Personal Injury Practice Center

Every year thousands of hospital deaths in the United States are due to potentially preventable medical errors. Your choice of attorney to represent your interests during a medical malpractice case could mean the difference between successful negotiations or expensive, ongoing litigation. Please contact our firm today to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney who can provide a clear explanation of your legal rights and options.

Atlanta Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Lawyer

In personal injury and wrongful death law, experience matters. Firm attorneys Andrew R. Kirschner and Thomas J. Venker have helped hundreds of individuals and families successfully resolve personal injury and wrongful death cases, and have recovered tens of millions of dollars for the victims of others' negligence.

We have proved liability and achieved substantial awards for many clients after other law firms have failed. For instance, in one case, three other firms failed to resolve a motorcycle-bus accident case. We accepted the case, successfully argued that the bus route itself was inherently dangerous and won a $375,000 award for our client. For a free initial consultation on how we can help you, call 770-436-5353.

Medical Malpractice - An Overview

Medical malpractice occurs when a negligent act or omission by a doctor or other medical professional results in damage or harm to a patient. Negligence by a medical professional could include an error in a diagnosis, treatment or illness management. If such negligence results in injury to a patient, a case could arise against the doctor if his or her actions deviated from generally accepted standards of practice; against the hospital for improper care, such as problems with medications, sanitation or nursing care; or against local, state or federal agencies that operate hospital facilities.

Medical malpractice laws are designed to protect patients' rights to pursue compensation if they are injured as the result of negligence. However, malpractice suits are often complex and costly to win. While theoretically, you can seek compensation for any injury caused by negligence, regardless of its seriousness, time and money make it unrealistic to sue for an injury that is minor or heals quickly. Therefore, if you believe you have a medical malpractice claim, it is important to consult with an attorney who can help you determine whether your claim is worth pursuing.

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Understanding Informed Consent

In many situations where medical care or treatment is provided to an individual, medical professionals are required to obtain the patient's "informed consent." Although the specific definition of informed consent may vary from state to state, it means essentially that the patient has made a knowing decision about a medical treatment or procedure after a doctor or other health care professional discloses all the information a reasonably prudent medical provider would give to a patient regarding the risks involved in the proposed treatment or procedure. If the health care provider fails to obtain informed consent, the patient may have a legal claim for damages. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you determine whether you have a claim and represent your interests throughout the legal process.

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Responsible Parties in Medical Malpractice Actions

Medical malpractice is not limited to medical doctors. It applies also to nurses, dentists, osteopaths, health care facilities and others providing health care services, such as nursing homes. If you believe that you have been the victim of malpractice by any health care provider, do not delay in contacting an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

Proving Your Case - Causation

To establish a case for medical malpractice, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant had a duty to the plaintiff, that the defendant failed to meet the standard of care owed to the plaintiff, that the mistake actually caused the plaintiff's injury and that the doctor or other medical professional's negligence damaged the plaintiff. Proof of causation can be a difficult issue in a medical malpractice case. For one thing, the injuries generally involved in medical malpractice cases require specific medical training to understand, and the normal plaintiff may not know the cause of such injuries. It is important to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney who can evaluate your situation and work with experts to prove causation.

Damages in Medical Malpractice Cases

To establish a case for medical malpractice, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant had a duty to the plaintiff, the defendant failed to meet the appropriate standard of care, that the defendant's actions actually caused the plaintiff's injury and that the doctor or other medical professional's negligence damaged the plaintiff. Damages are a critical element of a medical malpractice case, and the plaintiff cannot recover damages for injuries that did not result from the doctor's conduct, and so the plaintiff must establish a causal connection or link between the plaintiff's injury and the doctor's negligence. Generally, there are two types of damages available to a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case: compensatory damages and punitive damages. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your situation, determine whether you have a claim, and put together a case for damages.

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Medical Malpractice Resource Links

Division of Quality Assurance
US Department of Health and Human Services. Links to National Practitioner Data Bank and the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank.

National Patient Safety Foundation
This Web site Features information about patient safety.

US Agency for Health Care Research & Quality
Provides information and links about patient safety, tips for patients and other general health information.

Joint Commission for International Patient Safety

Contact Us

For more information regarding automobile accidents and injuries, and your rights, contact Kirschner & Venker, P.C., for a free initial consultation. We are available for evening and weekend appointments, can visit you in your home or hospital, and are conveniently located near the Cumberland Mall. To contact a lawyer, call 770-436-5353.

The law firm of Kirschner & Venker, P.C. provides legal services to the cities of Atlanta, Macon, Columbus, Augusta, Carrollton, Athens, Albany, Dalton, Gainesville, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Marietta, Lawrenceville, Jonesboro, Conyers, Douglasville, Roswell, College Park, Duluth, Forest Park, Norcross, Vinings, Buckhead, Macon and Smyrna, Warner Robins, and the counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton, Douglas and Rockdale, Georgia; GA.