New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Medical Negligence Lawsuit Attorneys in NJ
I f you or a loved one was injured due to medical negligence in New Jersey, Fronzuto Law Group has a team of attorneys with the skill and dedication to walk you through your journey toward justice. After years of study, physicians in all of today’s medical schools take the Hippocratic Oath, before embarking upon their medical careers. By taking this oath, doctors vow to abide by a number of principles, the most significant of which is to “do no harm.” Although we assume that our doctors uphold these tenants of the medical profession, they can and do fail to do so, often, with catastrophic consequences. When medical malpractice, such as a cancer misdiagnosis or a surgical error results in injury or even death to you or someone you love, the law provides recourse through which to recover compensation, and we can help.
At Fronzuto Law Group, our highly experienced New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers have represented countless patients who suffered harm at the hands of doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and other health care professionals, as well as hospitals and medical facilities. We handle medical malpractice cases in New Jersey on a daily basis, and you don’t want anything less when seeking the best possible results. Your case will likely require extensive investigation, expert evaluations, medical assessments, and aggressive advocacy both inside and outside of the courtroom. With over 75 years of combined experience and millions in successful verdicts and settlements behind us, the lawyers at our firm are thoroughly prepared to guide you through the complex and often contentious road ahead.
If you suspect that you or your loved one’s injuries may be due to medical malpractice, we urge you to seek prompt legal representation, as your time for filing a claim is limited in New Jersey. Contact our local offices anytime at 973-435-4551 to discuss the circumstances of your case or contact our firm online to schedule a free initial consultation. The consultation is absolutely free and confidential. Our representation will also cost you nothing unless we obtain compensation for you. We understand that what you need now is to focus on your recovery. Let us take up the banner of fighting for the resources you need to rebuild your life.
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Experienced NJ Medical Negligence Lawyers can Help
Our firm is led by Ernest P. Fronzuto, a New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Civil Trial Attorney who has argued landmark cases before the state’s highest court. Mr. Fronzuto’s commitment to excellence permeates every element of our firm, from the way we communicate with you throughout the legal process, to the manner in which we craft and execute case strategy. Our philosophy in handling medical malpractice lawsuits is simple: investigation, preparation, and dedication to each and every client’s case. Understanding that the only way to reach a successful resolution is trial readiness and a fearlessness with which to proceed to trial, we combine our skill and extensive experience with persistence and an unwavering commitment to our client’s cause. With this philosophy in mind, we limit our caseload to provide the highest level of personalized service and attention.
Medical malpractice cases are among the most nuanced forms of civil litigation, requiring a team with specific experience and skill in handling these matters. Our firm is equipped with all of the necessary resources to thoroughly investigate your case and construct the most compelling claim for maximum damages. Once we have determined that there is an actionable claim on your behalf, we never hesitate to confront major health systems and powerful insurance companies. Through our years of handling medical negligence cases, we have developed relationships with renowned medical experts who provide scientifically-relevant information and respected opinions to bolster your case and prove liability. Our strategic advantage is consistently demonstrated through the millions of dollars we have recovered on behalf of medical malpractice victims and families in New Jersey.
What is Medical Malpractice?
D octors and other medical professionals are required to uphold a certain standard of care when providing diagnostic and treatment services to their patients. This “standard of care” is specific to the area of medicine in which the healthcare provider is practicing. An established standard of care is essentially the course of action that a similarly trained and educated medical professional would take under similar circumstances. Medical malpractice refers to a healthcare provider’s failure to uphold the standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient.
If a doctor who specializes in the same field of medicine would conduct additional tests, arrive at a different diagnosis, consider alternative treatment options, choose to treat a condition, or deliver more appropriate care in a given situation, your doctor may have failed to provide the proper standard of care. Neglecting to provide the appropriate standard of care is referred to as “negligence.” When negligence results in injury or harm, this constitutes medical malpractice. The type and degree of injury is unique to each case and can range from permanent complications or conditions, to catastrophic injuries and even death.
If you or a loved one suffered harm when seeking medical help, you may be wondering if malpractice played a role. Signs that you or your loved one’s injuries or death may have been preventable may haunt you and the process of finding out what really happened can be daunting. When you find yourself in this situation, our experienced medical malpractice attorneys will take this burden off your shoulders. We have dedicated our lives to pursuing the truth about preventable injuries caused by medical negligence in New Jersey and we are here for you.
Types of Medical Malpractice
The types of errors involved in medical malpractice cases are highly variable, ranging from inaccurate diagnosis and delayed diagnosis, to failure to treat, errors during surgery, and medication errors. Medical errors can take many forms, but can be delineated into three main categories: errors of omission, errors of execution, and errors of planning. An error of omission refers to the failure to do something that should have been done. Errors of execution happen when a healthcare provider makes a mistake while completing an action. Lastly, errors of planning occur when a medical professional formulates an inappropriate plan of action to address a given situation. All of these errors can prove disastrous for the patient’s health and well-being. In fact, according to a recent study, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Regardless of the way in which a specific error occurs, a medical malpractice lawsuit may provide the victim with the opportunity to hold healthcare providers accountable for the injuries that their negligence has caused.
