Bronx Emergency Room Error Attorneys

Emergency Room Errors in New York City

A recent report from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that medical errors with severe outcomes were most likely to occur in emergency departments, intensive care units, and operating rooms. Most often, these errors occur not because of the singular carelessness or recklessness of individuals but due to systemic problems, faulty processes, and unsafe conditions. In emergency rooms, the consequences of a medical mistake can be catastrophic or even deadly.

If you were injured or if someone you love passed away due to medical malpractice in an emergency room, intensive care unit, or similar department, turn to our team at Wolf & Fuhrman LLP. Since 1991, we have been standing up for the rights of patients who have suffered serious harm due to hospital negligence, medication mistakes, misdiagnosis, and other medical errors. Our Bronx emergency room error attorneys strive to serve as a voice for the voiceless, fighting back against systemic racism in the medical system that disproportionately negatively affects people of color, and seeking the justice our clients deserve.

Call (718) 717-1191 or contact us online for a free consultation. You can also visit our office in the Bronx, no appointment needed! Hablamos español.

WHAT IS EMERGENCY ROOM NEGLIGENCE?

Emergency room negligence refers to preventable medical errors occurring in emergency departments. Like other medical professionals, emergency room doctors and staff are held to a certain standard of care. However, the standard of care to which emergency room personnel is slightly more forgiving to doctors, nurses, and other medical providers. This is because emergency rooms are high-stress environments where doctors must make fast decisions regarding patients’ care.

However, just like when you visit any other doctor, whether it’s your primary care physician or your dentist, you deserve to be treated properly and receive a high level of care when you visit the emergency room. Because patients visiting emergency rooms are often experiencing serious, life-threatening medical conditions, the difference between acceptable and substandard care could be a matter of life and death.

To prove an emergency room malpractice case, you will need to prove the following:

  • Duty of Care: First, you must establish that the emergency room/emergency room personnel had a duty of care to you, meaning they had a legal responsibility to treat you. In most cases, proving that you sought treatment at the emergency room is sufficient in proving a duty of care.
  • Breach: You must next prove that the doctor/hospital/nurse breached the duty of care, meaning they failed to provide you with a level of care one could reasonably expect from a similarly qualified emergency department/staff member in the same or similar circumstances.
  • Injury: To have a case, you must also prove that you were injured. Even if the emergency room or emergency room staff was blatantly negligent or made a serious error, you only have a case if you were injured and/or suffered damages as a result of that error.
  • Causation: Lastly, you must prove that the emergency room/emergency room staff’s negligence or error was the cause of your injuries/damages. In other words, you must prove that your injuries were not caused by your condition or any other factor than the defendant’s negligence.

It should also be noted, however, that the law recognizes the immense stress and pressure emergency room doctors and staff are under. As a result, it can be very difficult to prove an emergency room negligence case without the help of an experienced attorney, like those at Wolf & Fuhrman LLP. It is not enough to prove that you or your loved one’s condition did not improve after going to the emergency room; instead, you must prove that the medical professionals there failed to provide you with an acceptable level of care.

Common Emergency Room Errors

Some of the most common emergency room errors include:

  • Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health conditions
  • Failure to diagnose a heart attack, stroke, and other serious health conditions
  • Delayed treatment or failure to treat
  • Early discharge or sending a patient home without treatment
  • Triage errors, or prioritizing patients’ treatment incorrectly
  • Failure to obtain a patient’s medical history information, such as medication allergies
  • Failure to order/conduct tests at all or in a timely manner
  • Misreading or improper analysis of test results
  • Medication errors, such as under-dosing, overdosing, or administering the wrong medication
  • Failure to inform patients of test results/lab findings
  • Failure to provide patients with adequate aftercare and/or instructions

These and other emergency room errors can have devastating or even deadly consequences. Victims often suffer catastrophic injuries or severely worsened conditions, and many become victims of wrongful death due to emergency department negligence.

