Medical malpractice is not an uncommon occurrence in this country, and that holds true for within the state of New York as well. From the year 1990 to 2020, the National Practitioners Database recorded 61,861 instances of medical malpractice in New York where a party received a payment as a result. Over 22,000 of those payments fell within the range $100,000 to $500,000.
The term “medical malpractice” covers a wide range of medical errors, but not every mistake results from negligence. Common malpractice incidents that occur due to doctor negligence include:
- Medication errors
- Misdiagnosis resulting in surgery or harm
- Failure to diagnose
- Emergency room errors
- Surgery or anesthesia mistakes
- Health care infections
More common than you think
When you take all those various types of malpractice into account, how common is a serious medical malpractice case resulting in wrongful death? It’s estimated that 1 out of every 10 people will suffer injury as a result of their medical care, and approximately half of those injuries are preventable. A staggering 12% of those preventable injuries lead to a permanent disability or death.
An estimated 98,000 individuals die as a result of medical mistakes in the United States each year. That is double the number of American adults who die due to automobile accidents every year.
Know your options
Medical malpractice takes many forms. When you suffer a lasting injury or experience the death of a loved one as a result, an experienced attorney may help guide you through your available legal options. The wrongful death of a family member is a tragedy that no one should have to suffer. By holding those responsible accountable for their negligence, it may prevent another family from experiencing a future tragedy.