Do you suspect that you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice in South Carolina?

The lawyers at Howell and Christmas, LLC know that when you or someone you care about suffers from unnecessary pain, suffering, or even death as a result of medical malpractice, the results can be devastating.

Medical malpractice is something that most people are familiar with, to the extent that they have a general idea of what the term refers to. While most people know what medical malpractice is, most don't have any idea as to the medical malpractice statistics that exist in our society. Some of the medical malpractice statistics are startling, for both medical professionals as well as the patients of medical professionals.

A Look at Medical Malpractice Statistics

• Fewer than one percent of doctors will face a malpractice claim during their career
• There are just under 3,000 disciplinary actions taken per year
• In a 1999 study it was found that more than 98,000 patients may be killed each year in hospitals due to medical errors
• In New York state hospitals alone, 1% of the patients are injured due to negligence, with ¼ of those patients dying as a result
• In 1988 a study found that 249,000 people were injured or killed due to errors in their medical care during a hospital stay
• Some estimates argue that up to 1% of the nations doctors deserve some sort of disciplinary action each year! That would be more than 7,000 doctors being disciplined each year, which is far more than the number of actual sanctions medical errors
• Between 44,000 and 98,000 people die each year due to preventable medical errors

As you can see, these medical malpractice statistics are very startling. There are a lot of people who are suffering from medical malpractice who never report it, either because they don't know how or because they end up deceased as a result of it. The only thing that can be done is to reassure those that are suffering because of medical negligence that there are resources out there that will help you make your claim and collect the damages that you are owed for your loss of wages, inability to work, as well as pain and suffering.

General Considerations

If you suspect you are a victim of medical malpractice by a South Carolina doctor or hospital, you may be entitled to compensation. In South Carolina, medical malpractice laws currently have strict standards to prove these types of cases. Each medical specialty has its own standard of care that physicians practicing in that specialty must meet. At Howell and Christmas, LLC in Charleston, South Carolina, our personal injury attorneys can analyze your claim and determine whether your medical malpractice case is valid.

As a patient, knowledge of the following is power:

• Understand that surgery always has some known risks
• Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects so you will be familiar with what is or is not a common reaction after surgery
• Have a clear understanding about any potential post-operative infections

By knowing the risks involved, you will know if you are having a normal or abnormal medical experience, and can call our lawyers to determine if you have a valid case. If we at Howell and Christmas, LLC, believe you are entitled to compensation, we will devote our time and resources into building a strong case. Whether it involves a doctor's misdiagnosis, nursing home neglect, or dental malpractice, cases like these are very complex and expensive to bring to trial. Legal matters regarding dangerous pharmaceuticals or catastrophic injury have their own specific requirements that need to be met before a solid case is made. We know the ropes.

Contact Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation

Some things definitely qualify as medical malpractice such as amputating the wrong leg or leaving a surgical instrument inside one's body. Other scenarios are not so clear cut. To help decide if you have a valid case, contact our South Carolina medical malpractice attorneys today for a free consultation. Let us help you take control of your life and get the compensation to which you are entitled.

Free Consultation

Questions? We can help. The initial consultation is absolutely free. If we take your case, THERE IS NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN COMPENSATION FOR YOU. Attorney fees calculated before expenses. Just click on "Ask a Lawyer" and send us your questions. Let one of our Charleston job injury lawyers give you straight answers to all your legal questions.

Our personal injury attorneys concentrate in all areas of practice, including: automobile accidents, workers compensation injuries, longshore, harbor workers and all other on the job accidents, birth trauma, boating accidents, burn injuries, child sexual abuse, construction accidents, defective products, dog bites, drug injuries, insurance bad faith, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, pharmacy negligence, premises liability, spinal injuries, SUV rollovers, traumatic brain injuries, truck accidents, wrongful death.