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A Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer from Regan Zambri Long will not let negligent healthcare providers dismiss or deny your suffering. For over three decades, we’ve battled hospitals, insurance companies, and their armies of lawyers, securing millions in verdicts and settlements for victims of medical negligence. While other law firms shy away from complex medical cases, we aggressively pursue justice for patients who have been harmed by careless doctors, nurses, and healthcare facilities.
Our attorneys combine deep medical knowledge with fierce courtroom advocacy to expose every instance of malpractice. We work with top medical experts to build ironclad cases that force negligent providers to take responsibility for their mistakes. When hospitals try to cover up errors or pressure victims into quick settlements, we fight back with the full force of our experience and resources. If you or a loved one has been injured by medical negligence, contact Regan Zambri Long today for a free consultation. We’ll show you exactly how we’ll hold these providers accountable and get you the compensation you deserve.
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Every personal injury case is different. However, there are three qualities you should consider when choosing a medical malpractice attorney for your case — all three that Regan Zambri Long possesses:
Regan Zambri Long has handled thousands of cases in the DC area. We’ve received some of Washington, DC’s most significant settlements and verdicts for medical malpractice victims. We are here for you and ready to discuss how we can support and assist you today. Contact Regan Zambri Long to schedule a free case evaluation.
Medical malpractice occurs when the medical professional either negligently or fails to act, causing further injury or serious harm to the patient’s life. For your injury to be considered negligence, your DC medical malpractice attorney must show that another healthcare professional would not have acted in the same manner under the same circumstances.
According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine, over eight years, more than 250,000 deaths were caused by a medical error in the United States. It is considered the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. today. Unfortunately, medical malpractice does take its toll on the victim — a study published in the peer-reviewed journal BMJ found that medical errors impact one in every 20 patients annually. The study further found that approximately 12 percent of preventable patient harm results in either a permanent disability or death.
Anyone administering medical care to the injury victim could be liable for negligence. The following are examples of healthcare professionals and entities that could be held responsible for your injuries:
Determining the specific parties responsible in a medical malpractice case can be complex. Consult with a DC personal injury attorney promptly to understand your legal options.
Negligence comes in several different forms — from a doctor missing a diagnosis, emergency room errors, and medical staff failing to treat a patient properly to nursing home abuse. The most common types of medical malpractice cases our law firm handles include:
If you believe you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice in Washington, DC, taking immediate and strategic action is crucial for protecting your rights and building a strong case. Here’s a comprehensive guide on the steps you should take:
Document Everything: Keep detailed records of your medical treatment, including dates of visits, names of healthcare providers, medications prescribed, and any communication with medical staff. Take photos of visible injuries or symptoms, and maintain a daily journal documenting your pain levels and how the injury affects your daily life.
Request Your Medical Records: You have a legal right to obtain copies of your complete medical records. Submit a written request to all healthcare facilities involved in your care. These records are important evidence in proving medical negligence and establishing the timeline of events.
Seek a Second Medical Opinion: Consult with another healthcare provider to evaluate your condition and document any deviations from the standard of care. This second opinion can serve as valuable evidence in your case and, more importantly, ensure you receive proper medical treatment.
Avoid Direct Communication with Insurance Companies: Insurance adjusters may contact you seeking statements about your case. Decline to provide detailed information or sign any documents until you’ve consulted with a medical malpractice attorney. Any statements you make could potentially impact your claim.
Preserve Evidence: Save all medical bills, prescription receipts, correspondence with healthcare providers, and any other documentation related to your injury. Keep a record of missed workdays and any expenses incurred due to the medical error.
Act Within the Statute of Limitations: Waiting to act can compromise your ability to gather evidence and build a strong case. We’ll dive more into Washington DC’s statute of limitations below.
Don’t navigate the complex world of medical malpractice claims alone. The experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Regan Zambri Long have secured millions in compensation for medical malpractice victims throughout Washington, DC. Our team includes legal professionals with extensive medical knowledge who can evaluate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Regan Zambri Long today for a free, confidential consultation.
In Washington, DC, if you’re considering filing a lawsuit, you’ll need to start by notifying the medical provider you believe was negligent at least 90 days before you officially file your lawsuit. This notice is a precursor to the mediation that the District requires both parties to attend. This non-binding mediation occurs early on, before the lawsuit’s discovery phase. According to DC law, all named parties are required to participate in mediation in these cases. The law has strict timetables for when mediation must occur.
