July 6, 2025 | Medical Malpractice
Whether you are hurt in a car accident or suffer a brain injury after a slip and fall, you’ll almost undoubtedly seek care from a local healthcare provider. But what happens when the person who is supposed to help you recover actually causes you more harm? In that case, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim.
The question is, what counts as medical malpractice, and what are the chances you’ll win? Here’s a look at some key medical malpractice statistics so you can better protect yourself when healthcare professionals fail to take care of you.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider acts negligently and causes harm to a patient. It can involve deviating from the established standard of care, failing to act in a timely manner, or making a mistake during a procedure or surgery.
Types of Medical Malpractice
Some common examples of medical malpractice are:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Surgical errors
- Medication mistakes
- Birth injuries
These errors can lead to devastating outcomes for you and your loved ones. Documenting everything and acting quickly are key to holding negligent healthcare professionals accountable for their mistakes.
How Common Are Medical Errors?
About one out of three clinicians will be sued at least once in their careers. Another source reports that 21% of respondents say they’ve experienced a medical error while receiving care. Based on these statistics, one can infer that medical errors are relatively common.
When evaluating medical errors, two factors are especially important: the type of error and whether or not it caused you harm. Some errors, such as accidentally adding a medication to a patient’s allergy list, can be relatively harmless if no allergy actually exists.
On the other hand, performing surgery on the wrong area (i.e., the right arm instead of the left) can have catastrophic consequences.
How Many People Die from Medical Malpractice?
Unfortunately, it’s tough to determine how many people die from medical malpractice each year due to several disparate data sources. According to some reports, over 400,000 people die from medical malpractice in the United States each year.
Other estimates, such as a recent meta-analysis from Yale University, estimated that there are about 22,000 preventable deaths annually.
What Are the Chances of Winning a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Medical malpractice claims are some of the toughest personal injury cases for plaintiffs to win. A 20-year analysis found that physicians win 80-90% of jury trials when there is weak evidence of medical malpractice or negligence. They also win roughly 70% of “borderline” cases and about half of trials when the plaintiff presents strong evidence.
Getting the case to trial can be tough enough all on its own. Researchers found that 80-90% of claims deemed “defensible” are dismissed or dropped without payment. They also discovered that the settlement amount decreased as the strength of the plaintiff’s evidence decreased.
What Do These Statistics Mean for Me?
Medical malpractice statistics help you better understand the frequency of medication and treatment errors. They can also give you a glimpse of what sort of legal battle you’ll face if you suffer a personal injury at the hands of a healthcare professional.
But the reality is that every case is truly unique. With that in mind, you shouldn’t let statistics discourage you from holding negligent persons accountable, no matter their title. When healthcare providers engage in medical malpractice, you have options and need to enforce your rights. Doing so is the best way to seek justice and potentially save others from future harm. Call our Berwick personal injury lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC for a free consultation.
Contact the Berwick Medical Malpractice Lawyers of Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC for Help Today
For more information, contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC to schedule a free consultation with our experienced medical malpractice attorneys. We proudly serve clients in Scranton, Kingston, Honesdale, Berwick, PA, and Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne Counties. We’re here to fight for your rights with trusted, experienced legal support. Let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC Scranton
436 Spruce St Suite 100, Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 714-4878
Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC Kingston
183 Market St #200, Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 714-4878
Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC Honesdale
520 Main St, Honesdale, PA 18431
(570) 714-4878
Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC Berwick
120 W Front St, Berwick, PA 18603
(570) 714-4878
