When you visit a health care provider, you trust them to provide competent care based on their expertise and training. However, it’s not always the case. When a medical professional fails to meet the standard of care, the impact on a patient can be significant, with far-reaching consequences.
If you or a loved one suffered harm at the hands of a health care provider or institution, here are the damages you can seek with a medical malpractice claim.
Economic damages
You are entitled to seek financial compensation to cover the direct and quantifiable costs related to the harm you suffered. They include:
- Medical expenses, including the costs of surgeries, rehabilitation and specialized or additional medical treatment required to address the effects of the malpractice
- Lost current and future wages
- Reduced earning capacity due to any long-term physical or mental limitations
- Other associated expenses, like home and vehicle modifications and caregiving costs
Economic damages help ensure that you receive the necessary medical care and financial support for recovery.
Non-economic damages
These damages cover the emotional and psychological effects of your injuries, which cannot be measured in monetary terms. The non-economic damages you may be entitled to with a medical malpractice case include pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced quality of life and disfigurement.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages may be awarded in some exceptional cases to punish the negligent health care provider for willful misconduct or extreme negligence.
Is there a limit to the amount you can recover?
Unlike some states, there are no legal caps to your recoverable compensation for economic and non-economic damages as a victim of medical malpractice in Georgia. This underscores the need for experienced legal guidance to help build a solid case and pursue a fair settlement.