English 
Spanish If you or a loved one was harmed by a medical error, a patient advocate can offer guidance and encouragement when you need it most. A medical malpractice attorney in your area can serve as your advocate. They will take on the medical professional or facility in question and handle your case with your best interests at heart.
Patient advocacy can provide a 360-degree support system for victims of medical errors. Hiring a personal injury lawyer to advocate for you means you can concentrate on recovering your health while your lawyer concentrates on your financial recovery. You are entitled to compensation for the harm caused by a medical error. Your lawyer and advocate will fight to obtain it for you.
How Does a Patient Advocate Support Victims of Medical Errors?
Recovering from healthcare negligence can be both physically and emotionally challenging. You do not have to navigate this complex process on your own. A patient advocate will:
- Review your medical records
- Communicate on your behalf
- Consult medical specialists
- Handle insurance claim forms
Your advocate will also negotiate with the insurance company to obtain a fair settlement for you and your family.
What Role Does a Patient Advocate Play in the Financial Recovery Process?
When you choose a lawyer with familiarity with compensating victims of medical errors, they can help you pursue fair financial recovery. Your advocate will document the elements of medical negligence, including:
- Your right to care that meets the accepted standard
- The at-fault party’s departure from the standard of care
- Document the correlation between incident and injury
- Carefully scrutinize your medical treatment and bills
As your advocate, your medical malpractice attorney will also compile evidence that proves the validity and monetary value of your case.
What Kind of Damages Can Be Recovered by Filing a Medical Errors Claim?
A medical error can have dire financial consequences. While it causes you to incur medical debt, an error can also prevent you from working to support yourself and your family. Per CCP § 1431.2, damages you can recover by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit include:
- Medical bills throughout your recovery
- Income loss throughout your recovery
- Pain and suffering, and inconvenience
- Mental and emotional trauma and distress
Your lawyer will assess your case and determine the amount of patient restitution you are entitled to recover. They will also include bills, receipts, and your future prognosis in your case file to document the value of your recoverable damages.
What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Lawsuit for Medical Errors in California?
The filing deadline can be complicated in medical error or malpractice cases because the exact date of the injury can be hard to pinpoint. In general, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of injury or discovery, per CCP § 340.5.
The sooner you get a law firm involved in your case, the more time they have to investigate your claim. Early intervention also means they have time to accurately interpret the statute of limitations and how it applies to your case.
Is It Worth Hiring a Lawyer to Seek Damages for Medical or Medication Errors?
Proving a medical error occurred and that it compromised your health can be a stressful and daunting undertaking. When you are represented by a medical errors attorney, they will:
- Clarify legal, medical, and insurance language
- Explain California’s medical malpractice laws
- Identify all potentially liable parties in your case
- Identify and interview lay and expert witnesses
- File an Affidavit of Merit with your lawsuit
- Represent you in court, if needed
- Speak to all relevant parties on your behalf
Your lawyer will also address any questions or concerns you have and provide ongoing updates on your case and the settlement negotiation process.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
In most cases, it costs nothing to hire a lawyer to represent you in your pursuit of financial compensation. The law firm will accept your case on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you will pay nothing at all out of your own pocket.
They will accept a percentage of your settlement or verdict as compensation and you will owe no legal or attorney’s fees at all if you do not recover damages. With risk-free legal representation available, you do not have to take on the challenges of building your case on your own.
Get Help With Your Medical Errors Case Now
If you or a loved one was injured because of a medical error, a patient advocate can help you navigate your recovery and understand your patient rights. At KJT Law Group, our medical malpractice lawyer can help you pursue financial compensation.
Call (818) 507-8525 to contact our case evaluation team and learn more about patient advocacy and support systems for victims of medical errors.
