Medical Malpractice

Riverside Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Over $1 Billion Recovered for the Injured

Medical malpractice is a serious and all too common cause of injury and even wrongful death. Every year, thousands of Americans suffer the severe consequences of negligent or careless healthcare. In fact, according to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), negligence in the medical field is the third most prevalent cause of death in the United States, just behind heart disease and cancer.

If you or a loved one has been injured—or even killed—because of medical negligence and malpractice in the Inland Empire, you should absolutely consult with our Riverside medical malpractice attorneys. Our team at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP is ready and willing to fight for you. We are one of the leading medical malpractice law firms in the country, and our ability to defend your rights is proven. You can have confidence in us as we fight for you.

  • Medical Malpractice, Birth Injury, Brain Injury, Sepsis, Medication Error Record-Setting Result $17,000,000

    Settlement for a brain-injured baby.

  • Medical Malpractice, Brain Injury, Neonatal Injury, Surgical Injury Record-Setting Result $14,000,000

    Surgery error on a 3-day old child resulted in brain injuries.

  • Medical Malpractice, Brain Injury, Birth Injury, Cerebral Palsy Record-Setting Result $11,400,000

    Birth injury resulted in Cerebral Palsy. This settlement is a state record.

  • Medical Malpractice, Neonatal Injury, Failure to Diagnose Record-Setting Result $11,000,000

    Neonatal blindness injuries to premature triplets after failure to diagnose the condition in a timely manner.

  • Medical Malpractice, Birth Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injury Record-Setting Result $10,000,000

    Record settlement for a birth injury case in that state.

  • Medical Malpractice, Cardiac Misdiagnosis, Failure to Diagnose, Wrongful Death Record-Setting Result $9,960,000

    This case against UCSF Medical Center was the largest medical malpractice settlement for a death in California history in 2002.

  • Medical Malpractice, Sepsis, Amputation Record-Setting Result $9,750,000

    Failure to treat sepsis and excessive medication led to the loss of limbs. This is a record-setting result in the state.

  • Medical Malpractice, Sepsis, Amputation Record-Setting Result $9,700,000

    Record settlement for amputation of multiple limbs.

  • Medical Malpractice, Sepsis, Amputation Record-Setting Result $9,250,000

    Failure to diagnose sepsis in the ER resulted in the loss of arms and legs. This was a record-setting result at the time.

  • Medical Malpractice, Birth Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injury Record-Setting Result $8,900,000

    Record trial judgment for improper use of vacuum extraction and failure to timely deliver a baby (1985).

/

Legal Definition of Medical Malpractice

Simply making a mistake or having an error in judgment does not necessarily constitute grounds for a medical malpractice claim. The specific definition for medical malpractice is a deviation from the accepted and expected standard of care in treating a patient. In other words, did your doctor or healthcare provider treat you in a reasonable and expected manner, as another in his / her position would have done?

Examples of medical malpractice include:

  • Birth injuries, including prenatal misdiagnosis and cerebral palsy: These cases involve injuries to infants during labor and delivery, often due to medical negligence such as improper use of delivery instruments, failure to monitor fetal distress, or mismanagement of complications.
  • Injuries caused by radiation exposure: Medical malpractice cases related to radiation exposure may occur when healthcare providers fail to properly administer radiation therapy, leading to burns, tissue damage, or other harmful effects.
  • Surgical errors: This category encompasses a wide range of mistakes made during surgical procedures, including wrong-site surgery, surgical instrument left inside the patient, nerve damage, organ perforation, or anesthesia errors.
  • Pediatric meningitis: Failure to diagnose or treat pediatric meningitis in a timely manner can result in serious complications or even death. Medical malpractice cases may arise if healthcare providers fail to recognize the symptoms or provide appropriate treatment.
  • Anesthesia errors: Errors related to anesthesia administration can lead to complications such as brain damage, organ failure, or even death. These errors may involve incorrect dosage, failure to monitor the patient's vital signs, or administering anesthesia to patients with known allergies.
  • Misdiagnosis / failure to diagnose: When a healthcare provider fails to correctly diagnose a medical condition or delays diagnosis, it can lead to unnecessary suffering, progression of the disease, or even death. Common examples include misdiagnosis of cancer, heart attacks, or strokes.
  • Medication errors: These cases involve mistakes in prescribing, administering, or monitoring medications. Examples include over-medication leading to adverse reactions or under-medication resulting in inadequate treatment. In some cases, patients may suffer harm or death due to suicide from dangerous drugs, such as antidepressants with known suicidal side effects.
  • Emergency room errors: Mistakes made in emergency rooms can have severe consequences due to the urgent nature of the cases treated. This may include misdiagnosis of serious conditions, delayed treatment, failure to order necessary tests, or errors in medication administration. Patients in emergency situations rely on timely and accurate medical care, and errors in the emergency room can lead to worsening conditions, complications, or even death.

