Were You Injured In The Hospital?

When doctors and nurses don't do their jobs, our Georgia law firm holds them accountable

Patients go to the hospital seeking the treatment they need for acute medical issues. They expect to receive those services in a safe environment that's focused on their health. Unfortunately, for too many patients, that's not the case. Hospital injuries and infections can lead to serious complications and even death, and those incidents are even more tragic because the victims should have been properly cared for.

If you or a loved one has been injured in the hospital, you need an experienced medical malpractice attorney on your side. You need someone who will conduct thorough research, find the negligent parties and hold them accountable. You need a Georgia hospital injury lawyer from Johnson Greer Law Group.

Common types of injuries in hospitals

Because of the broad range of medical issues that hospitals handle on a daily basis, there are many risks to patients. When hospitals fail to effectively manage those risks, incidents can occur such as:

Hospitals are busy places, and with so much foot traffic, falls sometimes occur. Patients can trip and fall when equipment or other debris are left out in hallways or when the floors themselves are badly maintained. Because a fall can aggravate an existing injury, and because many medical issues can lead to problems with walking or balance, hospital patients are especially at risk when trip hazards are allowed to persist.
Hospital-acquired infections. Infectious diseases are a huge problem in hospitals. That's why doctors, nurses and other hospital staff are required to adhere to strict cleanliness protocols in order to prevent infections from spreading. When those protocols aren't followed, patients can become seriously ill. Because infections acquired in a hospital are often drug-resistant, these illnesses can be life-threatening.
Hospital-acquired pressure injuries. Also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores, hospital-acquired pressure injuries are localized areas of damage to the skin and underlying tissue that typically occur over bony prominences due to pressure, shear, or friction. They often develop when patients remain in one position for an extended period without relief. These injuries can lead to pain, infection, and delayed recovery.
Surgical errors. Patients undergoing surgery are at high risk of acquiring infections or being otherwise injured. Many surgical errors are called "never events" because they are the result of blatant negligence on the part of a surgeon. For instance, patients may leave the hospital with surgical tools left inside their bodies, or a surgery may be conducted on the wrong body part or even the wrong patient.
Issues at discharge. The moment of discharge from the hospital is often the most dangerous time for patients. Sometimes, hospitals discharge patients too soon in order to cut costs. In other cases, inadequate or incorrect information is given to the patient's primary care doctor, leading to future medication errors or other dangers to the patient's health.

Who is liable for hospital injuries?

In a hospital injury case, liability (legal term for who is legally responsible) depends on the circumstances surrounding the injury. Some common parties that might be held liable often include:

Hospital administration. The hospital itself can be held liable for injuries caused by negligence on the part of its staff or due to inadequate policies, procedures, supervision, or hiring practices.
Healthcare providers. Individual doctors, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals who provide care in the hospital may be held liable if their actions or omissions directly lead to the patient's injury. This could include errors in diagnosis, treatment, medication administration, or surgical procedures.
Hospital staff. Besides healthcare providers, other hospital staff members such as aides, technicians, or administrative personnel could also be held liable if their negligent actions or failures contribute to the patient's injury.
Contracted services. Sometimes, hospitals contract out certain services such as cleaning, maintenance, or security. If negligence by a contracted service provider leads to an injury, both the provider and the hospital might share liability depending on the terms of their contract and the details of the case.
Manufacturers. In cases where a medical device or equipment malfunction causes an injury to a patient, the manufacturer of the device could be held liable for defects in design, manufacturing, or inadequate safety warnings.

Determining liability in hospital injury cases can be complex and may require a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injury. It's often advisable to consult with an experienced hospital injury lawyer to evaluate different parties for fault and liability.

Our Georgia hospital injury attorneys are ready to assist you now

If you or a loved one was injured at a hospital, you have legal rights - but actually exercising those rights can be difficult. There may be a dispute over liability, as the hospital may claim that the doctor who injured you was only "visiting" rather than an employee of the hospital. Or the negligent care provider may argue that you had a pre-existing condition rather than being hurt due to issues with your care. That's why you need to contact an experienced attorney right away.

Johnson Greer Law Group is dedicated to holding negligent hospitals accountable and helping victims get full and fair compensation for their injuries. Call today for your free consultation. (866) 904-6653.