Medical malpractice may not be as common as other personal injury events, but it does happen more often than many patients realize. Hospitals are complicated facilities with many moving parts. A mistake at any stage of the patient care process, from registration to follow-up care, can result in injury or wrongful death. Even the most careful and efficient healthcare facilities can be the settings of negligence-related adverse patient outcomes. An analysis from Diederich Healthcare shows the payouts for medical malpractice claims around the country in 2018. A few interesting facts from this report are:
- Medical malpractice lawsuits total payout in Florida was between $300 Million and $100 Million in 2018.
- The greatest payout amounts stemmed from allegations of misdiagnosis, surgical errors, and negligent treatment.
- About 30% of payouts were for cases involving patient death. Another 18% were for significant permanent injury, 20% for major permanent injury, and 13% for injuries resulting in lifelong care.
- The average payout amount for cases involving brain damage, quadriplegia, and lifelong care in 2018 is more than $1 Million.
- The majority of medical malpractice cases or44% involved inpatient care.
- Over 90% of medical malpractice cases are settled out of court.
Clearly, medical malpractice in the United States is a bigger issue than many realize. Reading statistics about medical malpractice and becoming one are two very different experiences. If you or a loved one fell victim to negligent, incompetent, or careless healthcare workers, you need an attorney you can trust. These cases can easily become complex in Fort Lauderdale and feel overwhelming as you also deal with personal injuries or a death in the family. Let our team at Kelley/Uustal take care of the legwork so you can focus on healing – physically and emotionally.
