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As patients, we trust medical professionals to take care of us and keep our best interests in mind. However, sometimes these professionals make mistakes because they may be negligent, malicious, overworked, understaffed, use poor judgment or may be under-qualified. No matter what the reason, this is always unacceptable and usually punishable in a court of law.

Medical malpractice is considered to be between the fifth and eighth leading cause of death in the United States, as reported by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Researchers report that roughly 5 to 10 percent of all patients admitted to hospitals this year will fall victim to medical negligence. Annually, up to 98,000 people die from preventable medical errors, 2 million patients contract infections in hospitals, and approximately 90,000 die from infections caused by inadequate sanitation methods.

Any injury that you have suffered at the hands of a medical provider is considered medical malpractice. The most common types of claims are: pediatric malpractice, radiation malpractice, breast cancer malpractice, plastic surgery malpractice, dental malpractice, cancer misdiagnosis, amputation of the wrong limb, prescription errors, emergency room negligence, anesthesia accidents, uterine rupture, birth complications, C-section complications, misread X-rays/mammograms, faulty blood transfusions, hospital/medical negligence, failure to provide appropriate treatment and treatment delays.

It is very important to contact a medical malpractice lawyer if you think you have a claim. Some people are under the impression that if they signed a consent form, they can’t file a medical malpractice claim. This is not always true. Medical providers are not allowed to fall back on these if they provided poor care.

Obtain a medical record of the incident if you believe you are a victim of medical malpractice. You are allowed to review these records and they will help your medical malpractice attorney build a case. You should also consult a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Each state has a statute of limitations, varying from one to three years, in which you can file a case. You are the victim in a medical malpractice case and you should have an experienced lawyer on your side.