Five Surprising Medical Malpractice Statistics

By Greg Kohn
Partner

Medical malpractice laws protect individuals who have been injured or harmed through medical negligence or medical errors. Our New York medical malpractice attorneys help individuals file medical malpractice claims seeking compensation for their injuries, financial losses, and other damages. Sadly, thousands of people are injured or die because of medical malpractice each year.

Surprising Medical Malpractice Statistics and Facts That You Might Not Know

Below are five medical malpractice statistics and facts that might surprise you:

1. New York medical malpractice payouts are high.

According to one source, the payouts for medical malpractice claims in New York are the highest per capita medical malpractice payouts in the country. During 2017, the payments for medical malpractice claims totaled $617,973,000.

2. Misdiagnosis is the most common malpractice allegation payout.

According to 2017 figures, 34 percent of the payouts for medical malpractice were based on allegations of malpractice related to diagnosing issues. Surgery malpractice was the second-highest area of malpractice allegations with 22 percent of the payouts.

3. Medical errors are a leading cause of death.

A study by John Hopkins reveals that medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States. During 2017, death accounted for 30 percent of the medical malpractice payouts.

4. Most doctors face at least one medical malpractice claim.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that 99 percent of doctors would have at least one medical malpractice claim filed against them by the time they reached 65 years of age. You can check to see how many medical malpractice lawsuits and legal actions were taken against your doctor in New York by checking the New York State Physician Profile Web Site.

5. You might be the victim of medical errors, but not have a medical malpractice claim.

A legal requirement for a medical malpractice claim is that you were injured or harmed by the negligence or errors. If your medical provider committed an error or was negligent, but you were not harmed or injured, your medical malpractice claim could be denied. However, most people are injured or harmed because of medical errors. An attorney can review your claim and investigate the matter to determine if you have a valid medical malpractice claim.

What Can I Do If A Doctor Injures Me?

If you suspect that you might be the victim of medical negligence or medical errors, see a doctor as soon as possible to treat any injuries or harm as a result of the malpractice. You are not required to tell the new doctor that you suspect another doctor caused the injury. Keep copies of all medical records and statements received from your physicians and medical providers. Make detailed notes regarding what your physicians tell you regarding your illness or injury. 

As soon as possible, contact our New York medical malpractice lawyers to discuss your case. Our attorneys can help you take the next steps involved in filing a medical malpractice claim. 

Contact Our New York Personal Injury Attorney Now to Discuss Your Claim

Medical malpractice causes severe injuries, physical pain, emotional suffering, disabilities, and financial losses. If a medical provider caused your injury or illness, you might be entitled to substantial compensation. Schedule a consult with one of our New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys for a free case review. We want to help you recover the compensation you deserve after being injured or harmed because of medical negligence or medical errors.

About the Author
Greg Kohn is a partner at Nagel Rice and specializes in complex civil litigation cases, including professional malpractice, personal injury, class actions, wrongful death, products liability, and commercial litigation.  He has extensive experience representing clients in both state and federal court. Greg has tried many jury trials to verdict and has recovered over $50 million in settlements and verdicts in all types of personal injury matters including automobile accidents, wrongful death cases, slip and falls, and other catastrophic injury cases. Greg also handles medical malpractice cases, involving misdiagnoses, wrongful birth, and delayed cancer diagnosis. If you have questions regarding this article, you can contact Greg here.