A cesarean section, or C-section, has the potential to cause injuries to both mother and child. Sometimes, birth trauma occurs when the C-section is delayed, despite indicators that an emergency C-section is warranted. This can be an example of medical malpractice. Other possible risks of a C-section include damage to the mother’s internal organs or breathing problems of the baby. After a C-section, patients can expect an extended hospital stay and a longer overall recovery time. They can also expect higher medical bills, particularly if additional medical care was required for C-section injuries.

Although recovering from injuries after a C-section is of the highest priority, families may wish to consider talking to a medical malpractice attorney sooner, rather than later. If indeed medical malpractice was to blame for the injuries, families must file a claim before the statute of limitations expires. A settlement or jury award can help families cover the cost of the medical bills, lost wages, and any ongoing care needs of the mother and child.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, our medical negligence lawyers serving Long Island, New York will handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on your recovery and on caring for your little one. Even if you aren’t sure whether you have a claim, you can call us at (516) 684-2900 for legal guidance.

Life can be dramatically different for individuals who have disabilities, such as those caused by medical malpractice or birth injuries. Disabilities may cause physical hardship, such as chronic pain and mobility impairment, and emotional challenges, including depression and anxiety. Many people with disabilities cannot work or must switch to a different occupation. This can cause financial hardship, which may be further exacerbated by ongoing medical expenses. Individuals with disabilities may need to hire a caregiver, undergo expensive medical treatments, and purchase adaptive equipment.

It can also be difficult for a person with a disability to move about in the community, which is one of the reasons why it’s so important for communities to promote accessibility. This issue is highlighted by the designation of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which has been recognized since 1992.

If you or a loved one has developed a disability due to medical malpractice in Long Island, New York, you could consider talking to a personal injury attorney about filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. You can contact the legal team at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900 and let us know how we can help you.

Plenty of myths abound regarding medical malpractice claims, such as the myth that these types of lawsuits drive up the cost of healthcare for everyone and the belief that the majority of medical negligence lawsuits are baseless. Discovering the truth behind these common myths may change your perceptions of medical malpractice. If you feel you may have been affected by medical mistakes, you can contact a medical malpractice attorney to explore your legal options.

Myth: Malpractice Increases Healthcare Spending

This myth is commonly used by some lawmakers to justify establishing caps limiting the amount of medical malpractice payouts. Yet, medical malpractice represents only a very small fraction— less than half of one percent —of the total healthcare industry. In fact, medical malpractice itself is the culprit of increasing healthcare costs. Preventable medical mistakes cost billions annually because patients need additional medical care.

Myth: Most Malpractice Claims are Frivolous

Before a person can file a medical malpractice claim, certain elements must be present. It’s highly unlikely that a medical malpractice attorney would agree to represent a plaintiff who does not have a viable claim, given the costs involved with litigation. Additionally, some states require medical malpractice claims to go through a medical review process. Those that are not meritorious may be dismissed. In other words, the vast majority of malpractice complaints filed against providers are indeed meritorious—and many of them involve serious injuries or wrongful death.

Myth: Doctors Prefer to Avoid Settlements

Another common myth about medical malpractice is that doctors prefer to avoid settling lawsuits at all costs, presumably because this might cast doubt on their credibility. In actuality, settling a case is not an admission of liability on the part of the defendant.

If you have questions about medical malpractice claims, the legal team at Pegalis & Erickson LLC can provide the answers. To discuss your case, you can schedule a consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer serving Long Island, New York. Contact our malpractice law firm at (516) 684-2900 or browse our website to learn more about us.

November is Family Caregiver Month and we recognize that your caregiving takes a lot of hard work and dedication; we are sharing information about how a medical malpractice lawyer can help you seek compensation for medical errors that have seriously affected you or a loved one.

Before you retain the services of a medical malpractice lawyer, you’ll have an initial consultation or case review. This is a chance for the lawyer to become familiar with the basic facts of your case and for you to ask any questions you may have. Some questions you may wish to ask the medical malpractice lawyer include inquiries regarding his or her qualifications. You might also ask how long the medical malpractice law firm has been assisting patients.

