Ever been told your symptoms were “nothing serious”… turn out they actually were?
Unfortunately, this occurs more often than most people realize. Patients go into every appointment believing the diagnosis they receive will be accurate. Much too often it is not. When physicians make a mistake, lives are altered forever.
Here’s the harsh truth:
Delayed Diagnosis can impact more than just your health. It can take a toll on your finances as well. Overtime, unnecessary treatments, lost wages, and increasing bills can add up.
The good news?
You have choices. This article explains the true cost of a delayed diagnosis and how proper legal guidance can help lighten your load.
Let’s jump in…
What you’ll learn:
- Just How Common Are Diagnostic Errors?
- The True Cost Of A Delayed Diagnosis
- How Legal Support Helps You Recover
- What Compensation Might Look Like
Just How Common Are Diagnostic Errors?
Most people assume misdiagnosis is rare. It’s not.
Diagnostic errors have recently been deemed the leading cause of severe medical injury in America. Surpassing surgical errors. Surpassing medication errors. And the statistics are honestly mind blowing.
Johns Hopkins study revealed that almost 800,000 Americans annually die or suffer permanent disability due to an incorrect diagnosis from their doctor. Approximately 371,000 deaths and 424,000 patients suffered permanent disabilities such as brain damage, blindness, organ failure.
Think about that for a second.
That’s more injuries than are suffered in some years by automobile accidents. And frightening is that most of these accidents were preventable.
If you or a loved one have been injured in this manner, your first course of action is usually to consult with a competent Orange County medical malpractice attorney. You may have a wrongful delayed diagnosis lawsuit. Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are actually the number one reason people even file medical malpractice lawsuits to begin with. They account for nearly 32% of all lawsuits.
So if this happened to you, know this:
You are far from alone.
The True Cost Of A Delayed Diagnosis
Let’s discuss finances. Delayed diagnosis costs more money than most people realize.
Life changes when a serious disease like cancer is diagnosed late-stage. Treatments that could have been simple and straightforward become aggressive and complex. One procedure may turn into many. Expenses can quickly escalate.
Here’s what a delayed diagnosis can cost you:
- Higher medical bills — late-stage treatment is far more expensive than early treatment.
- Lost income — taking time off work can become substantial. If you are unable to perform your job, that lost income can be even greater.
- Long-term care — some injuries mean ongoing care for years, or even life.
- Emotional damage — pain and suffering simply can’t be quantified monetarily.
And here’s the kicker…
Hundreds of families across the country have been met with these expenses on top of grief and fear. It’s just too much to bear by yourself.
And this is where legal help can help you. It will not change what happened. What it can do is lift a massive burden from you by assisting you in getting your money back.
How Legal Support Helps You Recover
So how does a lawyer actually help? Here’s the breakdown.
Filing a delayed diagnosis lawsuit means you are NOT “suing a doctor”. You are taking back the financial burdens the mistake put on you and your family. A skilled lawyer does the heavy lifting, so you can concentrate on recovering.
Here’s what the right legal support does for you:
They Prove What Went Wrong
In order to prevail in a lawsuit, you must prove that the doctor breached the standard of care. Easy to say, hard to do.
You need medical records. Expert testimony. A timeline of events. A good attorney takes all of this and builds a case that cannot be argued.
Why should you care? Having convincing, indisputable proof of negligence is one of the largest predictors of a higher settlement.
They Handle The Insurance Companies
Insurance companies do this every day. You don’t.
They don’t want to pay you a dime. Without an advocate on your side, you’ll settle for a fraction of what your case is worth. An attorney understands the tricks and fights for you.
They Calculate The Full Cost
This is enormous. Most people only consider their out-of-pocket medical expenses. However, your case is worth substantially more than that.
A good attorney factors in:
- Future medical costs
- Lost future earnings
- The impact on your quality of life
That “full picture” approach makes a massive difference to what you actually recover.
What Compensation Might Look Like
Now for the question everyone asks…
How much is a delayed diagnosis case actually worth?
Truthfully? It depends. Every situation is unique. How badly were you hurt? How strong is your evidence? What state are you in? There is no magic equation.
That said, averages give a rough idea.
According to the National Practitioner Data Bank, recent national averages for medical malpractice settlements in the United States have ranged from $242,000 to $425,000, with amounts going to trial averaging nearly $1 million. However, awards for cancer malpractice can often be higher than this as the effects of delayed treatment from misdiagnosis can be catastrophic.
Remember though…
These are averages. Your situation may be worth more or less. Only way to know is to consult with a professional.
The takeaway?
Don’t speculate on your case value. And don’t think you can’t afford an attorney. Most medical malpractice lawyers will work on contingency. Nothing out of pocket until they win.
Wrapping It Up
Delayed diagnosis can completely disrupt your life. The impact to your health is one thing. But having to deal with the financial repercussions can be equally destructive.
Here’s the thing to remember:
You don’t have to face this burden by yourself. Legal resources are available for this purpose. They can help you recoup expenses, get the appropriate people held responsible and allow your family time to breathe.
To quickly recap:
- Diagnostic errors are shockingly common and often preventable
- A delayed diagnosis costs you far more than just medical bills
- The right attorney proves your case and handles the tough stuff
- Compensation depends on your situation, so get a professional review
If you’ve been through this, know that reaching out is the most important thing you can do. Figure out where you stand. You may be owed more than you think.
