When a medical professional doesn’t provide a reasonable standard of care, you can sue them for financial compensation, usually called damages. If you prove your case, damages in Connecticut medical malpractice cases can be substantial.
There are special procedures for medical malpractice lawsuits, and winning them requires a skilled and experienced attorney. Our lawyers at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, have been representing patients in medical malpractice lawsuits for decades. We have the wealth of knowledge and experience required to ensure you receive maximum compensation.
A medical professional’s malpractice can be very expensive for the patient. You might have had extra doctor appointments, tests, and even surgery to discover and correct the situation the negligent doctor created. If the doctor’s treatment did not correct your condition or made it worse, you might have missed time at work—maybe you used a lot of your accumulated vacation and sick time.
The negligent healthcare provider is responsible for paying these expenses. If you can produce documentation of the expense and show it’s related to their malpractice, they must reimburse you for it. This form of damages is called economic or special damages.
When the malpractice has a long-term impact, the negligent provider also must pay your future expenses. For example, if your condition requires continuous medical monitoring, ongoing supportive care, or future interventions, your damages should cover the cost. If the malpractice left you unable to return to work, the medical professional must compensate for your reduced earning ability. The attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, have a wide network of experts who can support your legal claims for future expenses.
Economic damages are directly related to the expenses you incurred or will incur due to medical malpractice. The other forms of damages you could receive are unrelated to your actual monetary costs. Instead, they are more subjective damages but are equally as important. Examples include:
Anyone who has experienced medical malpractice is entitled to claim non-economic damages, also sometimes generally called pain and suffering damages. Non-economic damages compensate you for the negative impact the malpractice has on your quality of life.
You can claim compensation for physical pain and emotional distress. If the malpractice left you disabled, you can claim for your loss of independence and ability to participate in activities that once brought you joy. When the malpractice impacts your relationship with a spouse, your spouse can claim loss of consortium.
When a medical professional is grossly callous or unprofessional, you could pursue punitive damages. A jury might impose punitive damages on a medical professional if they provided ineffective or harmful services for profit-motivated reasons, performed surgery while drunk, or for similarly outrageous behavior.
Punitive damages aren’t related to your expenses or your experiences due to the malpractice. They are meant to deter the behavior and punish the healthcare professional. Punitive damages are rare in Connecticut medical malpractice cases, but our attorneys could discuss whether your claim might merit such a request.
When you sue someone for damages in a Connecticut medical malpractice lawsuit, your conduct will be taken into account as well. According to Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h, when you bear partial responsibility for your injuries, you must absorb a portion of the damages equal to your degree of fault. When you are more than 50 percent responsible, you cannot collect any damages.
For example, if you sue an orthopedic surgeon for a botched shoulder replacement and you missed one of your physical therapy rehabilitation appointments, the doctor might claim you are partially responsible for the poor result. In such a case, a lawyer would argue that one missed session would not have a significant impact on the overall success of the surgery. However, if you went to the first physical therapy session and never returned, your conduct could have an impact on the success of the operation. A qualified attorney at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, will thoroughly discuss these matters with you before taking on the case to ensure you can achieve your desired results.
When a medical professional you trust provides substandard care, you might feel angry. You can vindicate this betrayal by pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit and seeking financial compensation for the harm you suffered.
Our lawyers at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, have decades of experience obtaining maximum damages in Connecticut medical malpractice cases. We offer free, in-person or remote consultations, so make an appointment today to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
