Yakima Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Suffering long term injury, disability, or the loss of a loved one due to medical negligence can completely devastate victims and families. When healthcare professionals fail to meet reasonable standards of care and harm patients, those affected have legal rights in Washington. If you or someone you love experienced medical malpractice in the Yakima area, a knowledgeable lawyer can help you pursue justice.

The experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Moseley Collins Law have provided exceptional representation exclusively for victims of negligence for over 40 years. We have the skills and tenacity to take on even major healthcare networks and their insurance companies in pursuit of maximum compensation for catastrophic patient harms. Securing accountability and fair remedies allows those grappling with trauma, disability and grief to cover costs, access optimal treatment, and restore some stability.

This page provides an overview of key information related to medical negligence claims in the Yakima region. We'll discuss elements required to prove malpractice, types of common errors that cause devastating injury, steps expert lawyers take when investigating cases, damages victims may recover and reasons families trust us to handle these sensitive cases. If you have questions after suffering any form of medical harm in the Yakima vicinity, please reach out for a free consultation.

Examples of Medical Facilities Serving Yakima County

Below we have compiled contact information for major hospitals and specialty medical facilities providing care throughout the greater Yakima metropolitan region:

Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital - This downtown Yakima hospital offers emergency medicine, cancer care, heart and vascular treatment, orthopedics, stroke care and more serving central Washington.

Astria Regional Medical Center - Full service hospital providing heart care, cancer treatment, behavioral health services, surgery, and birth center.

Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health - Outpatient mental health clinic with locations across Yakima, Kittitas, and Klickitat counties treating addiction, trauma, depression and more.

Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic - This network of community health centers provides family medicine, pediatrics, dental care, behavioral therapy, substance abuse treatment and more.

Virginia Mason Yakima Medical Center - Part of the Virginia Mason system, this outpatient specialty clinic offers primary care, lab services, diagnostic imaging and specialty services.

How Medical Malpractice Lawyers Prove Negligence Occurred

How Medical Malpractice Lawyers Prove Negligence Occurred

Successfully pursuing compensation after medical errors requires demonstrating certain key legal elements. According to Washington medical malpractice law, injured victims must show:

  • Duty of Care: Healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, techs, hospitals, etc.) owe patients an established “standard of care” depending on presenting symptoms and conditions.
  • Breach of Duty: The medical provider failed to meet the appropriate standard through acts like misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes, lack of monitoring, ignoring symptoms, etc.
  • Causation: The plaintiff must tie together how the provider’s breach directly caused new injury or worsened existing conditions.
  • Damages: Quantifiable past and future economic and non-economic losses stemming from the negligence.

Gathering convincing evidence and expert testimony to prove each element can pose challenges without litigation experience. Moseley Collins Law works closely with independent specialist physicians to demonstrate clearly how providers breached duties through substandard treatment choices, and directly caused patients’ disabilities and losses warranting damages. Successfully holding health networks accountable takes strategic preparation and persistence.

Common Categories of Medical Negligence We See

While no medical professionals intend harm, serious errors violating standards of care still occur far too frequently resulting in dire consequences for unsuspecting patients. Some of the types of medical malpractice cases we see causing catastrophic injury or death include:

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis
  • Delayed testing to detect cancers, infections, blood clots, aneurysms early
  • Misreading lab results, biopsy samples, imaging scans
  • Releasing patients without adequate follow up
Surgical Mistakes
  • Operating on the wrong body part
  • Leaving foreign objects inside patients after procedures
  • Cutting or puncturing healthy organs and tissues
  • Allowing surgical site bleeding or infections
Emergency Room Errors
  • Failure to promptly recognize urgent heart attacks, strokes, injuries
  • Discharging patients too quickly without stabilizing acute conditions
  • Administering harmful medications contraindicated by symptoms
Childbirth Injuries
  • Negligence leading to oxygen deprivation, facial paralysis, cerebral palsy
  • Improper use of birthing instruments causing nerve damage
  • Failure to perform emergency C-section when clearly warranted
Medication Errors
  • Administering or prescribing the wrong drugs or dosages
  • Pharmacy dispensing mistakes
  • Combining contraindicated medicines
  • Lack of warnings about potential adverse reactions and side effects
Preventable Infections
  • Sepsis
  • MRSA
  • Surgical site infections
  • Respiratory illnesses

No matter what type of medical error occurs, our Yakima medical malpractice lawyers can thoroughly investigate events, provide evidence of negligence, demonstrate resulting damages, and ultimately help victims pursue maximum compensation through settlement or litigation. We handle a wide variety of complex cases.

