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.

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, medical negligence lawyers recommend that women take a few minutes to familiarize themselves with the basics of breast health. For example, you could talk to your doctor about the mammography guidelines that may apply to you. Mammograms are crucial because a delayed diagnosis of breast cancer will cause delays in treatment, and can cause a lesser chance of a cure. Some women may even wish to get a second opinion of their mammogram results if they suspect that the mammogram was not read properly. Women should also discuss breast sonograms in addition to mammograms if they have dense breasts or a palpable lump.

When medical malpractice leads to a delayed breast cancer diagnosis, women have a higher risk of dying from the disease. Any delays in treatment may give the cancer time to spread to the lymph nodes or other areas of the body, which makes it more difficult to successfully treat.

For more than 40 years, the medical negligence team at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC has been defending the legal rights of patients. Call our malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York at (516) 684-2900 to explore your legal rights and options.

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.

Did you know that about one-fourth of all hospitalized patients may suffer from a preventable medical error? These can include medication errors, surgical mistakes, and hospital-acquired infections. By learning about the potential for medical malpractice, patients can better protect themselves and family members can serve as effective advocates for their loved ones.

Consult Your Primary Care Physician

Hospitalizations aren’t always planned. However, if your situation isn’t an emergency, it’s a good idea to consult your primary care doctor before you check into the hospital. Ask your doctor whether you’ll need to change your medication regimen, bring medications with you to the hospital, change your diet, or have pre-admission tests. You can also ask him or her about the tests and procedures you can expect once you’re in the hospital.

Schedule Surgeries Carefully

Many people prefer to schedule surgeries for the weekend, since this gives them some extra time to recover before they take time off work the next week. However, hospital staffing is generally unfavorable on the weekends. If you check into the hospital on a Friday, you may not be as carefully monitored after the procedure. If possible, try to schedule your surgery for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Recognize Possible Medical Negligence

Since it can be difficult to recognize medical malpractice, it’s a good idea to ask questions if you’re ever unsure of something. You could ask if you can get a second opinion for your diagnosis or imaging study interpretation. You can ask to double-check the names and dosages of all medications before a nurse administers them to you. And never hesitate to ask nurses or other providers to wash their hands when they enter your hospital room. Hospital-acquired infections are among the most common problems that hospitalized patients encounter.

If you or a loved one does sustain a health problem as a possible result of medical negligence, the patient advocates at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC are here to help. We are a malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York that provides compassionate and effective legal services for patients and their families. Call us at (516) 684-2900 if you would like to arrange a meeting with a medical malpractice lawyer.

There are many circumstances in which a mother can bring a claim for birth injuries. Since there is a deadline for filing a claim, known as a statute of limitations, it’s advisable for parents to consult a birth injury lawyer as soon as the injury is diagnosed, or if the child isn’t reaching milestones. The birth injury lawyer can review the case to determine if a lawsuit might be filed on the basis of medical negligence. A child may have suffered injuries if the obstetrician failed to diagnose conditions during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, or failed to treat those conditions.

Conditions that affect the infant may result from medical negligence during pregnancy or during the birth. For example, when an expectant mother has a prolonged or difficult labor, or abnormalities of the fetal heart rate are present, it is generally expected that the obstetrician will call for a C-section, to ensure that the baby doesn’t suffer from oxygen deprivation. If the doctor fails to do so and birth injuries are later diagnosed, this may be grounds for a lawsuit.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, we understand the difficulties that often arise following a diagnosis of birth injuries in Long Island, New York. Our legal team would like to offer our services during this challenging time. Call us at (516) 684-2900 and let us know how we can help your family.

Prostate cancer is among the most common types of cancer in the U.S. As with other types of cancer, early detection is preferable. By detecting prostate cancer early and understanding their options, men can make proactive decisions for their wellness. Unfortunately, some patients must cope with the consequences of delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, which are types of medical malpractice. By becoming better informed about prostate health, men may reduce the chances that they will suffer from the results of medical malpractice.

For example, it’s a good idea for men to ask their doctors about their risk factors of prostate cancer and to ask whether they should be screened, rather than to wait for the doctor to suggest it. Some risk factors include being 40 years old or older, being African-American, and having a family history of prostate cancer.

Have you or a loved one received a delayed diagnosis as a result of medical negligence in Long Island, New York? You can call Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, a malpractice law firm, at (516) 684-2900 to discuss your case with our personal injury lawyers.

After sustaining a serious injury, it’s to be expected that your top priority is recovering and getting your life back on track. However, it’s well worth your time to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney to discuss your situation. You should also consult an attorney if you believe that you may have the basis for a wrongful death lawsuit, which may apply if you have lost a loved one due to negligence.

Your Lawyer Is a Valuable Source of Information

One compelling reason why it’s a good idea to consult a lawyer is that he or she will likely have years of experience handling cases similar to yours. Your attorney will likely know the ins and outs of the laws that apply to your situation and how they might affect you. If you have any questions about determining liability, recovering compensation, or other matters, your personal injury attorney is your best source of information.

Your Attorney Can Explain Your Options

There are multiple ways to resolve a complaint. It isn’t always necessary to bring a case to trial. Your attorney can explain all of your options to you, which might include mediation. Even if you prefer to avoid a lengthy trial, you should still make the time to see a personal injury attorney.

Your Lawyer Can Secure More Compensation on Your Behalf

Another way your case might be resolved is through a settlement. A settlement agreement involves the plaintiff accepting a set sum of money in exchange for dropping the complaint. Settlements can help individuals get their lives back on track by compensating them for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. However, individuals who have lawyers representing them are much more likely to secure more favorable amounts of compensation in a settlement agreement than individuals who try to represent themselves.

If you would like to meet with a personal injury attorney free of charge, you can contact Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900. Our personal injury lawyers near Long Island, New York have dedicated their careers to successfully advocating on behalf of individuals who have sustained injuries because of someone else’s negligent actions. In addition to representing personal injury clients, we routinely handle cases involving wrongful death, birth injuries, and medication errors.