If you or someone you love was harmed and you suspect medical malpractice, you must act quickly to protect your rights. Medical malpractice claims are extremely complicated. They are also subject to an incredibly short one-year statute of limitations. The stakes are high, and you must do everything you can to protect yourself and find the answers you deserve.

The Ohio medical malpractice lawyers at Robenalt Law have decades of experience representing people injured due to medical malpractice. Our lawyers know how to navigate these difficult claims and have a proven record of successful results. We invite to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

What To Do If You Suspect Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is a serious issue in the United States. According to a study by Johns Hopkins, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and account for more than 250,000 deaths every year. If you were injured or someone you love was killed and you suspect medical malpractice, you should take the following steps to protect your rights.

Don’t Discuss the Malpractice with Your Doctor

While you should discuss your concerns with your physician, avoid accusing them of medical malpractice. Some medical situations can be resolved quickly and easily. But if your situation cannot be, you should still avoid telling your doctor you think they committed malpractice. Telling your doctor you think they were negligent could compromise your claim. Instead, consult with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer and let them handle communications with the doctor, the hospitals, and their representatives.

Focus on Your Health and Recovery

Even if you find it difficult to trust doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, you should still seek appropriate medical attention. You can seek treatment from another doctor who should perform tests to arrive at a correct diagnosis. Once your condition has been diagnosed, your new medical team can begin treating you. You should seek treatment from a new doctor as quickly as possible to prevent your condition from worsening.

When you meet with your new doctor, explain your situation and why you are seeking their diagnosis and treatment, including that you believe your prior doctor was negligent. Your new doctor can make note of your concerns and may be willing to serve as an expert witness to explain why your first doctor was negligent.

Contact an Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you suspect medical malpractice, contact the medical malpractice lawyers at Robenalt Law as soon as possible. Claims for medical malpractice are subject to an extremely short one-year statute of limitations. If you do not file a lawsuit within a year, you may forfeit your right to seek compensation for your injuries.

Document Your Injuries and Experience

Record everything you can about your experience, including the symptoms you are experiencing, how you feel mentally and physically, and how your injuries and the malpractice has affected your life. You can also document your visits to the doctor, treatment, and other ways your injuries have impacted your life.

Request Your Medical Records

Your medical records will be vital to proving medical malpractice occurred. Once you are in another doctor’s care and have hired a medical malpractice lawyer, your attorney will request copies of your medical records and review them to determine what went wrong.

Do Not Discuss Your Case with Others

Do not discuss the medical malpractice allegations with others. This includes people involved in your case, your friends, and, perhaps most importantly, on social media. Anything you say could be used against you. If the doctor’s insurance company contacts you, do not answer their questions. Instead, refer them to your lawyer.

Act Quickly to Protect Your Rights

If you believe you were a victim of medical malpractice, you must act quickly to protect your rights. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Ohio is one year from the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury, or when your relationship with the medical provider ends, whichever is later. This is the shortest statute of limitations in Ohio, and one of the shortest statute of limitations in the country.

There are exceptions to the statute of limitations, and determining when the statute of limitations begins and ends is not always clear. In addition, the one-year time period can be extended by sending formal notice to the potential defendants or if the victim was under 18 years of age at the time the negligence occurred.

Contact the Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Robenalt Law Today

Medical malpractice claims are some of the most complex and vigorously contested lawsuits a person can file. They are made even more difficult by the short one-year statute of limitations and other ‘tort reform’ measures that were passed to reduce so-called lawsuit abuse.

Investigating, filing, and successfully litigating a claim for medical malpractice is incredibly complicated and should not be attempted alone. The experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Robenalt Law stand ready to assist you in seeking justice. Call (216) 223-7535 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.