Serving Yakima County Towns and Cities

In addition to Yakima, Moseley Collins Law represents victims of medical negligence throughout Yakima County cities and towns relying on regional hospitals and clinics, including:

  • Union Gap
  • Selah
  • Naches
  • Tieton
  • Moxee
  • Zillah
  • Toppenish
  • Wapato
  • Harrah

The accomplished medical malpractice lawyers at Moseley Collins Law offer distinguished legal representation to clients harmed by healthcare negligence throughout facilities serving Yakima County. We have the expertise and resources to take on even the largest regional hospitals and medical systems to fight for patient rights.

Frequent Types of Medical Errors Resulting in Malpractice Suits

While no outcome can reverse the damage wrought by incompetence, securing some accountability and compensation facilitates moving forward positively. Some examples of the types of medical errors we have seen prompt lawsuits in Yakima regional hospitals and clinics when negligence results in grave patient harm include:

Medication Errors - Getting the wrong medication or dosage leads to organ failure, disability or accidental overdoses. Poor pharmacy labeling, failing to spot dangerous drug interactions, ignoring patient allergies and not communicating side effects all constitute failures in proper standards of care.

Surgical Mistakes - Even experienced surgeons make inexcusable mistakes sometimes like leaving sponges or instruments inside patients after closure, operating on the wrong limb or organ, uncontrolled bleeding, and accidental organ perforation.

Misdiagnosis of Emergencies - Failure to recognize symptoms of heart attacks, appendicitis, strokes, fractures, ectopic pregnancies, etc. along with delays ordering proper imaging tests constitutes breach of emergency medicine standards.

Anesthesia Errors - Improper administration of anesthesia or failing to monitor patients during surgery can quickly lead to brain damage or death from reduced oxygen.

Preventable Infections - When unsterile conditions, contamination, lack of hand washing, or contact with infectious bodily fluids causes transmissible illnesses, hospitals breach safety protocols.

Childbirth Injuries - Preventable harm during labor and delivery causing infant disabilities like cerebral palsy, facial paralysis or nerve damage violates obstetric standards of care.

The experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Moseley Collins Law can evaluate failures in any healthcare setting leading to avoidable patient harm in the Yakima region, gather convincing evidence of negligence, and ultimately help victims pursue fair remedies. Successful litigation takes extensive expertise and resources, which our firm offers clients.

Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims in WA

Elements of Compensation Available in Medical Negligence Cases

Monetary remedies available through successful Washington medical malpractice lawsuits account for both tangible economic losses and harder-to-quantify “non-economic” damages like pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment directly tied to declines in quality of life stemming from incompetence.

Economic Damages
  • Past and future medical costs
  • Lost past and future income
  • Loss of household services patients can no longer perform
  • Out of pocket expenses related to disability
Non-Economic Damages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment participating in activities
  • Disability / disfigurement
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of companionship for family members (in wrongful death cases)

The accomplished Yakima medical malpractice lawyers at Moseley Collins Law take an aggressive approach negotiating fair compensation from negligent hospitals, physicians groups, pharmacies and individual practitioners. Our goal is alleviating financial burdens to improve clients’ quality of life after preventable medical harm. We fight vigorously like members of our own family endured needless suffering.