Many medical malpractice plaintiffs ask questions regarding the lawyer’s track record of successful jury verdicts and settlements. You could also ask questions about your case, such as how long it might take to resolve and how the lawyer might approach it.

Individuals who may have experienced medical malpractice in Long Island, New York can find the help they need at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, a malpractice law firm dedicated to successfully advocating on patients’ behalf. Should you have any questions about medical negligence, you can call a medical malpractice lawyer at (516) 684-2900.

There are many types of medical malpractice, including anesthesia injuries. These types of medication errors can sometimes result in severe complications, including lung infections, temporary mental confusion, stroke, heart attack, and death. The risk of anesthesia complications may be higher in patients who smoke, have high blood pressure, or have diabetes.

Rarely, some patients have been known to wake up during the surgery. This may be the result of medical malpractice, such as when the anesthesiologist fails to administer enough of the medication. This complication is known as anesthesia awareness. The patient may or may not experience pain while he or she is aware of the surroundings. Despite this awareness, the patient is unable to alert the surgical team to the problem because of the muscle relaxants administered prior to surgery. Long-term psychological damage can occur.

When you’re in need of a medical malpractice lawyer serving Long Island, New York, you can turn to Pegalis & Erickson, LLC. Call our personal injury lawyers at (516) 684-2900.

The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves located in the shoulder region. An injury to this network of nerves, known as a brachial plexus injury, can cause mild to severe symptoms that may be either temporary or permanent. Typically, the symptoms involve the loss of muscle control of the affected arm. A brachial plexus injury may occur at birth if the baby’s shoulder becomes lodged in the birth canal. Medical malpractice in the form of excessive physical maneuvers can result in a birth injury.

Prenatal Care

The risk of this form of birth trauma may be reduced if the expectant mother is given proper prenatal care. In fact, deviating from the standard of care for pregnant women is considered a form of medical malpractice. One of the risk factors of brachial plexus injuries is excessive weight gain of the mother during pregnancy. The healthcare provider should carefully monitor the mother’s weight gain and provide nutritional guidance as needed. The mother should be informed of the potential risks of excessive weight gain. Another controllable risk factor of brachial plexus injuries is gestational diabetes, which refers to the development of diabetes during pregnancy. Expectant mothers with gestational diabetes should be given extensive patient education on managing blood sugar levels to promote a healthy pregnancy, as well as a referral to high-risk doctors and nutritionists.

Cesarean Delivery

A C-section may be recommended for women with a high-risk pregnancy, such as when the baby is at a higher risk of developing a brachial plexus injury. The healthcare provider should assess the risk of the baby, such as by evaluating fetal size, and make appropriate recommendations. In the event that the labor and delivery is prolonged and excessive force might be required, the health care provider may be expected to recommend a C-section to prevent birth trauma.

The medical negligence lawyers of Pegalis & Erickson, LLC have years of experience helping families move forward after a birth injury diagnosis. If your child was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury, you could consult our medical malpractice lawyer serving Long Island, New York to find out about your legal rights and options. To schedule a case review with a medical malpractice lawyer, call us at (516) 684-2900.

You may have already heard that medication errors, emergency room errors, and birth injuries are examples of medical malpractice. But did you know that a patient can also acquire an infectious disease because of medical malpractice? Hospitals are breeding grounds for germs. And while you might think that healthcare providers and support staff members would wash their hands and take other precautions to prevent the spread of germs, some providers fail to follow these protocols.

Since cases involving infectious disease and medical negligence can be quite complex, it’s advisable to turn to a medical malpractice lawyer for guidance. Medical malpractice lawyers can handle cases involving serious complications from post-operative infections, failure to sterilize surgical instruments properly, and failure to follow proper protocols to maintain a sterile environment during surgery. Your lawyer can also handle cases involving failure to diagnose an infection or failure to treat an infection.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, these are just a few examples of the types of medical malpractice cases our lawyers have litigated. Call our malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York at (516) 684-2900 if you would like to discuss your case in confidence with a caring member of our legal team.

