Man who lost leg receives $2.1 million medical malpractice award

An out-of-state man recently received an award for a medical malpractice suit filed after a hospital visit cost him his leg. The 28-year-old man received $2.1 million for both economic and non-economic losses he incurred as a result of the medical malpractice. When residents in Maryland are victims of medical malpractice, they are typically entitled to file medical malpractice suits against the negligent parties.

The man was involved in a 2012 motorcycle accident that caused him to suffer a fractured knee. He received treatment at a hospital, which involved undergoing surgery on his knee to repair it. Soon thereafter, he developed acute compartment syndrome. This occurs when muscles and tissues swell, which results in the muscle’s blood supply to be cut off — this typically ends with the death of the nerves in that area.

According to his claim, the attending nurses made notes of the fact that the man was experiencing this syndrome. However, they failed to notify the doctors of this. If his doctors been made aware, treatment could have reversed this damage. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and, instead, the man lost all feeling in his leg; it was later amputated as a result.

The man received an award of $1.3 million for compensation for the economic damages he incurred as a result of the medical negligence — this included making up for lost wages and past and future medical bills. The jury also awarded the man $1.5 million for non-economic damages he suffered as a result of the negligence. That amount, however, was halved in order to comply with Wisconsin’s cap of $750,000 for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. When Maryland residents suffer medical malpractice at the hands of medical professionals, they typically choose to consult with experienced personal injury attorneys. Their attorneys can best assess the validity of their claims and, additionally, offer legal advice and representation during all future legal proceedings.

Source: jsonline.com, “2 malpractice claims paid after surmounting legal hurdles“, Cary Spivak, Jan. 9, 2016