undergraduate studies with honors at the University of Notre Dame and attended law school at UT Austin. Before law school, Daniel taught high school English as a Second Language. His current work centers on patients and families harmed by medical negligence.
Recoveries for Georgia Malpractice Clients
Since 2019, recoveries for our clients have totaled more than $200 million. Two verdicts obtained by our firm appear among Georgia’s ten largest malpractice verdicts. Each result below comes from a malpractice claim handled by our firm.
- $8 million medical malpractice result
- $5.5 million, medical negligence claim
- Medical malpractice matter resolved for $4.5 million
- $4 million for a patient harmed by medical malpractice
Understanding Medical Malpractice Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Medical Malpractice Cases
A malpractice claim rests on four elements: a provider-patient relationship, a departure from the standard of care, an injury, and a causal connection between the departure and the injury. A poor result after treatment does not prove negligence. We look for evidence that the care departed from accepted practice and that the departure produced the harm. AHRQ patient safety research draws the same line, separating preventable adverse events from those that occur despite appropriate care.
A successful claim can recover the following:
- Economic losses: Past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost income.
- Noneconomic losses: Physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and reduced quality of life.
- Long-term care: The ongoing treatment and support required after a spinal cord injury or brain damage caused by anesthesia errors.
What Is the Medical Malpractice Case Timeline?
Georgia gives injured patients two years from the date of injury or death to file suit, as set out in O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71. That section also rules out any claim brought more than five years after the negligent act or omission, even if the injury became apparent later. When a surgical sponge or other foreign object is left in the body, O.C.G.A. § 9-3-72 instead allows one year from the date the error is discovered.
- We gather the complete chart from each provider and hospital that treated you.
- Our Stonecrest, GA medical malpractice attorney arranges a review by a physician in the relevant specialty.
- Stonecrest is located in southeast DeKalb County, and the DeKalb County State Court is among the courts that hear civil cases there. We prepare and file the complaint in the court with authority over the defendants.
- Discovery includes depositions of the treating providers and the exchange of hospital policies and records.
- Cases conclude through a negotiated settlement, mediation, or a jury verdict.
What Are Important Aspects of a Medical Malpractice Case?
The strength of a malpractice claim depends on the documentation, the medical standards that applied, and the extent of the harm.
- Time stamps in electronic health records, which show when orders were placed and when results were reviewed
- Hospital policies and protocols that governed the patient’s care
- Whether the injury was a known surgical risk or a preventable error
- Infection control records when a surgical site infection develops after a procedure
- The duty of care owed by each provider involved in the treatment
Separately from any lawsuit, patients may report a physician to the Georgia Composite Medical Board, which oversees physician licensing and discipline.
What Should You Bring to Your Medical Malpractice Consultation?
Records you already have help us understand your treatment at the first meeting with our Stonecrest medical malpractice attorney. We obtain anything missing through formal requests.
- Discharge instructions, visit summaries, and test results
- A list of the doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies involved, with approximate dates
- Health insurance statements and medical bills
- Pay stubs or employer records if you missed work
- A written account of your symptoms and your conversations with providers
We will review the information with you, explain the legal standards that apply, and tell you whether the facts appear to support a claim.
Reach Out to Moriarty Medical Malpractice Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
If substandard care caused your injury, our Stonecrest medical malpractice lawyer can meet with you and evaluate the claim without charge. Moriarty Medical Malpractice Lawyers does not charge an attorney fee unless it recovers compensation for you. We will explain the Georgia deadlines that apply and the information needed to begin. Contact us, and we will arrange a time to review your case.