Emergency room errors are far more common than you might think. This type of medical malpractice may involve misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. For example, X-rays may be misread. Medication errors are also common. An ER doctor may prescribe inappropriate medication or fail to give proper instructions regarding how to take medications. Other ways in which an ER may be liable is if the hospital grants privileges to unqualified physicians or fails to have enough qualified staff on hand.

As you’ll learn by watching this video, there are some steps you as a patient can take to protect yourself from medical errors when you visit the ER. This doctor explains when you should and shouldn’t go to the ER, when you shouldn’t call an ambulance, and why it’s critical to follow your discharge instructions.

If you think that you have suffered as a result of a medical error contact Pegalis & Erickson. You can schedule a consultation with our medical malpractice lawyers by calling (516) 684-2900 or you can visit our website to learn more about common types of medical malpractice.

April 14, 2015 is the date of the Sixth Annual Pegalis & Erickson Lectureship at New York Law School. This two CLE credit program — “Medical Liability and the Civil Justice System” will begin at 6:00 PM. Stay tuned for program details here.

It’s tragic for any parent to discover that a little one has suffered a birth injury that may affect him or her for a lifetime. Once a birth injury is detected, a birth injury lawyer should be contacted promptly. Often, medical malpractice is to blame. Sometimes, the signs of birth injuries are evident at birth. These may include lethargy, seizures, and failure to breathe properly. The baby may have an arched back while crying, he or she may grunt or drool excessively, or the child may have trouble with swallowing and sucking. Some infants may display a curled-up hand, or keep the hand and arm bent toward their bodies.

With some birth injuries, it can take a while for the symptoms to become obvious. In children ages 12 to 24 months, birth injuries may be indicated by motor skill delays, walking problems, lack of muscle control, or poor coordination. Speech delays and intellectual disabilities may occur. Children with birth injuries may be slow to acquire skills of independence, such as grasping a spoon or getting dressed by themselves.

Could your baby be the victim of medical malpractice in Long Island, New York? Call the medical malpractice team of Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900 to discuss your legal options.

The effects of medical malpractice can range from mild to severe. In the case of birth injuries, the result is often devastating. Children with birth injuries often suffer from permanent disabilities, preventing them from leading a normal childhood and enjoying a productive adulthood. Caring for a child with birth injuries can also take its toll on the entire family, causing financial problems and relationship strain. If your child has suffered birth injuries, a medical malpractice lawyer can help you obtain compensation from negligent doctors to help with the costs of medical care and other damages.

Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is also frequently referred to as a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves in the neck area. These nerves are responsible for enabling the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers to move and to have sensation. During a difficult delivery, the infant’s head and neck may be pulled or thrusted, which can lead to damage to these nerves. This causes temporary or permanent paralysis .

Clavicle Fractures
Clavicle fractures are among the most common types of birth injuries. They typically arise from birth trauma or a difficult delivery. For example, sometimes the newborn’s shoulder becomes stuck. Although in many cases, clavicle fractures in newborns heal very quickly, they can sometimes lead to complications. Since the brachial plexus is quite close to the collarbone, the child can suffer from damage to this important cluster of nerves. The resultant paralysis may be temporary or permanent.

Femur Fractures
Femur fractures aren’t quite as common as clavicle fractures. An infant’s thigh bone may break if the leg is twisted improperly during the delivery. This causes pain, particularly when the child is being changed or otherwise moved. Often these fractures heal but sometimes there can be serious complications resulting in permanent injury to the leg.

At Pegalis & Erickson, our medical malpractice team aggressively pursues the rights of families who have been affected by birth injuries. All case reviews are free of charge,. If medical negligence is identified in Long Island, New York, we can then file a medical malpractice lawsuit on your behalf to seek damages for all injuries that were a result of medical errors. If your child has been diagnosed with birth injuries, call us at (516) 684-2900.

It’s all too easy to think that medical malpractice will never happen to you. Unfortunately, physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals aren’t infallible and medical errors such as birth injuries and medication errors occur every day. You may be startled to discover, that according to the Institute of Medicine, over 1.5 million people a year are injured as a result of medical errors. Even if you’re unsure of whether you could be a victim of negligence, you can contact a medical malpractice lawyer for a review of your case.

Compensation
In a medical malpractice lawsuit, the injured patient can seek ompensation for losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The vast majority of medical malpractice cases are settled out of court. This means that the defenfense counsel and the counsel for the patient negotiate a settlement for a sum of money without the need for a trial. Only a small percentage of cases are resolved with a jury verdict.

Allegations
A review of the allegations listed in medical malpractice cases reflects that most of them involve diagnosis errors, such as misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. In fact, of the top five allegations, diagnosis problems accounted for 33 percent of them. The second runner-up was surgical errors, which was named in 23 percent of the cases, with treatment problems being listed third at 18 percent. Medication errors and problems related to anesthesia are also entirely too prevalent. Some examples of complications from anesthesia errors include oxygen deprivation, brain damage, cardiopulmonary arrest, and even death.

At Pegalis & Erickson, a malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York, you’re never treated like just another statistic. Our medical malpractice lawyers provide personalized attention, and will carefully listen to your concerns and thoroughly answer all of your questions. Call (516) 684-2900 today for your free consultation.

Before just recently, if you were medically injured while on a cruise, you could not bring a medical malpractice lawsuit against the cruise line. But, just last week the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals maintained an avenue for medical malpractice lawsuits against cruise ships. Martime law previously indicated that cruise ship passengers could not expect the same level of medical care on a ship as on land. The recent l aw suit filed by the family of a man who died from a injury sustained on a cruise ship, has changed that for now, yet the cruise industry could still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

If you have been personally injured, consider contacting Pegalis and Erickson for a free consultation.