Savannah Medical Malpractice Lawyers

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a hospital, doctor, or other healthcare professional causes injury to a patient through a negligent act or failure to act. This negligence could be the result of errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare or health management.

All patients are different, so all medical situations are different. Our attorneys handle all types of medical malpractice claims. Some of the more common malpractice claims we see include:

• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. When a doctor diagnoses you improperly or misses your diagnosis altogether, it delays the treatment you need to get well. For some, that could be the difference between improving their health and living with a medical condition permanently.
• Medication errors. Medication mistakes are a common and harmful type of medical malpractice. Unreadable prescriptions, improper dosages and pharmacy mistakes can all lead to accidental overdoses, allergic responses, or harmful interactions. Over-prescribing, as in the case of painkillers, can also be a form of malpractice.
• Unnecessary surgery or surgical errors. We’re all aware that every surgery comes with risks. The risks increase when a patient undergoes unnecessary procedures. If mistakes happen during surgery, serious injuries can occur and further surgeries may be necessary to repair the damage.
• Anesthesia errors. If administered improperly, anesthesia can cause injury. Use too much and a patient can overdose. Use too little and the patient can experience “anesthesia awareness.” Improper intubation before anesthesia can also cause injury.
• Doctors under the influence. Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in the United States, and Savannah is no exception. Nobody is immune to addiction, even medical professionals. If you were treated by a doctor, surgeon, or nurse who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, we want to help.
• Defective medical devices. Devices like pacemakers or knee replacements must undergo rigorous testing before they go on the market and can be used on patients. Sometimes, however, it turns out these devices aren’t properly tested. Or the device was made with faulty parts, and patients suffer serious injury.

Other medical malpractice errors include hospital-acquired infections, emergency room errors, anesthesia errors, and nursing home negligence.

If you are unsure whether your injuries are related to medical malpractice, it’s okay – our attorneys can help you make that determination.

---

Savannah Medical Malpractice Verdicts and Settlements

Some of our notable recoveries include:

• $30.5 million. Our lawyers obtained this amount for the family of a baby who has permanent brain damage. The child also has cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder, and developmental delays. The money is needed for 24-hour care for the rest of the child’s life.
• $18 million. We obtained this amount for a woman who is a quadriplegic due to the failure to properly diagnose and treat an infection.
• $5 million. Our lawyers obtained this sum for a woman’s family when the woman died because a hospital failed to monitor her health.
• $4.3 million. Harris Lowry Manton LLP obtained this amount for a woman’s family when she died due to delays in medical care including a delayed medical diagnosis.

---

Why does medical malpractice occur in Savannah?

Our Savannah medical malpractice lawyers have the trial experience and medical relationships to show what acts and omissions by your healthcare providers caused medical malpractice to occur. Common causes of medical malpractice include:

• Failing to remove foreign objects and surgical instruments from a patient after the surgery is complete
• Failing to monitor a patient during any medical procedure
• Failing to review any adverse reactions and interactions of any drugs
• Delaying the diagnosis of diseases, such as heart disease and cancer
• Failing to order the correct diagnostic tests
• Failing to obtain an informed consent from a patient
• Not having proper procedures in place and not having qualified nurses and other staff members
• Many other failures or acts, depending on the patient’s medical condition and the medical care provided (or not provided).

What injuries and illnesses does medical malpractice cause?

Medical malpractice can cause the following issues:

• Certain diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes that could have been treated are now untreatable
• The need for corrective surgeries and treatments that are expensive, cause anxiety and may not fully improve a patient’s health
• Excessive medical care and treatment to prevent a patient’s health from worsening
• A lifetime of pain and suffering

Who is responsible for medical malpractice in Savannah?

At Harris Lowry Manton LLP, we file medical malpractice claims against every responsible healthcare provider. Possible defendants include:

• Physicians
• Hospitals
• Obstetricians
• Surgeons
• Anesthesiologists
• Specialists
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Medical technicians
• Clinics
• Paramedics
• EMTs
• Nursing homes

How do you prove medical malpractice occurred?

