Whether you’ve had a surgery that’s been botched or a disease that has been misdiagnosed, a case of medical malpractice can have devastating consequences for your life. In some cases, you may need further treatments to resolve your medical issue or you may be left maimed for life. Fortunately, you can receive compensation for any harm done to you as a result of negligence on the part of a doctor, nurse, or a medical facility.
Types of Compensation
If you have suffered from medical negligence, you may be compensated in three ways in the state of New Jersey. You may be able to receive:
- Compensatory Damages
- Non-Economic Damages
- Punitive Damages
Compensatory Damages
This is the main type of damage you can recover as a result of medical malpractice. Compensatory damages include compensation for any medical bills that have accrued due to your medical injuries. The medical bills you receive will be placed in evidence in order to recover those amounts.
Non-Economic Damages
You can receive non-economic damages for things like pain and suffering due to the injury you’ve received due to medical negligence. In the state of New Jersey, there are no caps on the amount of compensation you can receive for compensatory or non-economic damages.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are only awarded if it has been found that your injury occurred due to the extraordinary recklessness of a medical professional. These damages can be hard to receive because your attorney will need to prove the conduct was malicious or was a case of fraud. Punitive damages may be awarded at five times the amount of the compensatory damages or for $350,000, depending on which is greater.
If you feel you’ve suffered problems due to medical negligence, you need to contact a lawyer experienced in medical malpractice law to help you receive compensation for your injuries.
