Seeking Justice for Medical Negligence Victims in Los Angeles
When you seek medical treatment, you trust professionals with your life and well-being. When that trust is broken through negligence, the results can be devastating physically, emotionally and financially. At DorenfeldLaw, Inc., we help families seek accountability and pursue compensation they deserve.
Medical malpractice occurs when negligent mistakes lead to serious harm for a patient. Doctors, physicians, surgeons, registered nurses and other medical professionals owe a duty of care to the patients in their charge. When they do not provide the expected level of care, either through intentional action or negligence, then the patient may be able to seek financial compensation through a medical malpractice case.
Here at DorenfeldLaw, Inc., Attorney David K. Dorenfeld has over 30 years of experience as a medical malpractice attorney. Our office is conveniently located in Agoura Hills, but we can meet with clients all across Southern California. When medical professionals fail in their duty of care, we hold them accountable—get in touch with our team now to secure the expert legal representation your case deserves.
What Counts As Medical Malpractice In California?
Not every negative medical outcome qualifies as malpractice. To have a valid malpractice claim in California, you must prove that a healthcare provider failed to meet the “standard of care.” This means showing that another competent medical professional in the same field would have acted differently under similar circumstances. You must also demonstrate that this failure directly caused your injury or harm.
The standard of care varies depending on the medical specialty and the specific situation. For example, an emergency room doctor faces different expectations than a surgeon performing a scheduled procedure. What matters is whether the healthcare provider’s actions fell below what a reasonable professional would do in that same situation.
California law also requires specific steps before filing a lawsuit, including providing notice to the healthcare provider and consulting with medical experts who can verify that malpractice occurred. The state’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) also caps certain damages, making experienced legal representation critical to maximize your recovery.
Why Choose DorenfeldLaw, Inc.?
With over three decades of legal experience, our firm’s attorney, David K. Dorenfeld, has built a reputation for thorough investigation and compassionate client care. We work with independent medical experts to prove negligence and build strong cases that hold healthcare providers accountable. Our investigative process includes reviewing medical records in detail, consulting with specialists in the relevant field and reconstructing exactly what happened to cause your injury.
Our small boutique approach means we guide you through every step of the process, from gathering medical records to negotiating settlements or representing your case in court. We won’t hand you off to paralegals or junior associates. Instead, Attorney Dorenfeld will work with you directly. We understand that medical malpractice cases are not just about legal strategy; they’re about your health, your family and your future.
We’ve earned a strong reputation for fighting hard while caring deeply about our clients. That reputation matters when Attorney David K. Dorenfeld is negotiating your settlement or presenting your case in court. We serve clients throughout Los Angeles, and we’ll meet you wherever is most convenient during this difficult time.
Potential Medical Malpractice Claims
Medical malpractice can take many different forms, depending on the type of care the patient needs and the types of mistakes that are made. Below are a few examples:
- Surgical errors: The most common example is wrong-site surgery, where the operation is carried out on the wrong side or the wrong location. These cases also include when a surgeon carries out the wrong procedure entirely.
- Misdiagnosis: A similar issue is a delayed diagnosis, which can cause conditions like cancer to get significantly worse.
- Medication errors: These include giving the patient the wrong medication or prescribing the wrong dose.
- Birth injuries: These mistakes can sometimes lead to severe ramifications, such as the development of cerebral palsy.
- Emergency room errors: Emergency rooms are notoriously chaotic and fast-paced, so mistakes may happen.
Many of these errors occur because of miscommunication issues. Wrong-site surgery could be because a doctor was simply given the wrong medical records and two patients had similar names. Mistakes can also happen due to distraction, impairment, rushing, lack of training and much more.
What Types Of Injuries Do People Suffer?
The specific injuries will differ from case to case, but could include:
- Amputations
- Infections
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Wrongful death
For instance, a doctor who makes critical mistakes while delivering a baby could cut off oxygen flow to the baby. This could lead to permanent brain damage, which in turn causes cerebral palsy. Another issue is if surgical implements are retained after surgery, which may lead to organ damage or infection. This could include implements like scalpels, gauze, sponges, staples, needles, tweezers and much more.
Schedule A Free Consultation Today
If you have suffered harm due to medical malpractice, you could be facing significant costs from medical bills, lost wages, disability, disfigurement, a reduced earning capacity and more. Call our office at 888-678-5933 or use the online contact form to set up your initial consultation today. We can help you gather documentation, speak with medical witnesses, and consider your costs and the type of compensation you deserve. Initial consultation is free!