New Orleans Medical Malpractice Lawyer Defines 4 Phrases All Plaintiffs Should Know

Medical malpractice claims are complex matters that involve multiple parties, including physicians, plaintiffs, lawyers and insurance companies. As such, these cases feature complicated legalese, that confuse most patients.

Because physician mistakes can cause serious injuries and permanent disabilities, patients often face exorbitant medical costs, and they may not be able to return to work. With their financial security on the line, many patients feel overwhelmingly stressed, which can actually hinder physical recovery. For this reason, the guidance and support of an experienced medical malpractice attorney may prove invaluable.

If you were injured due to a health-care worker’s negligence or mistake, then you may be entitled to compensation to pay for ongoing medical expenses, lost wages and other damages. If the incident happened in Louisiana, then The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm may be able to help.

David A. Bowling is a New Orleans medical malpractice attorney who can guide you through the claims process. To schedule a consultation, call our office today at (504) 586-5200.

In the meantime, read on to learn four terms that you may encounter if you file a medical malpractice lawsuit:

1. Assessable and Non-Assessable

These terms relate to insurance policies. A non-assessable insurance policy means the insurer cannot assess the policyholder for additional contributions in order to compensate for the insurance company’s losses or expenses.

An assessable insurance policy, on the other hand, means the insurer can charge the policyholder a specific fee if the provider does not receive sufficient premiums. This fee is intended to compensate for insurance payouts.

2. Professional Negligence

Professional negligence, or malpractice, is at the center of most malpractice claims. The health-care worker owes a certain duty to the patient, and if the former fails to exercise a degree of care that another reasonable practitioner would have, then this may constitute negligence. This is a concept that your medical malpractice attorney will explore when investigating the nature of your claim.

3. Nose Coverage

According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, nose coverage relates to claims that a patient makes against a health-care worker after the date of coverage on the insurance policy. In order for the coverage to be valid, the claims must arise out of specific acts or omissions prior to the policy’s effective date and after its retroactive date.

4. Tail Coverage

This is a type of supplemental insurance that covers incidents that happen during the active period of a policy yet were not reported until after the individual terminates the policy. The insured individual can purchase tail coverage from the previous carrier, and it generally ranges from between 125 percent to 250 percent of the previous policy’s premium.

A medical malpractice case can be overwhelming for recovering patients, but David A. Bowling can help you navigate the legal system. To schedule a consultation with a New Orleans medical malpractice lawyer, call The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm today at (504) 586-5200.