phone icon

Syracuse Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Photograph of gavel and stethoscope

★★★★★

We absolutely can’t thank you enough.

Powers & Santola was so knowledgeable and caring. I was so very fortunate to find such a great law firm.

- John

Syracuse Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you visit a doctor for a routine checkup, or you pick up a prescription from your local pharmacy, or you schedule a routine surgery, you should never have to fear that you will sustain a life-threatening and permanent injury because of your healthcare provider’s negligence. Medical errors happen much too often in Syracuse and throughout New York State. In the last five years, Johns Hopkins Medicine reported that medical errors are still the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., and patients continue to suffer harm because of delayed diagnoses, medication errors, and surgical “never events” in operating rooms.

If you or someone you love got hurt because of a healthcare provider’s error, it is time to seek compensation and to hold that healthcare provider accountable. An experienced and compassionate Syracuse medical malpractice lawyer at Powers & Santola, LLP can help you with your case from start to finish.

What is a Medical Malpractice Claim in Syracuse?

A medical malpractice claim is a particular kind of lawsuit that a patient can file against a negligent healthcare provider. Sometimes medical malpractice claims are known as medical negligence claims since these cases arise out of a healthcare provider’s negligence. In most patient cases, a medical malpractice claim will be linked to a particular kind of medical error or medical mistake. Common types of medical errors include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Misdiagnosis, which results in a delayed diagnosis;
  • Medication error, which can include prescribing the wrong medicine for the condition, filling the wrong medicine on the prescription, or prescribing a medication that will have a harmful interaction with the patient’s current drug regimen;
  • Surgical error, which can involve operating on the wrong patient altogether, operating on the wrong body part (also known as wrong-site surgery), a negligent act during surgery, leaving a foreign object inside the patient’s body after a surgery, or a surgical infection that results from poor post-op care;
  • Birth injury, which can include any kind of negligence during childbirth that leads to a birth injury in the infant or an injury to the mother; or
  • Anesthesia error, which can involve giving the wrong amount of anesthesia during a surgical procedure.

Powers & Santola photograph

Source: Diederich Healthcare’s 2020 Medical Malpractice Payout Analysis

Elements of a Syracuse Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Generally speaking, in order to have a successful medical malpractice case, you will need to prove the following elements:

  • Duty of care: Healthcare provider owed the patient a duty of care, which is typically established through the existence of a doctor-patient relationship;
  • Breach of the duty of care: Healthcare provider breached the duty of care by acting in a negligent manner;
  • Causation: Healthcare provider’s breach of the duty of care caused the patient’s injury; and
  • Damages: Patient suffered damages as a result of the injury caused by the breach of the duty of care.

You should speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Syracuse about the specific facts of your case to ensure that you have a valid claim. While many injuries after a treatment or procedure are the result of malpractice, it is important to understand that some injuries result from risks inherent in the procedure and are not caused by the doctor’s mistake.

Liability for a Syracuse Medical Malpractice Injury

Many different parties may be liable in a medical malpractice case in Syracuse, including but not limited to: 

  • Physician;
  • Surgeon;
  • Anesthesiologist;
  • Nurse;
  • Nurse Practitioner;
  • Hospital or other facility;
  • Laboratory;
  • Lab tech;
  • Pharmacist; or
  • Dentist.

Timetable for a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Syracuse

New York law requires most medical malpractice lawsuits to be filed within two years and six months from the date of the medical negligence that caused the patient’s injuries. However, there are a couple of notable exceptions. In cases where a plaintiff did not discover a foreign object in the body until later on, or the patient is alleging a delayed cancer diagnosis, the patient may have two years and six months from the date she discovered or reasonably should have discovered the healthcare provider’s error.

Seek Advice from Our Syracuse Medical Malpractice Attorneys as Soon as Possible

When you have been harmed because of a healthcare provider’s mistake or negligence, it is critical to find out more about your options for seeking financial compensation. Whether you suffered a serious injury due to a medical mistake or you were irreparably harmed by a surgical error, one of our experienced Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers at Powers & Santola can help you to seek the compensation you need and deserve.

Contact Powers & Santola, LLP today to discuss your case with one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys. We have years of experience representing injured patients in upstate New York, and we are here to help you with your lawsuit.

Call Today! (518) 465-5995

Powers & Santola photograph

Source: Diederich Healthcare’s 2020 Medical Malpractice Payout Analysis

Other Practice Areas

Changing Lives for the Better

When someone injures you, your life gets turned upside down. Suddenly, you may face a ton of medical bills. You may be unable to work or help out around the home. Others may need to care for you around the clock. Nothing is the same.

view all practice areas arrow

Best Lawyers in America
Super Lawyers top 10
AVVO rating 10.0 superb
The National Trail Lawyers
Best Lawyers Best Law firms in 2023
Top Verdict and Settlement 2017
Multi-Millionaire Dollar Advocate Firm

location map
X