Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Medical Malpractice Lawyers

If you are struggling with an injury caused by the negligence of a health care professional, it can be difficult to obtain the right medical treatment and fight for the damages you deserve. If you’re looking for the best medical malpractice attorney Mount Vernon and surrounding areas, we can help! The dedicated Mount Vernon lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. are here to ease your burden and fight for justice on the plaintiff’s behalf through tough negotiations and a medical malpractice lawsuit if necessary!

Our expert Mount Vernon malpractice lawyers handle each step of the pre-trial and trial process from interviewing and retaining expert witnesses, to filing the complaint and pre-trial litigation. If you’re looking for a medical negligence lawyer, birth injury lawyer, prescription drug error lawyer, failure to diagnose lawyer, or hospital injury lawyer; you have come to the right place.

We offer FREE case evaluations, home and hospital visits and no attorney fees unless you recover damages. Contact the most experienced lawyer Mount Vernon has to offer today!

Experience Matters for Medical Malpractice

Michael Tario opened the prominent Bellingham law firm Tario & Associates, P.S. in 1979, followed by the Mount Vernon office in 1988. Over the years the personal injury attorneys at the firm have helped thousands of injured parties in Mount Vernon and throughout Skagit County to receive fair compensation and just treatment for their injuries. At Tario & Associates, P.S. we advocate for victims who were injured or died as a result of negligence by doctors and other medical and healthcare providers.

Malpractice cases raise complicated medical and scientific questions that require experience and expertise. We can help you identify if a mistake was made and whether someone should be held accountable. Over the past four plus decades our law firm has evaluated hundreds of cases involving medical malpractice and healthcare negligence issues including mis-diagnosis, medication errors, birth injuries, surgical negligence, failure to treat and more.

If you need help with a medical malpractice claim, you can count on our law firm. Reviews from some of Tario & Associates, P.S. satisfied medical malpractice clients:

I went to see Michael about a medical malpractice issue that involved the death of my father, Michael was very knowledgeable and responsive to the case. He and his staff were always available and worked diligently to help resolve my case. I would highly recommend Michael to anyone needing a lawyer and advocate for your rights. – Terry

 

After my husband’s sudden and unexpected death from an illness that was not diagnosed until autopsy, Mr. Tario assisted me by arranging for medical-legal review of my husband’s medical records to see if his illness should have been diagnosed and treated while he was living. As a physician myself, I had a good understanding of what needed to be done. Mr. Tario not only got the job done efficiently and professionally, but with compassion and respect. I would not hesitate to consult him again if I ever need legal assistance for any matter. – Cheryl

Including:

  • Surgical or procedural errors
  • Birth injuries
  • Misdiagnosis/delayed diagnosis
  • Failure to treat
  • Failure to obtain informed consent
  • Failure to communicate test results
  • Prescription drug errors
  • Improper treatment
  • Failure to order appropriate tests
  • Sexual misconduct

How do I know whether I should pursue a medical malpractice claim?

We believe your well being and the well being of your family and loved ones is more important than money or legal action. However, if you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered an injury or harm from a medical or healthcare provider’s mistake, you should seek the opinion of a qualified malpractice attorney to determine if medical negligence has occurred and whether or not a claim should be brought to pursue damages.

Do I really need to hire an attorney or should I handle my own medical malpractice claim?

To determine whether or not you have a viable malpractice claim it is often necessary to hire an outside and independent medical expert to evaluate your case. Tario & Associates, P.S. has vast experience working with various independent and outside medical experts who may be retained in the investigation and evaluation of your claim.

Additionally, it is common for a lawyer to obtain a settlement five to twenty times the amount a person would receive by fighting on their own.

How much do I have to pay to pursue a claim?

There are no upfront costs or fees paid by our clients to pursue a medical malpractice claim as we provide representation on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. While you will not incur any attorney fees if you do not win your case, Washington law requires clients to reimburse the law firm for out-of-pocket expenses.

Our firm advances out-of-pocket costs for our malpractice clients and does not require our clients to pay any of these costs up front. When cases are concluded with a monetary recovery, our firm is repaid for the out-of-pocket costs we have advanced with a percentage of the settlement.

How do I know if my injury was caused by medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice covers a range of negligent behavior by medical professionals. To be classified as medical malpractice the action or inaction taken by the health care provider must depart from accepted standards of care and directly cause harm to the patient. Some examples of medical malpractice include surgical errors, failure to treat, misdiagnosis, prescription drug errors and failure to order tests. A free consultation with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer is the best way to determine whether your injury was caused by negligent care.

What does the plaintiff have to prove to recover damages in a medical malpractice claim?

Generally, there are four burdens of proof in Medical malpractice claims:

  • That a duty of care existed through the existence of a doctor-patient relationship
  • The duty was breached through negligent care
  • The medical provider’s negligence was the direct or approximate cause of the harm or injury to the patient
  • That actual damages were suffered such as medical bills, disability, and lost wages

I believe I have a case for medical malpractice; do I need a medical malpractice lawyer?

It is not a good idea to try and handle a medical malpractice case on your own. Medical malpractice cases are very complicated and come with time consuming work to gather the evidence required to negotiate a settlement or jury award. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer will know the laws in your state and have contacts with medical experts who can identify whether a duty of care was breached and if that breach led to injuries and damages. The medical malpractice attorney and their legal team will gather relevant documents, interview and retain expert witnesses as needed, and handle pre-trial litigation and the trial (if necessary). 

Most medical malpractice lawyers take on malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that clients do not pay any out-of-pocket expenses.

How long do medical malpractice cases take?

Because of the complexity of medical malpractice cases, they often take longer to resolve than other types of personal injury lawsuits. The length of each case varies, however; most medical malpractice cases are resolved through settlement before a formal lawsuit is filed, many cases are settled during pre-trial litigation, and some go to trial. It is not uncommon for a medical malpractice lawsuit to take two to three years to resolve.

What will it cost me to hire a medical malpractice attorney?

Most personal injury law firms take medical malpractice cases on a contingency basis, which means that the client is represented without any up-front fees. An arrangement is made so the attorney will receive a percentage of any damages awarded to the client whether through a negotiated settlement or jury award. Ask your attorney for the specific percentage that will be subtracted for payment of attorney fees.

How much is my medical malpractice case worth?

Each case will be worth a different amount depending on the severity of the injuries and corresponding medical expenses, etc.; a medical malpractice lawyer will assess your situation and identify a monetary range for damages. The average payment or settlement amount per claim is around $600,000 but there are settlements that are well over $1 million.

Medical malpractice damages will generally cover economic damages such as medical expenses, lost wages and any past, present or future financial losses that you have incurred or will incur as a result of negligent medical care. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and/or companionship. While there is no cap on damages in Washington State, punitive damages are only allowed in cases with certain statutory exceptions.

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