Common Questions Regarding Virginia Medical Malpractice Cases
There are usually a lot of questions in a Virginia medical malpractice case. You may be wondering if you can hold the medical provider liable for your injuries, what damages are available and what you have to show in order to have a successful case.
First, it is important to point out that just because there was a bad outcome to your surgery or medical treatment, does not mean that there was malpractice. When it comes to medicine, bad things happen sometimes. A patient may suffer adverse side effects or even die without it being anyone’s fault. Patients still suffer, even when their doctors do a perfect job and provide quality care.
Medical malpractice only exists when a doctor has been negligent. That means that your doctor violated the standard of care and was negligent. Basically, you have to prove that the medical provider did something wrong and that your injuries were not the poor result of adequate care.
There is a cap on the amount of damages you can receive in a Virginia medical malpractice suit. The total malpractice damages are capped at $2 million for actions after July 1, 2008. Punitive damages are capped at $350,000.
To find more answers to your questions, check out Ben Glass’s book, The Ultimate Guide to Medical Malpractice Claims.