When Medical Care Causes Harm
Connecticut is home to major teaching hospitals, academic medical centers, and thousands of healthcare providers. When you trust a doctor or hospital with your health, you expect competent care. Medical negligence, including misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, birth injuries, and failure to treat, can cause serious and permanent harm. Medical malpractice claims are among the most complex injury cases, requiring expert testimony and careful proof that a provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care.
Connecticut's Strict Malpractice Requirements
Connecticut law imposes special requirements on medical malpractice claims. Before filing, a plaintiff must obtain a written opinion from a similar healthcare provider stating that there is evidence of negligence, and attach a certificate of good faith to the lawsuit. This requirement is designed to screen out meritless claims, but it also means you need an attorney who works with qualified medical experts from the outset. Missing these requirements can doom an otherwise valid case.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice
Failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis of cancer, heart attacks, or strokes; surgical errors including wrong-site surgery and retained instruments; anesthesia errors; medication and pharmacy errors; birth injuries to mother or child; and hospital-acquired infections from poor sanitation are among the most common malpractice claims. Each requires proof that a competent provider would have acted differently.
Compensation in Malpractice Cases
Victims of medical negligence may recover the cost of corrective medical care, lost income, future care needs, and pain and suffering. In cases of catastrophic or permanent harm, these damages can be substantial. Because hospitals and their insurers defend these cases aggressively, having an experienced attorney and strong expert support is essential.
Injured in Connecticut? Get a free, confidential case review today. There's no obligation, and you pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
Frequently Asked Questions
Connecticut requires a written opinion from a similar healthcare provider and a certificate of good faith before you can file. These cases also depend heavily on expert testimony, so early involvement of an attorney is critical.
If you suffered harm that a competent provider could have avoided, you may have a claim. The only way to know is to have the records reviewed, which we can help arrange through a free case review.
Generally two years from when the injury was discovered, with an overall limit of three years from the negligent act. Because of these strict limits, act promptly.