How the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Has Affected Medical Malpractice Cases
According to doctors and hospitals, obtaining liability coverage is an extremely difficult thing to do in regards to availability and cost, with cost being the biggest hurdle. In fact, a recent study on the subject in the Keystone State concluded that in Pennsylvania, a “crisis of affordability” is causing some medical professionals to leave the state and look for states that have a greater number of providers and more reasonable insurance rates. High-risk specialists, in particular, are having the hardest time.
In light of this, in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court made a decision that has come under fire and has stirred up controversy. For victims of medical malpractice, though, the decision of Pennsylvania’s highest court is a big win.
If medical errors caused your harm, you might be the victim of medical malpractice. It is important to protect your rights to compensation when you suffer from a negligent medical provider or hospital system. To have your case evaluated, you are welcome to meet with a Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney at Monaco Law PC. Attorney Monaco also provides legal services to medical malpractice victims in New Jersey.
The Impact of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Decision on Medical Malpractice Cases
The PA Supreme Court’s decision has changed the rules on how a victim of medical malpractice can file a suit, and for victims, this is good news. Prior to the decision, a plaintiff would have to file their suit in the county where they were harmed. This is not exactly fair for victims because the success rate with a suit and the amount a plaintiff can be awarded varies widely by county.
For example, some counties tend to side with plaintiffs more so than others. As a result, victims harmed in these counties would often have more success with their suits and be granted larger awards than plaintiffs in counties that are less friendly to medical malpractice victims. Philadelphia is an area of the state where medical malpractice victims tend to obtain some of the highest financial awards for their damages.
The Supreme Court has decided that now, plaintiffs can file their suit in any county where the hospital or physician conducts business regardless of where they were harmed. This means that a victim of medical malpractice can choose the county of their preference to have their case heard.
Medical malpractice suits are notoriously hard to win, and the data shows that when they go to court, the majority are decided in favor of the medical provider. The high court’s decision doesn’t make the legal process any easier, but it does give plaintiffs a better chance at getting the compensation they deserve.
Speak to a New Jersey and Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
Call our experienced South Jersey personal injury lawyer at Monaco Law PC at (609) 277-3166 for our New Jersey office and (215) 546-3166 for our office in Pennsylvania to discuss your medical malpractice case today.
We are a New Jersey and Pennsylvania medical malpractice law firm serving Atlantic County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Ocean County, Salem County, and all of South Jersey.
Source:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470573/
