Minneapolis Hospital Bedsore Lawyers
A bedsore is a pressure ulcer which usually develops on the knee, ankle, wrist, elbow, or another bony part of the body. These injuries are especially common in nursing homes. Many of these residents are so frail they cannot turn themselves over in bed. Medical malpractice could cause such injuries in a hospital setting as well. Much like some nursing home residents, many hospital patients are so weak or medicated that they cannot turn themselves over in bed. These individuals depend entirely on the hospital staff to take care of them in these situations.
The standard of care is very clear in these cases. Patients must be turned over in bed at least once every two hours. But at many times, especially nights, weekends, and holidays, many hospitals are woefully understaffed. So, instead of performing nightly rounds once every hour, the rounds are pushed to once every three or four hours. Additionally, at understaffed hospitals, under-qualified professionals sometimes handle these duties. Someone like a patient care technician is not as able to spot a bedsore as someone like a registered nurse, especially in the dark of night.
In contrast, the dedicated Minneapolis hospital bedsore lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman have significant resources. Our attorneys have a large support staff and access to top expert witnesses and other professionals. So, we have the wherewithal to go to the mat for you. We never need to look for an early exit. Instead, we never stop fighting until we obtain the best possible results under the circumstances.
Duty of Care in a Medical Negligence Case
When motorists go to work, they have a duty of reasonable care under Minnesota law. This duty requires them to drive defensively, avoid accidents whenever possible, and obey the formal and informal rules of the road. This duty of care is rather low because almost anyone can obtain a drivers’ license.
When doctors go to work, they have a fiduciary duty under Minnesota law. This duty requires them to bring all their experience and training to bear on every decision they make, no matter how large or small. The “do no harm” language in the Hippocratic Oath is only the beginning. This duty of care is so high because only a select few individuals can obtain medical licenses.
What’s the difference between these two duties? Many car crashes are truly “accidents.” If Mary reached over to turn off her cell phone ringer, took her eyes off the road for a moment, and caused a crash, most jurors would not say that she violated her duty of care. But if Dr. Mary stopped performing surgery to turn off her cell phone and made a medical mistake because she was distracted, most jurors would say Dr. Mary was negligent.
Resolving Your Claim for Damages
Most civil claims settle out of court. Most of these settlements occur during mediation. Basically, mediation is a court-supervised negotiation session. This session, which usually lasts a full day, usually occurs toward the end of a lawsuit’s life cycle.
A third party mediator, who is usually an unaffiliated Minneapolis hospital bedsore lawyer, listens to brief opening arguments from each side. Then, the mediator, who is the court’s representative at this negotiation session, works with both sides and tries to forge a settlement agreement.
The court supervision aspect of mediation is significant. Both parties have a duty to negotiate in good faith. Largely because of this additional responsibility, mediation is about 90 percent successful.
Count On a Savvy Hennepin County Lawyer
Injury victims are usually entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced hospital bedsore lawyer in Minneapolis, contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman LLC by going online or calling 612-473-0905. Attorneys can connect victims with top-notch doctors, even if they have no insurance or money.