Imagine being hurt in a situation when you’re supposed to trust the person who is negligent. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you think in cases involving medical malpractice, and doctors are often the responsible party.
However, many people fail to take any kind of legal action after the damages simply because they are unaware of their rights to do so. They don’t know that they can sue for medical malpractice. This is why it’s so important to understand the different legal matters associated with this type of case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
In Illinois, the statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases is two years from the date the injured party discovered the injury was the result of malpractice. This deadline doesn’t begin until the actual cause of medical negligence is discovered.
In some situations, the injury may not be immediately apparent either. For these situations when malpractice causes harm and the damages are not known right away, the plaintiff has no more than four years following the date of the error to file a lawsuit against the negligent party.
One other specific area of the Illinois statute states that when the error occurs to a plaintiff under the age of 18 at the time of the injury, the individual must file a medical malpractice lawsuit must be filed within eight years of the date the error occurred. However, no legal action may be taken beyond the 22nd birthday of the injured person.
Knowing What to Expect
One of the most important things you should know about filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is that you may be met with contention from the hospital or doctor’s insurance company and legal team. These professionals are determined to limit liability so they can pay out the minimum for the injuries you have sustained.
They often try to devalue the claim of the injured party or remove blame from themselves completely. When this happens, you need to ensure that you are properly represented by someone who knows how to combat these claims.
Our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys at Beam Legal Team are here for you. We work hard and go the extra mile to protect your rights throughout the entire process so you can feel peace of mind every step of the way.
Call us today at (866) 404-5221 to discover what rights you have.