Patients trust healthcare providers with their health, but when that trust is broken due to medical negligence, it can lead to devastating losses. Whether it is a missed diagnosis, a surgical error, or a failure to monitor a patient’s condition, medical malpractice can result in permanent injuries, disability, or even death. Cases arising out of medical malpractice are complex and aggressively defended, which is why it is important for victims of incompetent care to hire top medical malpractice lawyers to help them protect their rights. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our aggressive Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys possess the skills and resources needed to prevail in claims against careless healthcare providers, and if you were harmed by substandard care, we will diligently seek any compensation you may be owed. We regularly represent parties in Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York.
The Serious Harm Caused by Medical NegligenceMedical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care required in their profession, resulting in injury or death to the patient. While not every poor outcome is malpractice, many injuries and complications are preventable. Common examples include surgical mistakes, medication errors, anesthesia complications, misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses, birth injuries, and improper treatment. These errors can lead to devastating conditions such as brain damage, infections, stroke, internal bleeding, paralysis, or organ failure.
The physical impact of malpractice is often compounded by emotional and financial hardship. Patients may require extensive rehabilitation, repeat surgeries, assistive devices, and long-term nursing care. They may lose the ability to work or live independently. Families are frequently left to shoulder enormous medical bills while coping with the emotional trauma of seeing a loved one suffer.
The top medical malpractice lawyers understand the extent of these consequences and how to build cases that reflect the full scope of the harm. They collaborate with medical experts to uncover exactly what went wrong and with financial professionals to ensure that future needs are accurately calculated and presented. Their goal is not only to hold negligent providers accountable, but to secure the compensation needed to help clients regain stability.
The Role of Top Medical Malpractice LawyersA medical malpractice lawsuit will typically include negligence claims against the defendant. In New York, to show negligence, a plaintiff must establish that a provider owed them a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the plaintiff’s injuries, and that those injuries resulted in damages. The top medical malpractice lawyers begin by confirming the existence of a provider-patient relationship, which establishes the duty of care. They then assess whether the provider’s actions, or failure to act, fell below the accepted medical standard for that specialty. This standard is typically defined by what a reasonably competent practitioner would have done under similar circumstances.
Establishing a breach of duty is only the beginning. The attorney must also prove causation, which is often the most hotly contested element in malpractice cases. Healthcare providers may argue that the injury would have occurred regardless of their conduct, or that it resulted from an underlying condition rather than their care. The top medical malpractice lawyers work with independent physicians and specialists to provide expert testimony on how the negligence directly caused the harm in question. These experts help explain complex medical issues to juries and judges, offering critical insight into what should have been done and how the outcome could have been avoided.
Once liability is established, the focus turns to damages. Malpractice victims may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning potential, and the cost of ongoing care. Non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and diminished quality of life may also be recovered. The top medical malpractice lawyers use a strategic and evidence-based approach to calculate these damages, often involving life care planners and economists to ensure that every need is accounted for.
Speak With a Top Medical Malpractice Attorney in Syracuse, Rochester, or Upstate New YorkMedical malpractice cases are among the most complex and contested types of personal injury claims, and the top medical malpractice lawyers have the experience, resources, and resolve to take on powerful hospitals, insurance companies, and defense teams. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our capable Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys take pride in advocating for people harmed by negligent treatment, and if you suffered injuries due to a medical error, we can help you take the measures needed to protect your interests. We have an office in Syracuse and we regularly represent clients in medical malpractice claims in Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York. Contact us today at 833-200-2000 or reach out online to schedule a free and confidential consultation.