Georgia Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Negligent health care providers rarely take responsibility for the harm they cause. Our Georgia medical malpractice lawyers have been helping injured patients defeat medical malpractice insurance companies for more than 40 years, and we can get you the best possible results for your claim. Call us today at (877) 245-6707 for a free consultation.
A successful medical malpractice claim requires medical experts who can pinpoint your doctor’s errors and connect them to your injuries. These complex cases require the assistance of an attorney with substantial experience, resources, and persistence. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our award-winning Georgia medical malpractice attorneys.
Why You Can Trust Our Experience in Your Georgia Medical Malpractice Case
Our Georgia medical malpractice attorneys work in small, client-centric law offices with all of the resources and capabilities of a large law firm. When you hire our experienced medical malpractice lawyers in Georgia, you will get a team of lawyers and support staff who will make you feel like you’re our only client, yet we have significant resources to fight large insurance companies and win.Â
We have been fighting for patients and their families since 1979, and our presence in communities throughout Georgia has enabled us to establish local networks of medical experts, life care planners, and others who can help us gather key evidence for a successful claim.
Our Results
Our experience makes all the difference for our clients, and it shows in our successful case results, such as the following:
- $5 million for a client who suffered a brain injury in a hospital emergency room.
- $450,000 verdict for a nursing home resident who developed bed sores because of nursing home neglect.
- $275,000 for a nursing home resident who suffered heel damage because of nursing home neglect.
What Our Clients Say
Our clients are happy with our work because we treat them with compassion and honesty, and we consistently get results. The following client testimonials are representative of the type of feedback we regularly receive:Â
“Best lawyer office around that I can recommend in Georgia. They took care of our family after my tough experience. They were very responsive, patient, respectful, and professional!”
—Zanene T. of SavannahÂ
“My experience with Farah & Farah was exceptional. My attorney Christle Guinyard was the absolute best. She was thorough, knowledgeable about the law, and compassionate towards my situation. I could not have asked for a better legal team to handle my case, and I am beyond happy with my settlement.”
—Vanessa D. of AlbanyÂ
“It was very comforting to have someone take charge of getting very professional and proficient medical care for me and at the same time to coordinate all of the many bills coming in to get a good rate. I would not have been able either mentally or physically to attend to all of the things that needed my attention in a timely manner … Thank you for making such a horrendous event in my life easier.”
—Anne H. of Brunswick
Wherever You Need Us in Georgia, We’ll Be There
Our Georgia medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to helping injured patients throughout the state from our seven Georgia office locations. Â
If you need a Columbus medical malpractice lawyer, our medical malpractice attorneys in Albany can be there within hours. Â
If you need a Marietta or Athens medical malpractice lawyer, you can count on our medical malpractice lawyers in Atlanta to stand by you until your case is resolved. If you need a medical malpractice lawyer in Augusta, you’ll never feel far from our Macon medical malpractice lawyers. Â
If you’re looking for a medical malpractice lawyer in Richmond Hill, look no further than our Savannah medical malpractice law office. Our Brunswick medical malpractice lawyers can help you if you need a medical malpractice lawyer in New Hope or St. Mary’s. Â
You can find a Ray City, Lake Park, or Cecil medical malpractice lawyer by contacting our Valdosta medical malpractice law firm. Finally, if you’re looking for a Blackshear or Hoboken medical malpractice lawyer, look no further than our medical malpractice attorneys in Waycross.Â
Even if your city isn’t listed, we serve the entire state of Georgia, so we’ve got you covered. Call us at (877) 245-6707, and we’ll connect you with one of our skilled Georgia medical malpractice lawyers near you.
Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle
Our experienced Georgia medical malpractice attorneys have handled every type of medical malpractice claim out there. We can help you if you have suffered harm from the following forms of medical malpractice and more:
- Emergency room errors
- Surgical errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Birth injuries
- Nursing home abuse
- Diagnostic errors
- Staph infections
- Medication errors
- Wrongful death
This is by no means an exhaustive list. If you’ve suffered harm from negligence by a healthcare provider, call us immediately at (877) 245-6707.
Proving Medical Malpractice in Georgia
To win a medical malpractice lawsuit, your Georgia medical malpractice lawyer must prove that all of the elements of negligence are present.
The Duty of Care
You must prove that your doctor owed you a duty of care. This typically means proving that you had a patient-doctor relationship. If you attended an appointment and received a bill, that is generally enough to prove such a relationship. If you were a patient in the emergency room, the doctor, nursing staff, and hospital owed you a duty of care.
Breach of the Reasonable Standard of Care
The reasonable standard of care is defined as the actions a reasonably prudent physician with similar qualifications would have taken under similar circumstances based on the information available at the time. A health care provider breaches a duty of care when the provider does any of the following:
- Deviates from established medical guidelines.
- Fails to order tests or investigate symptoms.
- Responds incompetently to emergencies.
- Fails to adhere to established sanitation and infection control procedures.
- Prescribes the wrong dose of medication or an inappropriate medication.
- Fails to promptly treat a medical condition.
- Fails to update a patient’s file.
- Leaves an instrument or other object inside a patient after surgery.
- Operates on the wrong site or the wrong patient.
These are just a few examples of the many acts and omissions doctors commit that lead to devastating injuries. Our experienced Georgia medical malpractice lawyers can uncover your doctor’s mistakes with the help of our expert witnesses, who will compare your doctor’s actions to the standard of reasonable care.
