Aggressive representation when ER doctors in WA make mistakes
Many emergency room doctors do wonderful work in crisis situations. During the pandemic, they’ve been the first point of contact for Southeast Washington residents who contracted COVID-19. ER doctors often need to make quick decisions. They often treat people who have burns, deep wounds, and chronic illnesses. Even amidst all the demands of ER care, ER healthcare providers are required to meet common standards of care. Their job is to be ready for emergencies. When ER doctors make mistakes, victims may not receive the treatments they need. Some ER errors can cause deaths.
At Telaré Law, our Kennewick medical malpractice lawyers understand when ER mistakes are justified and when the doctors, nurses, and staff were simply careless and negligent. We work with independent emergency room physicians who understand what type of care ER doctors should have provided, and the type of injuries that may result when quality ER care is missing. We fight to hold the doctors and hospitals throughout the Tri-Cities liable for your injuries, your pain, your financial losses, and your suffering.
How can we help?
- What types of emergency room error cases do you handle?
- What are the common causes of ER mistakes in Kennewick?
- What injuries do ER error victims suffer?
- Who is liable for negligence in a Southeast Washington emergency room?
- How much is my Kennewick emergency room error claim worth?
- What is the statute of limitations for filing an ER error lawsuit in WA?
- Do you have an emergency room error lawyer near me?
What types of emergency room error cases do you handle?
There are many types of emergency room mistakes depending on the patient’s condition and the number of emergencies that ER doctors are handling on a particular day. Our trial lawyers represent individuals and families when the following types of emergency room mistakes happen:
- Diagnostic mistakes. The ER doctors and staff need to question the victim (if possible), conduct physical tests, and order the correct diagnostic tests. ER diagnostic mistakes include making the wrong diagnosis, missing a medical condition that needs treatment, delaying a proper diagnosis, not ordering the correct tests, and other diagnostic errors.
- Delays in medical care. Some ER facilities are so crowded (due to a lack of staffing or other reasons), that patients aren’t examined until the best treatment options are no longer available. Often, treatment delayed is treatment denied. Some wounds may be so severe, that a failure to admit the patient and conduct an immediate surgery may be fatal. ER doctors need to understand and apply the rules of triage.
- Medication mistakes. Medications can work wonders but only if the correct medication, in the correct dosage, is prescribed at the correct time. ER doctors who often work too quickly or under stress may prescribe the wrong medication or fail to prescribe the correct medication. They may fail to administer medications in a timely manner. They may give the right medication to the wrong patient. Medication mistakes also include a failure to review how the drugs may interact with other drugs the patient takes, allergic reactions, and possible addictions. ER healthcare providers need to explain the possible side effects to the patient.
- Poor sanitation. ER facilities constantly have ill patients using their services. The waiting rooms, examining rooms, and emergency operating rooms need to be sanitized and disinfected. The medical equipment and rooms need to be sterile. Doctors and hospitals need to do everything possible to prevent or reduce the risk of infections. Contaminated blood can be deadly.
- Early discharge. Some hospitals and ER centers may feel the need to discharge a patient before the full medical care is provided in order to service other patients. Hospitals shouldn’t accept more patients than they can reasonably handle. The ER doctors need to know the proper times to admit patients and the proper times to discharge patients. In addition to making a proper diagnosis and providing proper treatment, many ER patients need to be monitored for their vital signs before they should be discharged.
- Improper treatments. Different type of ER care is required for heart attack victims, patients with head and brain trauma, spinal cord injury victims, burn victims, and other personal injury victims. ER doctors need to provide the correct medical care for the patient’s medical disorder and call in specialists when necessary.
What are the common causes of ER mistakes in Kennewick?
ER mistakes happen for many reasons. Hospitals and doctors should have policies in place to avoid or manage all types of emergencies.
Some of the common causes of ER mistakes include:
- Failure to have patient safety procedures in place or to follow existing safety protocols
- Failure to hire properly trained ER physicians and staff
- Failure to administer life-saving treatments
- Lack of communication
- Understaffing and/or poor scheduling
In some cases, however, ER mistakes are the result of egregious acts of negligence, such as a doctor or nurse being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or even an ambulance driver behaving recklessly while transporting a patient to the ER.
What injuries do ER victims suffer?
The types of injuries ER patients suffer depend on their medical condition and the type of ER malpractice. Examples include:
- A worsening of an injury or disease
- Injuries due to improper treatment
- An inability to treat or cure a preventable injury or disease because of delay, an improper diagnosis, or other reasons
- Adverse reactions to improper medications or treatments
In the most tragic cases, an ER patient whose life should have been saved dies due to mistakes in the emergency room.
Generally, ER facilities that accept patients are liable for medical malpractice if they fail to provide care in accordance with ER standard practices, and the improper care causes injuries or death.
Who is liable for negligence in an emergency room?
At Telaré Law, our Kennewick ER negligence lawyers file medical malpractice claims against all liable parties. Possible defendants include:
- ER doctors
- Hospital where the ER center is located
- Nurses
- Triage personnel
- Medical technicians
- Specialists assigned to a patient
- Other healthcare providers depending on the type of emergency room malpractice
How much is my Kennewick emergency room error claim worth?
Our Kennewick medical malpractice lawyers fight to obtain all the compensation you deserve. We handle the tough cases – the ones where patients need medical care for the rest of their lives. While every case is different based on the circumstances of the injury, we demand compensation for:
- All your medical bills – past, current, and future
- Your lost income including an inability to work due to a disability
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage
If a spouse, parent, or child died, we file a wrongful death and survival lawsuit on behalf of the family members.
What is the statute of limitations for filing an ER error lawsuit in WA?
In Washington, injured patients and families have three years from the date of the ER care to file a lawsuit. Some exceptions may apply.
Don’t wait. Contact Team Telaré as soon as possible. We work with independent doctors who may be able to direct you to physicians who can help. We need to investigate what happened before the memories of everyone fades. You need prompt legal help to pay your bills and manage your pain.
Do you have an emergency room error lawyer near me?
Telaré Law maintains an office in Kennewick at 819 South Auburn St. Our medical malpractice lawyers also have an office in Richland. We see medical malpractice patients and victims at their homes or the hospital when necessary.
Contact our experienced lawyers in WA today for help
ER doctors will always argue that emergency care is different than other types of medical care. At Telaré Law, we know that’s just an excuse – not a defense. Emergency room doctors are trained to handle emergencies. They need to provide quality care that is part of their job duties.
To discuss your right to hold ER doctors and hospitals accountable, call our Kennewick injury lawyers at (509)-737-8500 or use our contact form to arrange a free consultation. We represent ER victims who reside in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, Walla Walla, Pullman, Othello, Moses Lake, Ritzville, and all Southeast Washington.
