Injuries sustained by chiropractor malpractice can be incredibly debilitating and may require further medical attention to correct. If you or a loved one has suffered injury due to the malpractice or medical mistake of a chiropractor, you may be entitled to claim significant monetary compensation for your damages. The most important element in filing a medical malpractice lawsuit for compensation is a skilled, experienced attorney. At the top-rated Normandie Law Firm, our qualified attorneys with experience in medical malpractice claims are committed to ensuring that our clients have all the resources necessary to fight for their case and claim the compensation they deserve. If you have any questions after reading this article, feel free to contact our top law offices for a free consultation.
Chiropractic Information
The medical study of chiropractic is relatively new, having started in 1895. Chiropractic is a complementary medicine that is based on the diagnosis and treatment of the misalignments of joints, especially those within the spinal column. These misalignments are often caused by other disorders that affect the nerves, muscles, and organs. Chiropractic is an entirely natural treatment, and, does not include the prescription of medicine or the use of surgical procedures.
Misalignments in the spine, often referred to as subluxations, can cause poor health or bodily function, even if the areas are far from the actual spine and spinal cord. These misalignments can also reduce the body’s natural ability to adapt to its environment. The slightest misalignment of the spine can adversely alter the regular transmission of nerve impulses, preventing that portion of the body from responding optimally.
Chiropractic treatment involves a spinal adjustment through the application of precise force to a specific part of the spinal segment. In most cases, this treatment corrects the misalignment, permitting normal nerve transmission and assisting the body to recuperate on its own. Listed below are some of the conditions that chiropractic procedures treat:
- Back sprains and strains: Sprains are caused when the ligaments become overstretched or torn. Strains involve the tension of a muscle or tendon. Either can be caused by lifting weight improperly, playing a physically demanding sport, or even during the every day bend or twist of the back. The pain is often characterized as aching, burning, stabbing, tingling, sharp, or dull.
- Cervicogenic Headaches: This injury is caused by neck pain. This headache is usually felt at the back of the head, in the temples, and/or behind the eyes. This can be mistaken as migraines or cluster headaches
- Coccydynia: This kind of pain develops in the tailbone. This can be caused by a falling injury or from riding a bike for a prolonged and regular period. Sometimes the pain begins without any known cause.
- Whiplash: often occurring from motor accidents, whiplash is a hyperflexion/hyperextension injury that can lead to severe neck sprain and/or neck strain.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Usually affecting older patients, this condition is caused by the breakdown of the invertebral discs in the back.
These are just some of the conditions that chiropractic medicine helps treat. While these ‘direct force’ procedures are less intrusive than the therapeutic or surgical procedures of traditional methods, medical malpractice and negligence can still occur. This chiropractic medical malpractice can lead to nerve damage and a worsening of the diagnosed condition. If this is ever the case, a patient can sue the chiropractor for the damages incurred by the patient. An expert attorney who has experience in chiropractic injury cases can help.
Chiropractor Medical Malpractice
While chiropractic medicine can be incredibly beneficial when compared to traditional medicine, there are times when things can go wrong. Mistakes happen, and when they do, a chiropractic patient can be left severely injured as a result. Chiropractic medical malpractice injuries, in most cases, are caused by improper training, as the direct force that is applied during the treatment must be incredibly precise. When there is a lack of precision in chiropractic movements, then the patient can be injured. Listed below are some of the injuries chiropractor medical malpractice patients commonly receive:
- Herniated (ruptured) or bulging invertebral disks
- Spinal cord injuries
- Strokes
- Paralysis
- Torn muscles and tendons
Serious complications such as strokes often occur in people under age 45 and are caused by a chiropractic neck manipulation. Strokes can be especially life-threatening, and if one occurs due to the negligent procedures of a chiropractor, said chiropractor could be deemed liable for the damages. If you have suffered from damages from medical malpractice, negligence, or a misdiagnosis by a chiropractor you may be entitled to file a medical malpractice lawsuit for the damages incurred. An accomplished lawyer experienced in medical malpractice cases can help bring you a sizeable settlement.
Your Case
When clients enter our law offices seeking assistance in fighting for their medical malpractice, spinal cord injury, nerve damage, or other lawsuits, they ask a series of questions. Some of these frequently asked questions are as follows:
- Can I sue a chiropractor for medical malpractice?
- Can I file a lawsuit against a chiropractic clinic for an injury they caused me?
- Can I sue a chiropractor for a medical error.
The answer to all of these questions is, yes, you can pursue legal action against a chiropractor, or chiropractic clinic for damages incurred as a result of medical malpractice. If you have suffered an injury after an adjustment, spinal manipulation, or any other related chiropractic procedure, you may file a medical malpractice lawsuit against that chiropractor or clinic. The process of filing a lawsuit against these parties, however, can be quite tricky without the proper assistance from an attorney with expertise in medical malpractice injury lawsuits.
All medical malpractice cases require four basic elements be shown or proven in order to proceed successfully. Regardless of practice, procedure, or damages, every medical malpractice case operates under these following contingencies:
- Duty: Every medical professional owes a duty to their patients to provide a standard of care that any other reasonably competent and prudent physician within the same background, would administer under the same or similar circumstances. If this duty is not upheld that medical professional can have a lawsuit filed against them.
- Breach of Duty: In the event that a medical professional breaches the standard of care previously stated, then a lawsuit can be filed against him. However, it is up to the plaintiff to prove that such a breach took place.
- Causation: The plaintiff must be able to show that the breach of duty caused the harm for which they are seeking compensation. For instance, if a patient receives an injury, but not directly from the negligence of the medical professional, there is a chance that the case will be dismissed.
- Damages: In any medical malpractice case, or any case for that matter, the actual damages must be shown. This can typically be proven through a presentation of medical bills, medical records, evidence of a loss of income, or evidence of a loss of future income. The laws that determine what damages are compensable vary from state to state. Hiring a skilled medical malpractice or personal injury attorney with experience handling medical malpractice claims is your best bet in determining what damages are compensable for your specific state.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
Having a skilled attorney on your side can mean the difference between filing a successful claim for compensation and having your case thrown out in court. If you file a claim with our experienced lawyers at Normandie Law Firm you could find some, if not all, of these following expenses compensable:
- The costs of any further medical care
- Any future medical care and treatment
- A loss of income and loss of future earnings due to long-term recovery or permanent disability due to the accident
- Any non-economic damages include emotional distress, trauma, PTSD resulting from the accident, pain and suffering and anxiety.
Those who have suffered damages from the medical malpractice of a chiropractor can contact our law offices to learn more about how to properly file a lawsuit against the chiropractor or the chiropractic clinic. Our team of well-versed attorneys is committed to ensuring every one of our clients has the resources to put up a fair fight for their burn injury case. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until we win their case. Already have an attorney and in need of a second opinion? Not to worry second opinion case reviews are also free under our policy. So, don’t hesitate, give our law offices a call, and we can discuss the accident, your damages, the aftermath, and the best path to getting you the compensation that you deserve.
