For over half a century, Finch McCranie LLP has stood as a pillar of strength for individuals in Atlanta navigating the complexities of medical malpractice. Our dedicated team of Atlanta Medical Malpractice Lawyers is committed to helping patients secure the compensation they deserve when they have been injured due to medical negligence. We leverage our extensive experience and resources to achieve the best possible outcomes for your medical malpractice case.
The attorneys at Finch McCranie LLP have a proven track record of success, having recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We understand the intricacies of Georgia law and are prepared to fight for your rights.
Finding the Right Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney
Medical malpractice lawsuits in Georgia are notoriously complex, often involving intricate medical details and legal procedures. The prospect of taking legal action against a doctor, hospital, or large insurance corporation can feel overwhelming. At Finch McCranie LLP, our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers possess decades of experience specifically in handling these types of challenging claims. We are adept at navigating the complexities of filing and prosecuting medical negligence cases, providing you with knowledgeable and assertive representation.
Meet Your Dedicated Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorneys
David Bouchard Partner [email protected]
Atlanta, GA (404) 879-5234
Richard W. Hendrix Partner [email protected]
Atlanta, GA (404) 879-5234
Nicole Archambault Of Counsel [email protected]
Atlanta, GA (404) 879-5234
Oto Ekpo Of Counsel [email protected]
Atlanta, GA (404) 879-5234
Gabriel Knisely Associate [email protected]
Atlanta, GA (404) 879-5234
Common Medical Malpractice Claims We Handle in Atlanta, Georgia
Medical malpractice, a specific type of professional negligence, occurs when a healthcare provider, such as a doctor or nurse, acts negligently in the diagnosis, treatment, or advice given to a patient. Our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers have extensive experience representing clients throughout Atlanta and Georgia in a broad spectrum of medical malpractice cases, including:
Diagnosis and Treatment Errors
- Failure to Diagnose: Missing critical diagnoses like cancer or infections, or delays in diagnosis leading to worsened conditions.
- Improper Diagnostic Testing: Neglecting to order necessary tests or misinterpreting lab results, hindering accurate diagnosis.
- Delayed Treatment: Failing to recognize and promptly address medical conditions, resulting in patient harm.
- Medication Errors: Prescription mistakes, incorrect dosages, or overlooking drug interactions causing adverse effects.
Medical Procedure Mistakes
- Surgical Errors: Mistakes during surgery, including organ transplant errors, plastic surgery complications, and leaving foreign objects inside patients.
- Procedure-Related Negligence: Errors occurring during medical procedures beyond surgery, leading to injury.
Healthcare and Nursing Negligence
- Negligent Patient Care: Inadequate monitoring of patients in hospitals or care facilities leading to preventable harm.
- Nursing Home Neglect: Substandard care in nursing homes, resulting in resident injury or illness.
- Pressure Ulcers (Bedsores): Development of preventable pressure sores due to lack of proper care and repositioning.
Other Forms of Medical Negligence
- Hospital Negligence: Systemic failures within a hospital setting that contribute to patient harm.
- Birth Injuries: Injuries to mothers or newborns during childbirth due to medical errors.
- Dental Malpractice: Negligence in dental care causing patient injury.
- Emergency Room Errors: Mistakes or delays in treatment within emergency room settings.
- Anesthesia Errors: Complications arising from improper administration or monitoring of anesthesia.
Our expertise extends to a wide range of specific medical areas, including aortic aneurysm issues, chiropractic negligence, cosmetic and hand surgery errors, billing malpractice, hysterectomy complications, veterinary malpractice, and cases involving wrongful death and injuries in specialized units like NICUs.
How Our Atlanta Medical Malpractice Law Firm Builds Your Case
At Finch McCranie LLP, our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers understand that building a successful medical malpractice case requires meticulous attention to two critical elements:
Evidence Gathering
We conduct thorough investigations to gather all pertinent evidence to support your claim. This includes:
- Medical Record Retrieval: Obtaining certified copies of your complete medical records, billing statements, and relevant radiology images.
- Audit Trail Analysis: In specific cases, we secure and analyze “audit trails” – electronic records detailing who accessed your medical files, when, what information they viewed, and any modifications made.
- Electronic Communication Review: Collecting and examining emails, text messages, and other digital communications between healthcare providers related to your care.
- Witness Interviews and Depositions: Interviewing witnesses and taking sworn depositions from healthcare providers involved in your treatment to establish the facts of your case.
Expert Witness Testimony
Georgia law mandates the use of expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases to establish the “standard of care.” This standard defines the level of care a reasonably competent healthcare provider would provide under similar circumstances. Expert testimony is crucial to demonstrate:
- Breach of Standard of Care: How the healthcare provider deviated from the accepted standard of care.
- Causation of Injury: How this breach directly resulted in harm to the patient.
Finch McCranie LLP maintains strong relationships with highly qualified medical experts across diverse medical specialties. We carefully select the most appropriate and credible experts to review your case and provide compelling testimony.
Our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers prepare every case for trial, a proactive approach that often facilitates favorable settlements through mediation. Defense attorneys recognize our established history of securing significant verdicts in medical malpractice cases, which strengthens our negotiation position and allows us to resolve many cases without the uncertainties and costs of a jury trial.
No Win, No Fee Representation for Atlanta Medical Malpractice Cases
Finch McCranie LLP handles all medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no legal fees or upfront costs unless we successfully recover compensation for you through a settlement or verdict.
Understanding Potential Compensation in Georgia Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Under Georgia law, victims of medical malpractice may be entitled to various types of damages, including:
- Economic Damages: Compensation for quantifiable financial losses, such as past and future medical expenses, lost income, and diminished earning capacity resulting from the malpractice.
- Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for intangible losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life, both past and future.
In cases of wrongful death due to medical malpractice, Finch McCranie LLP can pursue additional damages, including funeral expenses and compensation for the loss of the deceased’s financial support.
Time Limits for Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Georgia
Generally, Georgia imposes a two-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits, beginning from the date of injury or death (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71(a)). However, exceptions exist:
- Foreign Object Cases: Lawsuits related to surgical objects left inside a patient can be filed within one year of discovering the object (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-72).
- Minors: For malpractice occurring before a child’s fifth birthday, the lawsuit must be filed by the child’s seventh birthday. For incidents after the fifth birthday, the standard two-year limit applies (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-73(b)). Parents also have separate claims for expenses incurred before the child turns 18.
- Wrongful Death: Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death (Hart v. Eldridge, 250 Ga. 526 (1983)).
Georgia also has a five-year statute of repose (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71(c)), meaning that regardless of discovery, lawsuits generally cannot be filed more than five years after the malpractice incident, unless fraud, concealment, or misrepresentation is involved. While this statute of repose can bar wrongful death claims filed after five years from the malpractice, amendments to existing medical negligence lawsuits may be permissible under certain circumstances (Wesley Chapel Foot and Ankle Center, L.L.C. v Johnson, 286 Ga. App. 881 (2007)).
Contact Our Atlanta Medical Negligence Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
The Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers at Finch McCranie LLP offer decades of experience and a proven record of success in advocating for patients harmed by medical negligence. Contact us online or call us at (404) 658-9070 today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case. Let us help you navigate the legal process and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