Why Victims & Families Trust Us To Handle Medical Malpractice Cases

Successfully resolving medical negligence cases requires compassion, attention to detail, intricate understanding of protocols and standards, willingness to fight formidable opponents, and legal experience understanding complex personal injury claims. Moseley Collins Law stands ready to provide exceptional supportive guidance. If someone you love suffered harm due to provider negligence in Yakima hospitals or clinics, families frequently select us because:

  • 40+ Years of Malpractice Litigation Expertise - Since the 1980’s assisting injured victims and grieving families nationwide
  • Proven Track Record Recovering Millions - History of results compensating clients after health organizations’ failures
  • Compassionate Support - Treating clients like members of our own families during traumatic legal processes
  • Aggressive & Ethical Approach - Combative stance within proper legal boundaries against institutional denial and evasion
  • No Legal Fees Unless Successful - We only get paid if compensation secured for clients

The decision to pursue accountability and damages against practitioners, physicians groups or major hospital networks requires careful consideration of legal options. Moseley Collins Law proudly serves injury victims and grieving loved ones by consulting directly with them during free initial case evaluations in order to explain their rights thoroughly when signing agreements formally retaining our services. There are no obligations incurred through merely discussing what occurred during transparent conversations assessing potential pathways forward.

What Happens After Reviewing Your Potential Case?

During initial no-obligation consultations, Moseley Collins Law medical malpractice lawyers closely examine all pertinent records and details surrounding clients’ adverse healthcare events to determine appropriate next actions. Open discussions provide opportunity to ask questions and gain understanding of options ahead, which may include:

Formally Retaining Our Firm - If grounds clearly exist showing provider negligence more likely than not directly caused your catastrophic injury or loved one's death, we recommend officially retaining us to commence filing a strong claim.

Referring You to Another Firm - Alternatively, if we determine another firm possesses specialized expertise better equipped to handle the unique circumstances in your case, we gladly provide referrals to trusted colleagues we believe will serve you well.

Declining Representation - As patient advocates first, our ethical principles dictate that if insufficient evidence exists proving likely malpractice occurred, we cannot proceed with filing a fruitless lawsuit merely to extract legal fees.

Advising You Have No Case - In rare cases after very thorough reviews, we must regretfully convey that facts demonstrate your case does not reasonably show medical negligence causing the injury or death. This very difficult news gets delivered gently with empathy.

Regardless whether we ultimately accept representation, our goal is providing caring, honest guidance so those touched by medical negligence understand all options. Please contact us online or call (800) 426-5546 anytime to schedule a free consultation. We take these matters extremely seriously on victims' behalf.

What are common medical errors that lead to malpractice cases in Yakima hospitals and clinics?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What are common medical errors that lead to malpractice cases in Yakima hospitals and clinics?

Some prevalent medical mistakes warranting malpractice claims in Yakima healthcare facilities include surgical errors, delivery room errors harming infants, failure to accurately diagnose conditions like cancer or heart disease, pharmacy prescription mix-ups, lack of post-surgical follow up, and many other negligent acts.

Does it cost money to hire a Yakima medical malpractice lawyer?

Many reputable medical malpractice lawyers represent clients on a contingency fee basis meaning no money comes from the client's pocket upfront towards legal fees or expenses. Lawyers only get paid if they recover financial compensation through case settlements or court awards.

What types of damages might a Yakima malpractice settlement include?

Depending on case specifics, settlements provide coverage for medical costs, lost wages, diminished future earning capacity, rehabilitation, costs for long term care like assistants or equipment, and even non-economic damages for pain, changes in quality of life, disability or disfigurement stemming from incompetence.

What happens if the statute of limitations passes before contacting a Yakima lawyer?

Washington medical malpractice cases must adhere to strict legal deadlines for taking action, known as the statutes of limitations. Unfortunately victims forfeit their rights permanently if failing to commence cases in time. This makes consulting with qualified lawyers immediately vital. Timeliness provides the opportunity to fully evaluate your options.

Why should I choose a local Yakima firm familiar with regional hospitals?

One major advantage utilizing lawyers intimately familiar with Yakima hospitals and clinics includes deeper insight into the typical procedures performed locally to better recognize deviations from proper standards. Established relationships facilitating consultations with medical experts also prove advantageous along with improved awareness of juror tendencies helping shape legal arguments.

Client Reviews
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"When I was injured I felt truly hopeless. I didn't know where to turn when I was released from the hospital. Luckily, I remembered your phone number and I called you. You won a nice settlement for me. Thank you!" Charles T.
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"May God bless you always, Moseley and your wonderful staff. You all were there for us when we needed it most. We are forever grateful." Tina N.
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