When the worst occurs and a family member passes away due to the negligence or error of a health care practitioner or facility, a Medical Malpractice Lawyer In Tacoma may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Whether the suit is filed against a hospital, clinic, or a doctor or another practitioner depends on the circumstances.
Typically, the suit is brought by the closest relative of the person who has died and is likely to be the executor of the estate. More than one person can be represented in one lawsuit filed by a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Tacoma as long as they cooperate with one another. For instance, two siblings might file suit if a parent passes away because of negligence or a fatal error. Parents of a minor child also may file a lawsuit when there is enough evidence of malpractice.
A Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Tacoma asks for various types of damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. Examples that the practitioner’s or facility’s insurer may be expected to pay for include:
* medical expenses
* funeral expenses
* lost income that helped support the family
* pain and suffering by the patient who later died
* loss of consortium for the surviving spouse
* loss of guidance for the minor children
The types of damages allowed in various states differ. A lawyer from a firm such as Sadler Ladenburg in Tacoma knows the relevant laws for Washington State and can advise the family members on the specifics. A person dealing with this situation may want to browse the website of this firm for further information.
Washington State also allows plaintiffs to claim punitive damages if the malpractice was particularly reprehensible. For instance, the malpractice may not have only involved negligence but intentional actions. A patient may become abnormally ill from chemotherapy treatment, for example, after which the doctor realizes the wrong treatment was prescribed. If the doctor hides this information from the patient, this action might be considered worthy of punitive damages.
This legal action is intended to punish the facility or the practitioner more than it is to provide compensation for specific losses. Punitive damages must be awarded by the court rather than being demanded from the insurer by a lawyer.
