Overview
Medical malpractice cases are notoriously complex. Not only must the root cause of medical errors or omissions be proved in a court of law, but there are also some major procedural hurdles and mechanisms unique to litigating a medical malpractice case.
Massachusetts has a strict three-year statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases. Special notices must be given, and the case must be submitted to a Medical Malpractice Tribunal before it can proceed. Your lawyer needs to be familiar with these unique rules or you may lose a meritorious case due to procedural errors.
Lack of accountability and barriers to reporting both medical errors and bad actors within the healthcare system itself can also pose additional challenges to getting the justice you deserve.
Fortunately, the team of Sheff & Cook is ready and willing to rise to the challenge. We’ve successfully litigated major malpractice cases for years and leverage that experience for every client who has suffered at the hands of a medical provider or facility. Our unique team approach affords us the resources to thoroughly investigate the cause of your injuries, utilizing both medical experts and cutting-edge technology to prove critical elements of your cases and hold the responsible parties accountable.
We also realize that medical malpractice cases can be uniquely taxing on the client. Not only are you dealing with potentially painful and life-altering injuries, but also the mental and emotional strain of having your private medical information laid bare in court and teams of corporate-sponsored attorneys attacking your credibility.
Rest assured that the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Sheff & Cook will stand with you every step of the way, treating you with the utmost respect, dignity, and compassion as we work to maximize your settlement. To us, you are more than “just” a client. We recognize that the long-term effects of medical malpractice can last a lifetime and we develop detailed long-term plans for our clients to help them get the results they need to cover future living and treatment expenses.
Additional Information
Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitation in Massachusetts
The Commonwealth places a three-year statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases. However, thanks to the “discovery rule,” this time limit doesn’t start until:
- You discover that a provider’s negligence may have resulted in your injuries or you were notified of the possibility
- You are no longer under receiving ongoing care from said provider, as long as you were ignorant of the error or negligence during that period
However, once the clock starts ticking, it’s critical that you get experienced legal representation as soon as possible as these cases are still subject to additional strict procedural deadlines.
Who is Liable for Medical Malpractice?
Beyond the medical provider directly responsible for patient treatment, there are other parties who may be held responsible in medical malpractice case:
- Managers who do not provide adequate supervision or appropriate delegation of tasks
- Employers who do not provide appropriate training and/or equipment, adequately verify the qualifications of employees, or maintain the necessary reporting and accountability systems for medical errors
Retaining the right legal representation ensures that all parties are held accountable for their role in your injury.