Once you formally start your lawsuit by filing a complaint, the process involves several steps and can take anywhere from a year to three years. The discovery phase allows both sides to thoroughly examine each other’s claims and defenses, including exchanging documents, sending interrogatories, and depositing.
Most cases are resolved through negotiating settlements, which tend to provide quicker and often favorable patient outcomes.
If a settlement cannot be reached, your case may go to trial. Trials can extend the timeline further due to court schedules and potential delays.
It’s also essential to consider DC’s contributory negligence rule, which could affect your case if you’re found even 1 percent at fault for your injury. This rule could prevent you from recovering any damages, so if you think you might share some responsibility for your injury, consult an experienced Washington, DC personal injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long to understand all your legal options.
The burden of proof, which is the responsibility to prove the claim you made, falls on the victim. Your DC medical malpractice lawyer from Regan Zambri Long will work to determine who is at fault and how to prove it. There are four elements needed to prove medical negligence:
If you suspect you’ve suffered due to medical malpractice, consider scheduling a free consultation with a Regan Zambri Long injury attorney to discuss your case and explore your options.
Proving that a doctor or other healthcare provider’s actions fell below the accepted standard of care is often complex in a medical malpractice lawsuit. This is where the testimony of an expert witness becomes vital.
An expert witness is a highly qualified professional, typically another doctor or healthcare specialist, who can provide valuable insights into the specific medical issues at the heart of your case. They can:
The expert witness plays a significant role in building a strong medical malpractice case.
If you believe you may have a medical malpractice claim, it’s essential to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Regan Zambri Long has the resources and the financial backing to hire top medical experts in your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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While there is no set amount for malpractice damages, your Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer will work hard to secure several damages categorized as compensatory and punitive.
Compensatory damages cover the losses related to the malpractice, such as:
Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are awarded in cases of egregious negligence or when the defendant’s actions are deemed especially harmful or malicious.
Medical malpractice settlements in Washington, DC vary significantly based on factors like injury severity, long-term impact, and strength of evidence. While our firm has secured multi-million dollar settlements, including a $15 million case involving a heart patient, there’s no “typical” settlement amount. Each case is unique, involving different types of medical negligence – from surgical errors to misdiagnosis. The compensation amount depends on specific damages, including current and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. An experienced DC medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your case’s potential value during a free consultation.
Medical malpractice claims in Washington, DC require careful timing and strategic planning. The process begins with a mandatory 90-day notice to the healthcare provider before filing suit, followed by required mediation. While some cases settle within a year through successful negotiations, complex medical negligence cases typically take between one to three years to resolve. The timeline depends on factors like case complexity, evidence gathering, expert witness testimony requirements, and whether the case goes to trial. Working with an experienced DC medical malpractice lawyer ensures efficient case management while pursuing maximum compensation.
The discovery rule, also known as the discovery of harm rule, is an exception to the statute of limitations. According to District of Columbia law, the timer does not start if the patient could not reasonably have known about the medical malpractice. This could happen months or even years after the date of treatment. The three-year deadline begins once the person knows they were injured and has some evidence of the hospital’s wrongdoing.
To ensure you don’t miss any critical deadlines to recover compensation, consult with a DC medical malpractice attorney as soon as you believe you or a family member may have been a victim of medical malpractice. Once it is outside the prescribed period, the victim or their family members cannot pursue a claim and potentially collect compensation.
Each case is different, but these types of claims are often complicated and can take several years to resolve. However, our medical negligence attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and financial backing to take on large hospitals and insurance companies. You can rest assured that your Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer will be with you every step of the way.
You’re likely focused on recovering from your injuries and seeking justice, not worrying about legal fees. That’s where contingency fees come in. In most medical malpractice cases, you’ll work on a contingency fee basis with your lawyer. You only pay legal fees if your lawyer successfully wins your case through a settlement or a verdict in your favor.
Typically, a personal injury lawyer, including those specializing in medical malpractice, will take a percentage of the final settlement or award. This percentage is usually between 25% and 40%, depending on the complexity of the case and the amount of work involved.
This fee covers all the costs associated with your case, such as:
To learn more about how a Washington, D.C. medical malpractice lawyer at Regan Zambri Long can help you, please call us today for a free consultation.
At Regan Zambri Long, our medical malpractice law firm in Washington, DC, we have investigated and litigated hundreds of medical malpractice cases in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. We have obtained significant settlements and verdicts for our clients, providing them with the financial resources to restore their lives.
Fill out the form to schedule a free medical malpractice case consultation today. We look forward to hearing how we can help you or a loved one with your case.