Who is Liable for Medical Malpractice?

In California, several parties can potentially be held liable for medical malpractice, depending on the circumstances of the case. These parties may include:

  • Individual Healthcare Providers: This primarily includes doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other medical professionals directly involved in the patient's care. If a healthcare provider deviates from the standard of care expected in their field, leading to harm to the patient, they can be held liable for medical malpractice.
  • Hospitals and Medical Facilities: Hospitals and medical facilities can be held vicariously liable for the negligence of their employees, including doctors, nurses, and staff. Additionally, hospitals may be directly liable for issues such as inadequate staffing, insufficient training, or failure to maintain proper equipment and facilities.
  • Medical Corporations or Groups: In cases where healthcare providers are employed by medical corporations or groups, these entities may also be held liable for medical malpractice if their policies, procedures, or oversight contribute to the harm suffered by the patient.
  • Pharmaceutical Companies: In cases involving medication errors or defects in pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical companies may be held liable if the medication was improperly manufactured, labeled, or marketed, leading to harm to the patient.
  • Medical Device Manufacturers: Similarly, manufacturers of medical devices may be held liable for injuries caused by defective medical devices or equipment used during treatment.
  • Other Healthcare Professionals: Besides doctors and nurses, other healthcare professionals such as pharmacists, therapists, and technicians can also be held liable for medical malpractice if their actions or omissions contribute to patient harm.

Your first step in finding out whether or not you have a claim is to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer from Bostwick & Peterson, LLP. We handle cases throughout the Inland Empire.

Call us now at (951) 435-8229 and obtain a free case review.

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LAW FIRM

  • Inner Circle of Advocates
    Inner Circle of Advocates

    Invitation-only organization of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in the U.S.

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
    International Academy of Trial Lawyers

    Former President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, limited to the top 500 trial lawyers in the U.S.

  • Super Lawyers 2020
    Super Lawyers 2020

    James S. Bostwick and Erik L. Peterson have been named top-rated medical malpractice attorneys in Northern California.

  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    American Board of Trial Advocates

    Invitation-only group of the nation’s top civil lawyers and judges.

  • American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
    American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys

    James Bostwick is a nationally certified medical malpractice specialist and founding member.

  • The Best Lawyers in America
    The Best Lawyers in America

    Recognized since its inception in 1983 by this peer-reviewed publication, comprised of the best legal talent in the world.

  • U.S. News Best Law Firms
    U.S. News Best Law Firms

    Recognized for professional excellence with impressive ratings from clients and peers.

  • The National Trial Lawyers
    The National Trial Lawyers

    James Bostwick & Erik Peterson are listed in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

  • Mutli-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
    Mutli-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

    An exclusive group limited to less than 1% of U.S. attorneys who have won multi-million dollar results.

  • Lawdragon
    Lawdragon

    James Bostwick inducted into the Hall of Fame and featured among the Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America.

  • Expertise - Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Riverside 2024
    Expertise - Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Riverside 2024

    Expertise.com finds and reviews the top service professionals in over 200 industries across the U.S.

/

WHY CHOOSE BOSTWICK & PETERSON, LLP?

  • James Bostwick Is A Nationally Certified Specialist By The American Board Of Professional Liability
  • Included In The List Of "Best Lawyers In America" By U.S. News - Best Lawyers® Since Its Inception In 1983
  • James Bostwick Received The Trial Lawyers "Presidential Award Of Merit"
  • Invite-Only Member Of The Inner Circle of Advocates, Limited To The Nation’s Top 100 Plaintiff Lawyers
  • Record-Setting Verdicts & Settlements In Four States, For Malpractice, Truck, And Auto Accidents
  • Best Lawyers® Trial Lawyer Of The Year In 2012
  • More Than $1 Billion In Settlements And Verdicts For Our Clients
  • Since January 2018, The Firm Has Twice Broken The California Record For Largest Medical Malpractice Settlements

GET THE HELP YOU NEED

All Consultations Are Free!
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.