New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Over 50 Years of Combined Legal Experience
Doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners hold a huge amount of responsibility in their hands; any medical mistake can have dire, even fatal consequences.
Unfortunately, medical malpractice still occurs every single day throughout the United States. When medical professionals and facilities act negligently or wrongfully, victims of malpractice have the right to take legal action.
At The Donnelly Law Firm, our New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers in Summit have more than 50 years of combined experience fighting for justice on behalf of victims of medical negligence throughout the state and are passionate about securing the full, fair recovery you are owed.
Contact The Donnelly Law Firm online or by phone at (800) 398-1866 today for a free, confidential consultation with one of our experienced New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers.
What Constitutes Medical Malpractice in New Jersey?
Not every poor medical outcome is because of medical malpractice. Sometimes a doctor can provide a completely reasonable standard of care and a patient will still suffer negative effects.
In order to have a legitimate medical malpractice claim, you must prove the following:
- First, you must show that the doctor, nurse, facility, etc. owed you a “duty of care.” This can typically be proven simply by showing you were a patient and that a doctor-patient relationship existed.
- Next, you will need to demonstrate that the doctor, nurse, facility, etc. failed to uphold the “standard duty of care.” Essentially, this means that the medical professional/facility in question failed to provide the same level of care that another medical professional/facility could reasonably be expected to provide.
- A doctor’s failure to uphold the standard duty of care can be either negligent or wrongful in nature. For example, an overworked surgeon who accidentally leaves a foreign object inside a patient may be determined to have acted negligently, whereas an anesthesiologist who sees in a patient’s chart that they cannot have anesthesia, yet administers anesthesia anyway has acted wrongfully.
- You will also need to show that the failure to uphold the standard duty of care is what led to your injuries/complications or the death of your loved one, either directly or indirectly.
- Lastly, you will need to prove that the injury/complications led to specific damages. This can include things like further required medical treatment, lost income/wages, physical pain, and emotional suffering.
Our New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys have many years of experience and knowledge that are required to successfully investigate and prove a medical malpractice claim, even in very complex cases.
We can conduct a thorough investigation into your situation and determine if a medical professional or facility is responsible for your losses. If so, we will do everything in our power to help you seek justice.
What Are the Common Types of Medical Malpractice?
While medical malpractice can occur in any number of situations, doctor and hospital mistakes can generally be broken down into these five most common errors:
- Misdiagnosis: This occurs when a doctor improperly diagnoses a patient's condition or fails to diagnose the patient at all, causing them to endure needless procedures or lose time in fighting a critical illness, like cancer.
- Surgical Errors: These cases can include receiving the wrong procedure, surgery on the wrong part of the body, and incorrect administration of anesthesia. The consequences of surgical malpractice are often catastrophic.
- Failure to Treat: This occurs when a doctor correctly diagnoses a patient but then proceeds to treat them with an incorrect or outmoded form of treatment. This can cause the patient extended suffering or even death.
- Birth Injuries: These occur when a doctor, nurse, or midwife fails to properly monitor and address infant distress during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Common types of birth injuries involve a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain and damage to the brachial plexus.
- Prescription Drug Errors: These occur when a patient receives the wrong medication, the incorrect dosage of medication, or is prescribed medications that have adverse effects when taken together. These errors can be committed by doctors, hospital staff, and pharmacists.
Recovering Damages for Medical Mistakes
If you are the victim of medical malpractice, you have the right to be financially compensated for the damages you've suffered.
By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek recompense from the negligent party for the following and more:
- Hospital bills, doctor visits, and other medical treatments
- Lost wages and missed time at work
- Rehabilitation costs and extended therapy
- Loss of future earning potential for severe injuries
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Funeral costs and other expenses from a wrongful death
Our New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers use their extensive experience, and the input of medical professionals, to determine the full extent of your injuries and what your case is worth. Our team will fight to recover every penny you deserve!
Why Choose The Donnelly Law Firm for Your Medical Malpractice Case?
When it comes to medical malpractice cases, you need a law firm that has experience in this complex area of law. At The Donnelly Law Firm, we have a proven track record of success in handling medical malpractice claims in Summit, NJ, and the surrounding areas. Here are a few reasons why you should choose us:
- Expertise: Our team of skilled attorneys focuses solely on medical malpractice cases. We have in-depth knowledge of the laws, regulations, and procedures specific to these types of claims.
- Resources: We have the necessary resources to thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, consult with medical experts, and build a strong argument on your behalf.
- Personalized Approach: We understand that every medical malpractice case is unique. We take the time to listen to your story, understand your needs, and tailor our legal strategy to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
- Proven Results: We have a track record of securing significant settlements and verdicts for our clients in medical malpractice cases. Our success speaks for itself.
- Compassion and Support: Dealing with the aftermath of medical malpractice can be overwhelming and emotionally challenging. We provide compassionate support throughout the entire legal process, ensuring you feel heard, understood, and supported every step of the way.
Don't navigate the complexities of a medical malpractice case alone. Trust The Donnelly Law Firm to fight for your rights and seek the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Medical Malpractice FAQs
What is the NJ medical malpractice statute of limitations?
The time limit on medical malpractice lawsuits in New Jersey (also known as the statute of limitations) is two years from the date the event took place, or from when the injury was discovered, if within reason.
The "discovery rule" is very important for medical malpractice cases because it can take months or even years for some diagnostic errors to be discovered.
Are there damages caps for medical malpractice claims in NJ?
The State of New Jersey does not put any limitations on compensatory damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. These damages are awarded to compensate the plaintiff for expenses related to the injury or for pain and suffering.
However, NJ does put a cap on punitive damages. Punitive damages are only awarded if the defendant committed a wanton act or act of malice, and they only apply in rare cases.
Contact The Donnelly Law Firm
Our Senior Partner, Dennis Donnelly, has spent more than 35 years focusing on complex medical malpractice claims such as:
Our New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys in Summit have successfully recovered more than $140 million for our clients. With notable verdicts as well as continuing efforts to help doctors avoid repeating past errors and practice safe medicine, we have been fighting to reduce needless catastrophic medical injuries and deaths. Please allow us to continue that fight with your case.
Have you suffered injuries due to medical negligence? For legal assistance in Summit and throughout the state of New Jersey, call The Donnelly Law Firm at (800) 398-1866 or contact us online today. There are never any fees until we recover compensation for you.
Our Settlements & Verdicts
Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.
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$1.25 MILLION
Dennis Donnelly obtained a 1.25 million dollar settlement, during trial, on behalf of the family of a 4 year-old girl who was born with Canavan Disease.
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$2.8 Million
Dennis Donnelly settled this medical malpractice case for a Hudson County man who suffered a severe brain injury as a result of medical malpractice for a total of $2,800,000.
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$1.665 Million
An emergency room doctor will pay $1 million under a high-low agreement in a suit over a 40-year-old man's death from an allergic reaction to multiple bee stings.
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$1.75 Million
Senior Partner, Dennis M. Donnelly, settled this wrongful birth case involving a failure by radiologist to image the back of the fetal brain during a prenatal screening ultrasound in 1995.
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$1.775 Million
An Essex County jury awarded $1.575 million on Feb. 14 in a wrongful death-medical malpractice case. An additional $200,000 from a high-low agreement brings the recovery to $1.775 million.
