A Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyer can be the difference between being overwhelmed by a powerful healthcare system and securing the justice you deserve. When a doctor, nurse, or hospital makes a preventable mistake, the consequences can be life-altering. Victims deserve answers, accountability, and fair compensation.
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, causing injury, illness, or death. These cases often involve misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, or failures to properly treat a condition. Because medical malpractice claims are complex and highly contested, experienced legal guidance is essential.
That’s where Munley Law personal injury attorneys stand apart. With more than 65 years of experience, nationally recognized trial lawyers, and a proven record of multi-million-dollar malpractice recoveries, our Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyers know how to build strong cases and win.
Contact Munley Law today for a free consultation and learn how we can protect your rights and pursue maximum compensation.
What is Medical Malpractice?
A healthcare provider, such as a doctor or a nurse, who makes a mistake that causes injuries to their patient has committed medical malpractice. Consequently, the victim of the medical error may be able to sue.
Although medical malpractice may arise in many different instances, these are the most common mistakes that lead to lawsuits:
- Misdiagnosis
- Failures to diagnose and delays in diagnosis
- Surgical and medical procedure errors
- Failures to treat
- Faulty medical devices
- Failures to do proper testing
- Medication administration errors
While these are the most frequently occurring medical mistakes, this list is not exhaustive. To discuss the details of your treatment and injuries, contact an award-winning Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys medical malpractice lawyer today.
“At Munley Law, our mission is simple: to provide all injury victims equal access to justice, even against the most powerful entities. For more than 65 years, we have been the voice for the injured, the forgotten, and those who need someone to stand beside them in their darkest hour.”
Marion Munley
Call us at (844) 686-5397 How Common is Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania?
Understanding the medical malpractice landscape in Pennsylvania helps you see why experienced legal help matters. The state recorded 974 medical malpractice payouts in 2024, with an average payout of about $534, 843. That year, Pennsylvania ranked second in payouts per capita among U.S. states, with “failure to.
Nationwide comparisons show that Pennsylvania had the second-highest malpractice payouts (behind New York) in 2023, underscoring the prevalence and seriousness of malpractice claims. The most common allegation leading to payouts in Pennsylvania is failure to diagnose – a mistake that can profoundly affect health outcomes.
These figures reflect that while malpractice is common, securing justice often requires seasoned legal strategy and expert testimony.
Why Choose Munley Law for Your Medical Malpractice Case?
For almost seven decades, Munley Law has stood up against powerful healthcare systems, insurance companies, and corporations to deliver justice for victims of medical errors. Since our founding by Robert W. Munley in 1959, we’ve pursued fairness and maximum compensation for thousands of injured patients.
Our results include multi-million-dollar settlements and jury verdicts across Pennsylvania. Just some of our medical malpractice settlements were for $5 million, $4.35 million, and $3.5 million, and our medical malpractice lawyers know local courts, the medical provider liability systems, and how to build compelling cases to secure the compensation our clients need and deserve.
We have also been recognized by prestigious organizations and won numerous awards. Best Lawyers awarded Marion Munley “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation, while Caroline Munley is named to the Top 25 Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at Munley Law
How Do Medical Malpractice Claims Work in Bethlehem, PA?
If your doctor made mistakes in your treatment, then you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. However, without an experienced lawyer, taking on the healthcare and insurance industries to get the money you deserve is nearly impossible. Significantly, you must prove these four negligence elements in order to win your medical malpractice case in court:
Prove That the Defendant or Healthcare Company Owed You a Duty
In short, a duty is a legal relation, which means that the defendant had a legal obligation to adhere to a certain set of standards and care when treating you. In medical malpractice cases, the law governing healthcare professionals’ duties is surprisingly complicated. This is, in part, because many hospitals employ certain doctors and nurses as independent contractors.
As such, a healthcare worker’s duty usually depends on the specific facts of each case. For example, what your doctor was wearing, whether they told you they worked for the hospital, and where they treated you can all impact who is responsible for your injuries. In order to make sure that you are suing the right people and entities and can meet the first requirement, you’ll need an experienced Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyer.
Prove Breach of Duty
In addition to duty, an injured plaintiff must next prove that the defendant breached his or her duty of care. In essence, a breach just means the defendant failed to fulfill their duty in some way.
To demonstrate a doctor’s breach, medical malpractice victims almost always need to hire expert witnesses who can explain the medical condition, the proper standard of care, what the negligent physician did, and why the medical professional or provider was wrong. Also, plaintiffs must know how to use medical records, charts, scans, test results, and other documents to prove a breach.
Prove Causation
Next, you must prove to the jury that the healthcare professional’s breach of their duty caused your injuries. Without a doubt, this is usually the most difficult requirement. Most of the time, it is impossible to determine the cause of an injury or certain symptoms with certainty. Most injuries can be caused by a number of events or other medical conditions.
In order to prove causation, you will need a medical malpractice attorney with experience handling this tricky requirement. We work with an on-staff doctor and team of medical experts to review thousands of pages of medical records and build your case.
Prove Medical Malpractice Damages
Finally, you will need to show that you were actually injured. In addition, you will need to show that your injuries are the type that legally entitle you to damages. In medical malpractice cases, the types of available damages can vary. However, economic and non-economic damages are the most common types.
In short, economic damages are the losses that can be easily calculated. For example, lost wages and hospitalization costs are often economic damages considerations in medical malpractice cases.
In contrast, non-economic damages are the kinds of costs that you cannot easily calculate. For example, pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment can factor into non-economic damage awards.
Each of these steps is complex and fact-specific, and our experienced medical malpractice lawyers in Bethlehem help you build and present a strong case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice in Bethlehem
What Qualifies as Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania?
Medical malpractice involves substandard care that a competent healthcare professional would not have provided, resulting in harm.
How Long Do I Have to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Bethlehem?
Pennsylvania generally allows two years from the date of injury – with some exceptions – to file a claim. That is why it is essential to consult a lawyer right away to preserve your rights.
Is There a Cap on Damages in Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Cases?
Pennsylvania does not cap non-economic damages in many medical malpractice cases, which can lead to higher verdicts.
Will My Medical Malpractice Case Go to Trial?
Many medical malpractice cases settle. However, if a fair settlement can’t be reached, our trial-tested lawyers will take your case to court.
How Does a Lawyer Prove Medical Negligence?
Medical experts review records, establish standards of care, and testify to how errors caused harm. This forms a critical part of building a strong claim.
What Type of Compensation Can I Recover?
You may recover economic damages, such as medical costs and lost income, and non-economic damages, such as pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life.
Contact a Bethlehem Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Munley Law
If you believe a healthcare provider’s negligence has caused you harm, taking action sooner rather than later can make a meaningful difference in your case.
Munley Law operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay anything unless we win your case. Call us today for an obligation-free case review if you’ve experienced medical malpractice in Bethlehem, PA.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
