Personal Injury

Colorado Springs Personal Injury Attorneys

The Scope of the Problem

According to the Institute of Medicine, medical errors are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.   Medical errors account for more deaths that automobile accidents, breast cancer or AIDS.    About 7,000 people per year are estimated to die from medication errors alone – about 16% more deaths than the number attributable to work-related injuries.  Studies have revealed that the majority of medical errors were preventable.

While health care in Colorado is generally good, mistakes do occur.  Below are just some of the types of health care negligence which can result in harm or death to patients:

•Hospital and nursing negligence
•Surgical Errors, such as amputation of the wrong limb
•Anesthesia Errors
•Diagnostic errors, such as misdiagnosis leading to an incorrect choice of therapy or a failure to act on abnormal test results
•Infections, such as post-surgical wound infections
•Blood transfusion-related injuries
•Misinterpretation of medical orders, such as failing to give a patient a salt-free meal, as ordered by a physician
•Psychologist and Social Worker Negligence, such as failing to recognize and assess suicidal / homicidal signs
•Medication Errors, such as a patient getting the wrong prescription or dosage
•Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse
When people seek treatment from a physician or other medical professional, they literally place their lives in that professional’s hands. They expect proper care. When this trust is broken, the law allows monetary compensation for the wide variety of damages that can result from medical negligence. That compensation can make it possible for the victim of medical malpractice to receive corrective medical care and deal the financial difficulties created by their injury.

Medical malpractice actions are difficult and costly to pursue. The insurance companies who defend physicians and other health care providers will aggressively defend the claim. Most medical malpractice insurance policies require the physician’s consent before a claim can be settled.  In addition, new medical transparency laws like the Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act require physician disclosure of final judgments or settlements of malpractice or negligence claims.  These factors can encourage litigation because many physicians will fight to protect their reputation and refuse to acknowledge even obvious mistakes.

Juror perceptions is another factor.  Nationwide, and in Colorado, jury outcomes have shown that jurors often side with the doctor.  A mistaken perception is that malpractice claims increase the cost of insurance premiums.  A major study in July 2009 by Americans for Insurance Reform found that premiums and claims for doctors have both dropped significantly in recent years while the medical malpractice insurance industry has enjoyed remarkable profits.

Contact McCormick & Murphy
Contact McCormick & Murphy P.C. for a free initial consultation to discuss your potential medical malpractice claim.

If you would like someone to evaluate your medical malpractice claim, please fill out our free case evaluation form.

The lawyers of the Colorado Springs, Colorado law firm McCormick & Murphy take cases throughout Colorado, including Denver, Pueblo, Canon City, Las Animas, La Junta, Trinidad, Walsenberg, Alamosa, Del Norte, Durango, Monte Vista, Gunnison, Salida, Buena Vista, Leadville, Breckenridge, Eagle, and more.

McCormick & Murphy, P.C.
318 S. 8th Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Phone: 719-389-0400
Fax: 719-389-1600

©2009 McCormick and Murphy, P.C.