One of the most emotionally devastating experiences a parent can have is the loss of a child. After suffering a pregnancy loss, parents often have more questions than answers, such as how such a tragedy could have occurred. Unfortunately, the cause of stillbirth isn’t identifiable in many cases. When the cause may have been medical malpractice, parents may wish to consider talking to a lawyer.

How Did This Happen?

There are many possible causes of stillbirth. They include fetal genetic or structural abnormalities, umbilical cord abnormalities, placental disease, and maternal or fetal infection. Obstetric complications such as abruption and multiple gestation could also contribute. Additionally, certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of suffering a stillbirth, such as older maternal age, concurrent medical disorders, obesity, and smoking. Obstetricians and other healthcare providers have a duty to carefully monitor maternal and fetal health during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Medical negligence may contribute to stillbirth if a healthcare provider failed to manage risk factors of the mother, detect potential health problems, and treat these health issues.

Which Tests are Recommended?

After a stillbirth, the healthcare provider can carefully evaluate maternal and fetal health to try to determine what went wrong. The doctor should examine the baby, the placenta, and the umbilical cord. He or she may also ask the parents’ permission to run some medical tests. These may include amniocentesis, which is a test of the amniotic fluid to check for genetic conditions. Under certain circumstances, the provider should have recommended amniocentesis during pregnancy. The physician may also ask to perform an autopsy, test for infections, and conduct genetic tests.

After suffering a stillbirth, parents can turn to Pegalis & Erickson, LLC to find the answers they deserve. Our medical malpractice lawyers in Long Island, New York have years of experience guiding families through the most difficult times in their lives. You can schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer at our firm by calling (516) 684-2900.

Medical malpractice is a term that can refer to a wide range of different cases in which a health care provider provided care that caused injury, harm, or death to a patient as a result of negligent or substandard care practices. More specifically, a doctor who has committed malpractice may have provided an inaccurate diagnosis, prescribed the wrong medication dosage, or failed to provide proper aftercare in a surgical procedure. While some cases of malpractice may be clear, other patients may not realize that they have been affected by negligence.

Because medical malpractice is so complex, patients might consider speaking with a malpractice attorney whenever medical treatment results in physical or mental harm. Doctors are not responsible for all harms suffered by patients, as some risks are unavoidable, but patients may not always immediately realize the errors that could have occurred in their care.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, you can discuss the details of your malpractice case with a free consultation with our experienced Long Island team. To get a closer look at our previous successes and specific examples of malpractice cases, visit our website or call us at (516) 684-2900.

In a perfect world, doctors would keep their patients fully informed and in-the-know about their care so that complications and risks are managed effectively for optimal patient safety. Unfortunately, patients are often undereducated on the surgical procedures that doctors might recommend. Therefore, you may need to explore your own resources with plenty of questions in pre-surgical consultations and online research to inform you about a given procedure. Below you can see exactly why you will want to invest the time to get to know a surgical procedure before you go under the knife.

Understand possible surgical risks.
There is no surgical procedure that is without risks, even with modern advances in surgical care. Not only will you want to know which risks are a possibility with your surgery, but you will also want to explore ways that these risks can be minimized.

Assess the success rate of past procedures.
When you investigate the success rate of a surgical procedure, you will want to look into both the national average and the success rates of a specific hospital or surgeon. In a recent investigation of a Florida hospital, fatalities resulting from pediatric open heart surgery occurred at a rate more than 9% above the national average, yet patients were completely uninformed of these numbers. That means that you should rely on more than just your doctor’s word when you are assessing the risk of a surgical procedure.

Explore alternative treatment options.
One important factor to consider with any surgery is whether the procedure is completely necessary. In some cases there are alternative therapies available, and it is always worth the time to seek a second opinion so that you may make the most informed decisions about your care.

In the event of surgical complications or fatalities, patients are often told that these outcomes were the result of unavoidable risks when medical negligence has actually occurred. With Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, you can find justice in your case with the compensation needed to cover the costs of your care. To contact our Long Island office for a free consultation with our team, call us at (516) 684-2900 today.