If you suspect that you or someone you love has been the victim of medical negligence by an ophthalmologist, you can potentially recover financial damages for your injuries. Our trusted Syracuse ophthalmologist negligence attorneys will review your case and create a legal strategy accordingly. We know that your time is valuable, which is why we try to resolve every case in an efficient manner.
The Study
People nowadays turn to online reviews before making a decision in many aspects of their lives, and choosing a doctor is no exception. There are a number of websites that permit patients to post reviews of their doctors. In a new study released by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Lubbock, researchers set out to examine how ophthalmologists are rated in online reviews and what factors led to higher ratings.
According to the data, 25 – 85 percent of doctors have an online profile on patient review website pages and 90 percent of those doctors have at least one rating. The study collected reviews about ophthalmologists, examining a total of 84,288 online reviews of 7,372 ophthalmologist profiles. Data shows that doctors who included a photo, biography and academic affiliation had higher ratings. In addition, shorter wait times and no history of malpractice also led to higher ratings.
Liability for Ophthalmology Errors
Generally, ophthalmology errors fall into two categories: failure to diagnose a condition or a surgical error. Both of these types of errors can have serious, adverse health consequences for the patient. If you have suffered a preventable injury due to an ophthalmology error, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the at-fault ophthalmologist. Medical malpractice takes place when a medical professionals substandard care is the direct cause of the patient’s injury. In some cases, a medical’s omission (i.e., the failure to act when there was a duty to do so) can form the basis of a malpractice claim.
Shared Fault Rules
Under New York law, if you go to trial and are found to be partially at fault for your injuries, your total damages award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. This is because New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, under which a plaintiff’s recovery is diminished by his or her share of fault. For example, if the jury awarded you $10,000 in damages but you were found to be 10 percent at fault for your injuries, you would go home with $9,000 (i.e., $10, 000 minus your 10 percent of fault, or $1,000).
Seasoned Syracuse Malpractice Attorneys
If you or someone close to you suffered an eye injury due to an ophthalmologist’s diagnostic or a surgical error, you may be entitled to compensation. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our highly skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys will represent you and apply our knowledge and resources to your case. We understand this is a stressful time for you and your family, which is why we will handle your case with sensitivity and compassion. For a free confidential consultation, please call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us online.
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