English 
Spanish If you suffered dental procedure complications and believe you may have a dental malpractice case, you should consider speaking to a lawyer about your next steps. Attorneys who handle these cases regularly can offer advice about your case and how they would proceed on your behalf.
A personal injury lawyer who handles dentist malpractice claims can help you understand your rights and options. Most provide free consultations so you can learn if it would help to hire an attorney to manage your dental malpractice case.
What Time Limits Apply to a Dental Negligence Lawsuit?
Each state sets its own timelines for suing based on dental malpractice. In California, you generally have up to three years to sue for medical malpractice under CCP § 340.5. However, this does not mean you have three years before you need to start thinking about filing a dental negligence lawsuit.
There are numerous other reasons why you should consider hiring a dental malpractice attorney much earlier. We recommend connecting with our team as soon as you recognize that a dental procedure gone wrong has caused you to suffer preventable injuries or require additional treatment and care.
The sooner we begin working on these cases, the stronger the case we can build. It is often easier to identify and gather evidence when the injuries occurred recently.
How Do I Know If I Have a Dental Malpractice Case?
The best way to learn if you may have a valid dental negligence case is to consult a dental malpractice attorney. They can use their knowledge of similar cases and the applicable laws to determine if dental surgery errors or a procedure gone wrong might rise to the level of malpractice.
Most personal injury law firms provide free consultations. These teams will review your dental malpractice case and assess your legal options based on the details you provide. This opportunity usually gives both the victim and the law firm a good idea about the possible outcome of a dental malpractice lawsuit based on the case facts.
Confirming dental malpractice occurred generally requires testimony from a medical expert who reviewed the case facts, medical records, and other related information. However, a dental negligence lawyer has enough experience with these cases to know when it sounds like the dentist or another trained dental professional might not have provided an appropriate standard of care.
How Can a Dental Malpractice Attorney Help With My Case?
When you hire a dental malpractice lawyer to manage your injury case, they will manage every step. From protecting your rights, investigating what happened, and negotiating with the malpractice insurance carrier, they will take care of it all. You can focus on treatment for your injuries and healing.
The evidence in a medical malpractice case often centers on medical expert testimony. The law firm will have a network of expert witnesses they use to review the dental records and confirm negligence occurred. This process is essential to recovering compensation and holding the dentist or clinic accountable. This is also a step that is difficult or impossible for most people to do on their own. Most individuals do not have an available network of dental experts they can call on for testimony.
Once your attorney has a compelling case to show dental malpractice occurred, they will navigate the necessary process to negotiate and secure compensation if possible. Sometimes, a dental malpractice lawsuit may be necessary. Your attorney will manage this process, too.
What Damages Are Available in a Dental Malpractice Lawsuit?
Regardless of whether your attorney negotiates a fair settlement or your case goes to trial, and you win a court award, you can recover money for the same expenses and losses. Your lawyer will identify and document these costs as a part of building your case.
They will determine a fair settlement value and negotiate an agreement when possible. If not, they present their documentation to the jury and ask them to award a verdict and court award.
There are many types of recoverable damages in these cases. Each victim endures different costs. Some common types of damages include:
- Necessary medical treatment and care for preventable injuries
- Cosmetic dentistry as necessary to restore the previous look
- Ongoing care for catastrophic injuries
- Current and future lost income
- Reduced earning capacity for lasting injuries
- Miscellaneous expenses with receipts
- Pain and suffering damages, including emotional distress
Talk to a Dental Malpractice Attorney About Your Procedure Gone Wrong
KJT Law Group provides complimentary consultations for victims hurt by dental negligence in our service area. Our California lawyers know how to navigate the dental malpractice claims process or handle this type of lawsuit. We will fight for justice based on the facts of your case.
Contact us online or via telephone for your free case assessment. Our team is here to discuss your next steps with you for free today.