At Harris Lowry Manton LLP, we’re skilled at showing the three essentials of any medical malpractice claim:

1. Your healthcare provider owed you a duty of care
2. The healthcare provider failed to provide competent care
3. The lack of quality care caused your injuries or illness

Our Savannah medical malpractice lawyers:

• Work with doctors who can explain why the quality of care you received failed to meet professional standards
• Formally question everyone involved in your medical treatment
• Review whether there are any other claims against your healthcare providers
• Show which acts or omissions caused your injuries
• Determine whether any corrective treatments are still possible
• Review every way your life is more difficult because of the medical malpractice

What are the medical malpractice risks at Savannah area hospitals?

Are the hospitals in your area safe? Leapfrog, a patient safety advocate group, provides a tool called Hospital Safety Grade that allows users to search for the safety ratings of hospitals. Here are the current safety grades for hospitals local to the Savannah area. The Hospital Safety Grade tool assigns grades on issues like hospital-acquired infection rates, safety issues, surgical errors, and doctors, nurses, and staff.

• Memorial Health University Medical Center: A
• Hilton Head Hospital: B
• Beaufort Memorial Hospital: B
• Coastal Carolina Hospital: C
• Candler Hospital: D
• Joseph’s Hospital: D

What is informed consent?

You have the right as a patient to know exactly how your procedure or medication is supposed to work, and what kinds of results or side effects to expect. Also, in Georgia, medical professionals must provide certain information to patients, so they can make informed decisions about whether to agree to a certain treatment. This includes:

• Prognosis if a patient forgoes the procedure or treatment
• Diagnosis of the medical condition
• Recommended course of treatment or therapy
• Available alternate treatments and their comparable benefits and risks

This is called “informed consent.” If a professional performs a procedure or treatment without obtaining informed consent from the patient, he or she is breaking the law and the patient can file a claim for medical malpractice.

Can I afford a Savannah medical malpractice attorney?

Yes, you can. Harris Lowry Manton LLP handles medical malpractice claims on a contingency fee basis. We cover the upfront costs, and we only receive compensation if your case is successful.

What is the value of my Savannah medical malpractice claim?

At Harris Lowry Manton, we seek compensation for all your financial and personal damages. These damages include your current losses and all your damages for as long as you’re suffering.

We review all your medical needs and every way your injuries affect every aspect of your life. We demand compensation for all your:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of bodily function
• Loss of consortium

If a loved one dies, we seek wrongful death damages for your family. These damages include:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support your family member would have provided
• Value of the household services your family member would have provided
• Value of the loss of love, support, and guidance your family member would have shared with each member of your family

What is the time limit for filing a medical negligence claim in Georgia?

Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations for most medical malpractice claims. If a doctor/hospital leaves a foreign object inside a patient, the time limit is just one year from the date of discovery of that object.

Some other time limits may apply. It’s best to contact us as soon as possible so we can assert your rights, begin our investigation, and review your medical treatment.

Do you have a Savannah medical malpractice lawyer near me?

Harris Lowry Manton LLP meets clients at our Savannah office located at 410 E. Broughton Street. We will visit you at a healthcare facility or your home if necessary. Our lawyers also consult with clients through online conferences and by phone.

We understand how upset and anxious you are. We’ll explain your rights and guide you through each step of the medical malpractice claims process.

Speak with our accomplished Savannah medical malpractice attorneys today for a free consultation

Our experienced Savannah medical malpractice lawyers have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for our personal injury clients. We work with a network of medical professionals who can explain why the healthcare providers who treated you committed medical malpractice and what treatments you need now and for the rest of your life. If you suspect you have suffered an injury or illness due to medical malpractice, please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.

Related Articles

• Routine Cosmetic Surgery Leaves Woman with Devastating Brain Damage
• Doctors Tried to Lower Cost of Cancer Meds. Manufacturers Tripled the Price in Response
• Georgia’s Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations Laws
• In Medical Malpractice Claims, Who Gets Sued: the Doctor or the Hospital?
• When Pneumonia Is Misdiagnosed
• Is Georgia’s Medical Board Putting Patients at Risk?
• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Your Right to Compensation
• Change in Legislation Now Allows Military Personnel to File Medical Malpractice Claims

---

Savannah Office

410 E. Broughton Street
Savannah, GA 31401

Phone: 912.651.9967
Fax: 912.651.1276

[Directions]