Las Vegas Medication Error Attorneys
Holding Medical Providers Accountable for Serious Mistakes
Were you staying in the hospital when a medical provider mixed up your medication, resulting in your injury? Did a pharmacist give you the wrong dosage, giving you an unsafe reaction to your prescription? Did your doctor not check your history before prescribing a potentially dangerous medication to you? If you’ve been in any of these situations or a similar one, you might have been hurt by a medication error that would justify a medical malpractice claim or lawsuit in response.
Talk to a Las Vegas medication error lawyer from Burris & Thomas, LLC today. Our legal team can help you explore your legal options after a medication mistake led to your serious or life-changing injury.
You should pick Burris & Thomas, LLC first for your case because:
- We have 45+ years of medical injury case experience.
- We have attorneys who are honored by Super Lawyers® and Martindale-Hubbell®.
- We have earned a long list of happy client testimonials.
- We have won millions of dollars in settlements and awards for our clients.
Call us at (702) 529-3101 to get a free consultation with our Las Vegas medication error attorneys.
Different Types of Medication Errors
Medication errors typically occur when a medical provider makes a preventable mistake that compromises patient safety. A medication error can occur when a medication is first prescribed, when it is dispensed, when it is administered, and even after administration. Furthermore, medication errors can happen anywhere that medical professionals do not give enough attention to medication-related processes, including in hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
Different types of medication errors that often lead to patient injuries include:
- Incorrect dosage administration, either too high or too low
- Dispensing the wrong medication to a patient
- Mislabeling of medication bottles or packaging
- Prescribing errors, including contraindicated medications
- Failing to consider potential drug interactions
- Omitting doses or providing medication at the wrong time
Are Medication Errors Dangerous?
All medication errors have the potential to be dangerous because every patient can react to a medication uniquely. When a medication error occurs, it can disrupt treatment plans, exacerbate existing health issues, and introduce new medical problems that require new medical treatments with their own risks of complications. The serious risks caused by medication errors should be mitigated by medical care protocols and the vigilance of healthcare professionals. Lapses in protocols and attentiveness could be grounds for legal action if a dangerous medical error is the result.
Injuries and health conditions that could be caused by a medical error include the following and more:
- Allergic reactions including life-threatening anaphylaxis
- Overdose, leading to blood toxicity and potential organ failure
- Under-dosing, resulting in ineffective treatment and disease progression
- Drug interactions that may cause unexpected adverse effects
- Delays in receiving the correct treatment, worsening the patient's condition
- Long-term health complications, such as damage to organs or chronic conditions
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 702-529-3101 today!
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How much is my case worth?
There are many factors that go into evaluating the settlement value of a personal injury case. It is not a simple matter of applying a formula. Typically, everyone thinks that their case is “simple” and “clear-cut”. Everyone tends to think that the amount of money they are seeking is “fair and reasonable”. That is human nature. However, the reality is that, in the end, a personal injury case is worth what a jury says it is worth. The job of the victim’s personal injury lawyer is to come up with a settlement that reflects the risk of going to trial (odds of winning vs. odds of losing), together with the range of what value a jury might actually return on the case.
In deciding settlement values, we need to consider the following:
- Is fault clear, or contested?
- Are the injuries severe or mild?
- Is there an issue with insurance coverage?
- Is the client a good communicator?
- Is the defendant/wrongdoer likable or unlikable?
Normally, I am able to give a very general estimate range of settlement value and odds soon after taking on a case, with the understanding that these are just estimates and not guarantees. The longer the case goes on, the more definite I can be about the settlement value range.
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Do I have a personal injury case?
It is often times said by attorneys that in order for there to be a viable personal injury case, there must be “three legs on the stool.” These legs are: liability (or fault); damages (or injury); and collectability (insurance). If any one of the “legs” is missing, then there is not a viable case.
- Liability - A clear example of liability would be someone running through a red light. That person would be at fault. On the other hand, let us say that somebody is hit by a meteorite falling from the sky, and seriously hurt. In that case, although there is injury, there is no earthly entity at fault.
- Damages - An example of damages would be someone getting hit in the nose by an airbag, which breaks their nose. That person has an injury caused by the collision. On the other hand, what if that same person is almost hit by a car running a red light, but by the grace of God is able to avoid the collision? That person might say “I was almost killed, but I didn’t get a scratch.” In that case, the person was not injured and there is no case.
- Collectability - To give an example of collectability, imagine that a drunk driver runs through a red light, and the driver is Donald Trump. In that case, if Donald Trump hit and injured someone when he ran the red light, the victim will be able to collect upon any judgment that they receive. Imagine, on the other hand, that the drunk driver is someone who just got out of prison, and has no insurance and no property. Although that person will probably go to jail, there is no practical way to collect money from him, as he is a “scofflaw” living outside responsibilities of society.
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What Is the Nevada Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases?
When it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit, it's important to pay attention to the statute of limitations for the state you're filing in. A statute of limitations is the time limit that a state puts on how long after your accident you are allowed to file a personal injury lawsuit. Statutes vary from state to state.
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e) (2016) states that individuals wishing to file a personal injury lawsuit must do so within 2 years of the date of their accident. However, there are certain exceptions that can be made depending on your circumstances. For example, if you have been injured as a result of medical malpractice, you generally only have 1 year to file your lawsuit after the date of your injury (Nevada Revised Statutes section 41A.097).
Statute of limitations can be complex, and if you fail to file your lawsuit within the allotted amount of time your case will most likely be dismissed. Don't put your compensation on the line! Contact our experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorneys today to schedule a free consultation and determine what your next steps should be.