Physical Harm
A breach of duty doesn’t constitute medical malpractice unless it results in an injury. Without an injury, there is no cause of action in any personal injury case. Injuries can be proven through a thorough review of your medical records. Â
You will also need to prove your injuries’ severity and how much they will cost you financially. If your injuries will result in permanent disability, you will need evidence to show how this affects your quality of life, relationships, and ability to earn an income.
Actual and Proximate Cause
To succeed with a medical malpractice claim in Georgia, you must prove that there is a direct link between the doctor’s negligent acts or omissions and your injuries. This is accomplished by proving the following:
- Your injuries would not have occurred were it not for the breach of duty.
- A reasonable health care provider could have foreseen that the negligent acts or omissions could cause your injuries.
Causation is often the most challenging element to prove in a medical malpractice case because a doctor can claim that your injury was caused by some other health condition rather than negligence, even without denying the breach of duty.Â
For example, if you experienced a life-threatening infection in the hospital, a doctor could claim that your infection was inevitable because your immune system was weakened. If cancer becomes terminal because of a delayed diagnosis, a doctor can claim that an early diagnosis wouldn’t have changed your prognosis.Â
The skill of the medical experts reviewing your case is central to a successful medical malpractice claim. Our Georgia medical malpractice lawyers work with the most qualified medical experts available, and our 44 years of experience have shown us what it takes legally to overcome a doctor’s denial of responsibility.
Compensation in Georgia Medical Malpractice Claims Can Be Significant
The available damages in a medical malpractice claim in Georgia include pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages. Damages can include your future losses, such as anticipated medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, and long-term intangible losses that affect your quality of life, such as loss of bodily functions, loss of society, and disfigurement. Â
If you can prove by clear and convincing evidence that your doctor intentionally injured you, your claim may qualify for punitive damages, which punish the health care provider and deter future misconduct.
Who Is Liable for Medical Malpractice in Georgia?
Any person or institution that provides health care may be liable for injuries that stem from medical errors. Liable parties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Doctors
- Surgeons
- Anesthesiologists
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Birthing centers
- Pharmacists
- Radiologists
- Pathologists
Under Georgia law, emergency room personnel can only be found liable if there is clear and convincing evidence of gross negligence. Â
It is not uncommon for our talented Georgia medical malpractice lawyers to find multiple liable health care providers in a single case. Identifying all of the liable parties is crucial in maximizing your compensation.
How Long Do You Have to Sue for Medical Malpractice in Georgia?
The time limit for filing a medical malpractice claim in Georgia is generally two years from when the doctor committed the error. This is known as the medical malpractice statute of limitations.
The Discovery Rule
In some cases, you may be unaware that malpractice occurred until years later— after the statute of limitations has expired. Fortunately, Georgia law makes an exception for these cases and stops the clock until you discover or should reasonably discover the injury. This is known as the discovery rule.
Statute of Repose
There is an exception to the discovery rule. If more than five years have elapsed since the doctor made the error that caused your injury, you cannot file a claim, regardless of how late you discovered the injury. This hard five-year deadline is known as a statute of repose.
Non-Therapeutic Objects
There is one exception to the statute of repose: If a foreign non-therapeutic object was left in your body during surgery, you have one year after discovering it to file your claim, even if it was left more than five years ago.
How the Statute of Limitations Applies to Children
If a child under five suffers from medical malpractice, a parent or guardian can file a claim on behalf of the child until the child turns seven. This includes birth injuries in Georgia. If the injury isn’t discovered until after the child turns seven, you have until the child turns 10 to file a medical malpractice claim on their behalf. Â
Children who are injured by medical malpractice after turning five are subject to the same two-year statutes of limitations and repose as adults.
Medical Malpractice FAQs
How Do I Find Out if My Doctor Has Ever Been Sued for Malpractice?
You can look up the profile of any physician licensed to practice in Georgia by searching the Georgia Composite Medical Board’s Search for Licensee form. You can also search for a facility instead of a person. While many details are confidential, a physician’s profile will tell you if any medical malpractice settlements have been awarded against the doctor and the amount.
How Long Does a Medical Malpractice Case Take in Georgia?
Medical malpractice cases are complex and can take a year or longer to resolve. Some cases may require three years or longer if they go to trial. The length of time varies based on how much compensation you are pursuing, the strength of your case, and the insurance company’s resistance to paying your claim.
Does Georgia Require Doctors to Have Malpractice Insurance?
There is currently no Georgia law that requires doctors to carry medical malpractice insurance. However, most medical facilities require employed doctors to carry it. Doctors who choose not to carry medical malpractice insurance must report it to the Georgia Composite Medical Board under the Patient Right to Know Act.Â
You are supposed to be able to look up this information using the same form as when you look up whether your doctor has been sued for malpractice, but the Georgia Composite Medical Board has yet to finish updating physician profiles with this information. However, you can view this information on the Board’s downloadable physician list.
Contact Our Nationally-Recognized Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Georgia Today for a Free Consultation
At Farah & Farah, we are dedicated to using our experience and resources to help if you or your loved one was injured due to medical negligence by a health care provider in Georgia. We will work with you at every stage of the process to explain your legal options, create a winning strategy, and get the justice you deserve.
All it takes is one phone call, and we will take care of all your legal details from the moment we accept your case. Call our Georgia medical malpractice lawyers today at (877) 245-6707 for a free case evaluation.
Why You Can Trust Our Experience in Your Georgia Medical Malpractice Case
Wherever You Need Us in Georgia, We’ll Be There
Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle
Proving Medical Malpractice in Georgia
Compensation in Georgia Medical Malpractice Claims Can Be Significant
Who Is Liable for Medical Malpractice in Georgia?
How Long Do You Have to Sue for Medical Malpractice in Georgia?
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