
Sepsis is a medical emergency that occurs when the body responds to an infection and triggers widespread inflammation, which can result in organ failure and death. If you or a loved one has suffered from a life-threatening infection while under medical care at a California healthcare facility, a Glendora sepsis injury lawyer can help you hold the responsible parties accountable.
In California, healthcare facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, are legally obligated to monitor for early warning signs of infection. When a facility in Glendora fails to diagnose or treat an infection before it spirals into sepsis, it could constitute medical malpractice or elder neglect.
Sepsis is often called a silent killer because early symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions. 2024 data from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information revealed the following:
Survivors of this condition often face post-sepsis syndrome, which includes permanent organ damage, cognitive impairment, and a significantly higher risk of hospital readmission.
California’s sepsis injury laws fall under the umbrella of medical malpractice and, in cases involving the elderly, the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. The Golden State’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act is also relevant and includes the following key provisions:
Evidence in healthcare facilities can disappear, especially in situations where the staff are aware they aren’t meeting care requirements. Staffing logs may get misplaced, or witnesses may be moved to other jobs.
When you hire a sepsis injury lawyer, you gain a partner who can advocate for you and legally issue immediate subpoenas to protect the case.
Proving that a doctor or other staff member in a hospital or nursing facility was negligent in a sepsis case can be difficult. Facilities often argue that they couldn’t help the development or spread of an infection because the patient was already too ill to save.
When you hire a sepsis injury lawyer, you can bridge the gap between medical science and legal liability. Look no further than Belgum, Fry & Van Allen.
Attorneys at our office are well-versed in local and state healthcare laws and have years of experience handling medical malpractice and nursing home injury cases. Our legal team knows how to obtain Electronic Health Record data to demonstrate exactly when a medical professional first noticed a patient’s abnormal vital signs, and whether a doctor responded in a timely manner. An effective lawyer can help your case by focusing on:
When facing a legal battle against large healthcare corporations, you need a firm with proven experience in California’s complex elder abuse and medical malpractice statutes. At Belgum, Fry & Van Allen, our Glendora sepsis injury attorneys don’t just rely on general injury claims. We engage in “never event” litigation, focusing on systemic failures, like understaffing and diagnostic delays, that lead to life-threatening infections.
Yes, you can file a claim against medical professionals for sepsis after surgery in Glendora with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on South Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. Sepsis after surgery is often preventable with proper antibiotic protection and wound care, so if a surgical team fails to maintain a sterile environment or ignores signs of post-operative infection, they can be held liable.
It can be hard to succeed in a personal injury case in Glendora and in any city. This is because cases involving medical neglect place the burden of proof on the victim to show the provider deviated from the accepted standard of care. However, many families successfully receive settlements with expert medical testimony and a clear timeline.
The statute of limitations for a sepsis injury claim in Glendora is generally one year from the date you discovered the injury, or three years from the date of the injury, if you file your sepsis injury claim as a medical malpractice claim. If the case falls under the Elder Abuse Act, the statute of limitations is two years. Early legal action is critical to preserve evidence.
How much compensation you receive in a sepsis case in Glendora can vary depending on the details of the situation. In many cases on a national scale, the figure for a medical malpractice settlement has exceeded hundreds of thousands of dollars and may be higher in California because of the high cost of long-term care. Sepsis cases involving permanent organ damage or wrongful death, however, can be significantly higher.
If you and your family are reeling from the effects of a severe infection, you don’t have to face the hospital’s legal team alone. A Glendora sepsis injury attorney can build a compelling case using elevated lactate levels or low white blood cell counts.
Contact our office today to consult with an attorney about your sepsis injury case.