Syracuse Hospital Injury Attorneys

When a Hospital Stay Makes You Worse, Not Better

No one wants to spend time in the hospital. But when a hospital stay is necessary, we expect that the doctors and staff there will help us get better—not cause new injuries, infections, or illnesses. Unfortunately, when hospital staff members or healthcare providers are negligent, innocent people can suffer serious harm.

The hospital injury attorneys at Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC represent people who have been hurt while staying in or receiving treatment at a hospital. We understand how devastating it is to realize that the people who were supposed to care for you failed to provide a safe and adequate level of care.

Common Types of Hospital Negligence

Hospital negligence can take many forms, including:

• Hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA, C. difficile, and sepsis
• Medication administration errors by nursing staff
• Falls due to inadequate supervision or unsafe conditions
• Bedsores (pressure ulcers) from improper repositioning
• Failure to monitor vital signs or respond to patient deterioration
• Surgical and post-surgical errors
• Understaffing and overworked nursing teams
• Improperly maintained equipment
• Communication failures during shift changes or transfers

Who Can Be Held Responsible?

All hospital staff members have a responsibility to uphold patient safety—including doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, orderlies, and cleaning staff. Medical professionals must follow standards of care to prevent infection and injury. Non-medical personnel must follow policies and procedures that keep patients safe.

Depending on the facts of your case, liable parties may include the hospital itself, individual physicians (even if they are independent contractors), nursing staff, and in some cases equipment manufacturers.

Proving a Hospital Negligence Claim

These cases can be complex and difficult to prove. It is not enough to show that the condition you came to the hospital for did not get better; you must prove that the hospital or its staff was negligent and that this negligence caused your harm. You generally must establish:

• The hospital owed you a duty of care (you were a patient or were seeking care);
• The hospital breached that duty through action or inaction;
• That breach caused your injury; and
• You suffered measurable damages as a result.

In most cases, hospitals will not accept responsibility. They may claim a third party—for example, an outside contractor—was at fault. Their malpractice insurers will work to avoid paying fair compensation. Having an experienced firm in your corner is essential.

Damages Available

Economic damages in a hospital injury case may include additional medical bills, lost wages, and lost future earning capacity when an injury or illness prevents the patient from returning to work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.