Some medical malpractice claims that our firm often handles involve:
- Cancer misdiagnosis
- Birth injury
- Misdiagnosis of heart attack
- Malpractice diagnosing or treating stroke
- Failure to diagnose or treat pulmonary embolism
- Meningitis Misdiagnosis
- Respiratory distress syndrome
- COPD Misdiagnosis and failure to treat
- Pneumonia misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose
- Medication errors: overdose, wrong medication prescribed, harmful drug interactions
- Anesthesia errors
- Nerve damage from surgery
- Postoperative negligence
What if Medical Malpractice Happens to a Child?
Pediatric Malpractice is a subsection of medical malpractice that deals directly with injuries caused to children who are receiving medical care. We have particular experience handling child-related medical malpractice cases, having recovered millions of dollars for children who have suffered harm from preventable medical events. Our experience encompasses common childhood illnesses such as ear infection, pneumonia, and meningitis, as well as the most complex medical conditions affecting pediatric patients, including Cerebral Palsy, craniosynostosis, and plagiocephaly. For additional information regarding Pediatric Malpractice, please access our extensive repository of resources. You can also contact us anytime to speak with a dedicated childhood medical malpractice lawyer who can address your questions and concerns.
Who can be held Liable in a Medical Malpractice Case?
There may be one or more liable parties in a specific medical malpractice case and these incidents can occur in a variety of venues. For instance, there may be mistakes on the part of the doctor, hospital negligence, errors in the emergency room, or failure to provide proper prenatal care. A person can also become a victim of medical negligence when any doctor-patient relationship has been established, such as those with a radiologist, rheumatologist, or neurologist. Nurses and physician assistants can also be perpetrators of malpractice.
How Long do I have to File a Medical Malpractice Claim in New Jersey?
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims in New Jersey is not as simple as one might expect. Typically in the realm of medical malpractice and personal injury, plaintiffs have two years to file a claim. However, the two-year period may begin from the date of the incident or from the date upon which the plaintiff discovers or becomes aware that he or she has been a victim of medical malpractice.
Let’s look at a few examples to further understand this concept. In the case of a surgical malpractice case, you may become aware that an error has occurred during surgery because you suffered complications during or immediately after the procedure. Recognizing that negligence played a role in your surgery would mean you have two years from the date of the incident to file a claim. On the other hand, in the case of a birth injury, parents often do not become aware that their child may have suffered harm during labor and delivery until years after the birth. For instance, signs of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may not emerge until a child begins missing development milestones. In this situation, the time period to file a malpractice claim would not begin until the child’s caregivers become aware that their child suffered malpractice.
With the complexity of medical malpractice statute of limitations laws in New Jersey, it can be very difficult for the average person to determine how much time they have to file a claim. If you suspect that you or someone you love has been injured or died due to medical malpractice‚ the most valuable thing you can do is consult a New Jersey medical malpractice as soon as possible. Our team can help you sort through all of the legal requirements and determine the best course of action. We charge nothing for a consultation and absolutely no fees unless we attain compensation for you and your family.
Medical Malpractice Compensation
If you want to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, you are likely wondering what types of damages you can be compensated for and if there is a limit on how much money you can win through a verdict or settlement. The limit on compensation or “damages” that can be obtained for medical malpractice is known as a “damages cap.” In order to answer these questions, you must first understand that there are two different types of damages in medical malpractice cases: compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are meant to compensate the plaintiff for injuries associated with medical negligence. This form of damages encompasses medical expenses, lost wages and future loss of income, pain and suffering, and in the case of wrongful death, funeral expenses and loss of consortium (relationship) with the person who has died. There is no limit on compensatory damages in New Jersey medical malpractice cases. In other words, there is no damages cap on what a victim can receive for their injuries.
Punitive damages are a distinct form of punishment levied against the defendant for egregious conduct, extreme recklessness, or intentional harm caused. This type of damages award is more rare. Under New Jersey law, the cap on punitive damages is $350,000 or five times the amount of compensatory damages awarded, whichever amount is higher.
Speak with a NJ Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
When medical errors cause you harm, it can feel as though you are left to suffer the consequences of someone else’s mistake. You don’t need to deal with the negative effects of your injuries on your own. Regardless of the circumstances of your case, if medical malpractice contributed to your injuries, you are entitled to seek compensation for medical costs, loss of income, rehabilitative care, necessary future accommodations, and pain and suffering.
Our medical malpractice lawyers at Fronzuto Law Group can assist with your medical malpractice claim from the moment you walk in the door or consult with us by phone. We can assess whether you have a case by asking the right questions about your circumstances. Then, we can investigate your case further if it is likely that you have grounds for a lawsuit. When we take your case, we obtain all of the relevant medical records, review them, and consult with a qualified medical expert for further review. A medical expert’s determination of medical malpractice is required to file a lawsuit in a medical malpractice action in New Jersey. You will need the right medical expert to write a thorough report and testify to establish malpractice if the case goes to trial.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may be able to negotiate a settlement with the doctor’s or hospital’s insurer and avoid a trial. If a settlement is not possible, our attorneys will prepare your case to win at trial, conducting discovery, including taking depositions of people involved in your care, such as your doctor. Gathering all of the evidence to support your claim is a lengthy and laborious process but is necessary to get the compensation you deserve for injuries caused by medical malpractice. Our legal team is fully equipped to navigate every aspect of the investigation, negotiation, and litigation of your case, as this has been the sole focus of our law firm for decades.
