Medical professionals have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect the safety of their patients. Failures to do so may result in civil litigation against the parties responsible for the patient’s harm.
In cases of Virginia medical malpractice, determining the amount of money an injured patients can receive is complicated by a cap schedule the state has placed on such awards.
In 1999, state officials designed a schedule that would allow a slight increase in the amount that can be awarded to victims of Virginia medical malpractice. It began with a $1.5 million medical malpractice cap on July 1, 2000, and has progressed to a cap of $2.15 million on July 1, 2014.
The amount that an individual can be awarded depends on when the accident, injury, or medical error occurred. In other words, an individual can only be awarded the amount of the cap during the year their injury occurs.
In 2031, the cap will max out at a total of $3 million.
There are also statutes of limitations that apply to Virginia medical malpractice claims, which is why it’s important to speak with an attorney about your case as soon as possible. The Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley are aware of how confusing the legal process can be and are here to help victims of Virginia medical malpractice.
