When a doctor, a hospital, a pharmacist or some other medical provider makes a serious mistake and causes an injury, it can be shocking and traumatic for both the victim and their family members. The first thing that everybody is concerned about is the victim’s well-being — not filing a medical malpractice claim.
Unfortunately, you have an unlimited amount of time to take action. While Ohio law grants most personal injury victims two full years following the date of their accident to file a lawsuit, medical malpractice claims aren’t given as much latitude. The statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases is only one year.
When does the clock on that one-year time limit start? It begins as soon as you either actually discover that you or your loved one was the victim of malpractice or you should have reasonably done so. (There are a few exceptions to this rule, but they’re all very fact-specific — not something that you want to rely on.) Under no circumstance can you file a malpractice claim later than four years after the incident that caused the injury.
Because the investigation in to a potential malpractice claim can take time and involve a lot of effort and research, it’s smart not to procrastinate. People sometimes put off making a visit to an attorney’s office because they’re not certain about the strength of their claim. That’s a serious mistake that could allow a negligent medical provider to walk away without any liability for their actions.
If you suspect that a medical provider’s negligence caused your injury or hurt a loved one, talk to an attorney right away.