Can You Sue for Being Misdiagnosed in an Emergency Room?

If you or your loved one was misdiagnosed in an emergency room, leading to serious injury or death, you could have grounds for a lawsuit. Approximately 12 million adults in the U.S., or 1 in 20, are misdiagnosed every year, and a large percentage of those misdiagnoses occur in emergency departments. Some studies have found the rate of emergency room misdiagnosis to be much higher, affecting as many as 1 in 9 patients. More alarming still, misdiagnosis in emergency departments is associated with longer hospital stays and a greater risk of death.

One of the most common emergency room misdiagnoses involves patients who seek care due to heart attack or stroke symptoms, only to be sent home without proper testing or treatment. Once patients return home, they can experience the devastating effects of an untreated heart attack or stroke, including death.

Misdiagnosis of heart attack is much higher in women than in men, as well as in Black patients, Hispanic patients, and other patients of color. Black women and other women of color have the highest risk of heart attack misdiagnosis and are least likely to receive aggressive treatment for heart attack symptoms. Much of this is due to systemic sexism and racism in the U.S. healthcare system. Women are also more likely to present atypical heart attack symptoms, meaning their symptoms are less likely to be recognized as indicative of a heart attack.

Every patient who visits the emergency room for any reason deserves proper treatment. If you suffered a serious medical condition or injury, or if your loved one tragically passed away due to an emergency room diagnostic error, reach out to our emergency room error attorneys in the Bronx. We can help you understand your rights and legal options, including the right to file a lawsuit against the liable party.

Contact us today at (718) 717-1191 to schedule a complimentary consultation or simply visit our office to speak to a member of our team. Our doors are always open.

Our Recent Case Results

  • Brain Damage $9 Million
  • Botched Surgery $8 Million
  • Birth Injury $7 Million
  • Malpractice $6.1 Million
  • Medical Malpractice $6 Million
  • Medical Malpractice $5.1 Million
  • Stroke $5 Million
  • Birth injury $4.4 Million
  • Medical Malpractice $4.3 Million
  • Medical Malpractice $3.8 Million

Hear What People Say About Us

  • “Eliot Wolf guided us with the utmost case, knowledge and expertise every step of the way!”

    - C.S.
  • “Wolf & Fuhrman handled a family personal injury case with professionalism and great care to detail. They were friendly, smart and made us feel comfortable during a difficult time.”

    - Alan Anczelowicz
  • “I am very pleased with the support and assistance from Mr. Wolf and his team. They go above and beyond to assist their clients.”

    - Mr. and Mrs. A.
  • “I want to thank Eliot and his team for a job well done. Eliot was very successful in our case, but more importantly he was always available for my family if we had questions or concern.”

    - Luis
  • “I strongly recommend Marvin for his highly ethical and professional representation of clients in cases involving personal injury, accidents and wrongful death.”

    - Former Client

We Care About Our Clients

What Sets Our Firm Apart
  • Over 65 Years of Combined Experience
  • We Prepare Every Case for Trial to Maximize Recovery for Our Clients
  • Personalized Attention From Beginning to End
  • Helping and Supporting the Bronx Community

How Wolf & Fuhrman LLP Can Help

Emergency room errors tend to have some of the most severe consequences of all medical mistakes. At Wolf & Fuhrman LLP, we understand how important it is that you receive the full and just compensation you are owed so that you can obtain proper medical care, manage your bills while out of work, and navigate the healing process. We strive to maximize our clients’ settlements/verdicts, allowing them to focus on their physical recovery while we handle every detail of their claims.

There is no case too big or too complex for our Bronx emergency room error attorneys. With a background in medicine and medical malpractice litigation (both plaintiff and defense), our team truly understands the medical and legal systems, and we are ready to aggressively advocate for you and your rights. There are no upfront fees when you hire our firm; instead, we only collect legal fees if/when we recover compensation for you.

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