When to Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Petah Tikva
Leave your details — we’ll get back to you
We’ll respond within 24 hours
What is Medical Malpractice and When Should You Contact an Attorney
Medical malpractice is a deviation from standard and safe medical care that causes harm or injury to a patient's health. It is not every negative outcome of treatment — even the most correct treatment can involve complications. However, when a doctor or medical institution makes an oversight, acts negligently, or ignores vital information, there may be a legal basis for a claim due to the damage caused.
Contacting a medical malpractice attorney specialized in medical negligence in Petah Tikva or your area is a wise step when you are investigating your options. An experienced attorney can help you understand whether what happened to you rises to the level of legal malpractice, what your rights to compensation are, and how to protect yourself in this complex legal process.
Mandelbaumm, Gor, Witzman-Gor and Co. law firm in Petah Tikva (Yoni Netanyahu 8) specializes in representing claimants in tort claims, including medical malpractice. With over 18 years of experience, we understand the legal process and the nuances of such claims. Our first consultation is at no cost, so you can consult with us without any obligation.
Signs That You Should Consider Contacting an Attorney
Not every complication or negative outcome of medical treatment constitutes legal malpractice. However, several signs should alert you that it is worth investigating your options:
- Unexpected harm or health injury: If treatment caused you a serious complication, infection, injury, or worsening of your medical condition — this is a sign worth investigating.
- Non-compliance with accepted medical protocols: If a doctor or hospital did not act in accordance with standard procedures in the field (for example, did not perform a mandatory test, did not order a diagnostic test when there were clear symptoms).
- Failure to disclose vital information: If you were not informed of essential risks of treatment or did not receive informed consent for what was performed.
- Error in guidance or treatment: If a surgical error, medication error, diagnostic error, or failure to properly monitor your condition occurred.
- Treatment selection was not reasonable given the circumstances: If a treatment was chosen that was not suitable for your age, medical condition, or available information at the time.
- Significant financial harm: If you were forced to undergo additional treatments, lose work days, or suffer from disability or loss of earning capacity due to the malpractice.
How to Determine if Legal Malpractice Exists
Determining whether what happened to you constitutes legal malpractice is a complex process that requires legal analysis and obtaining medical expert opinion. In Israel, medical malpractice is defined as the conduct of a doctor or medical institution that deviated from the accepted standard in the field and caused harm. What is the "accepted standard"? It is the treatment that a reasonable and experienced doctor in the field would have provided under similar circumstances.
To establish a claim, you need three key elements:
- Legal duty: The doctor or medical institution owed you a duty of reasonable and safe care. This almost always exists when there is a therapeutic relationship.
- Breach of duty: They deviated from the accepted standard — they did not act as a reasonable doctor would have acted under similar circumstances.
- Causal connection between the breach and the harm: The deviation from the standard is what caused the damage. If the harm would have occurred anyway, even if they had acted correctly, there is no basis for a claim.
Each of these requires proof and deep analysis. This is why an attorney specializing in malpractice must consult with a medical expert in the relevant field. In the initial review phase, we examine your case, understand the medical background, and determine whether there is a basis to proceed.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim: Important to Know
One of the most important things you need to know is that there is a time limit for filing medical malpractice claims. In Israel, the rule is that a claim must be filed within three years from the day you discovered (or should have discovered) the harm. In some cases, this may be different — for example, if the harm was discovered later, or if there are special circumstances. Therefore, if you suspect you have been harmed, it is important that you contact an attorney as soon as possible, so you do not lose your right to file a claim.
Our firm in Petah Tikva assists claimants in medical malpractice claims throughout the entire process — from the initial review, through collecting evidence and medical documentation, to obtaining fair compensation. We represent claimants only, so our interest is entirely yours.
Steps for Managing a Medical Malpractice Claim
Initial Consultation at No Cost
At the first meeting, you tell us your story, and we assess whether there is a legal basis for a claim. This is your opportunity to understand your rights without any financial commitment.
Document and Evidence Collection
We request your complete medical file, test reports, and treatment details. In-depth analysis of the data helps us understand exactly what happened and where a deviation from the standard of care may have occurred.
Consultation with Medical Expert
We consult with a medical expert in the relevant field, who provides an opinion on whether a deviation from the accepted standard of care exists. This is critical to strengthening your claim.
Negotiation and Mediation
Often, it is possible to reach a settlement with the insurance company or medical institution without the need for lengthy legal proceedings. We negotiate on your behalf to achieve the most fair compensation.
Filing a Claim and Litigation
If we have not reached a settlement, we file a claim in court and represent you throughout all legal proceedings until completion.
Obtaining Compensation
Our goal is to obtain fair compensation for you for the damages — including medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and additional costs incurred by you.
Types of Damages for Which Compensation Can Be Awarded
When medical negligence is proven, you are entitled to compensation for a variety of damages. The compensation is not limited to medical expenses alone — it reflects the overall impact of the negligence on your life:
- Direct Financial Damages: Any medical expense incurred as a result of negligence — additional treatments, tests, medications, hospital stays.
- Loss of Income: If the damage caused you to lose work days or be unable to work at full capacity as you did before, you are entitled to compensation for loss of income — past and future (depending on the disability incurred).
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, fear, anxiety, and emotional suffering you endured as a result of the negligence.
- Disability and Medical Enhancements: If you have sustained permanent disability or require medical aids or devices for life.
- Additional Treatment Expenses: Any other expense directly caused by the negligence, including travel for treatment, psychological care, or nursing services.
The amount of compensation is determined according to each case — every case is unique and depends on the severity of the damage, your age, your financial condition before the negligence, and your chances of recovery or adaptation. We help you calculate the full extent of your damages and claim fair compensation.
Why It Is Important to Contact a Lawyer Immediately
If you suspect you have been harmed by medical negligence, time is critical. Here is why:
- Time Limitation: As mentioned, there is a three-year time limit for filing a claim. Do not wait until it is too late.
- Preservation of Evidence: As time passes, it becomes more difficult to preserve evidence, memories, and connections with witnesses. Medical arguments become blurred over time.
- Expert Case Evaluation: An experienced lawyer can help you quickly decide whether there is a basis for a claim and not waste time on cases with no prospect of success.
- Control of the Process: When you contact a lawyer early, you control the process and can plan the next steps at your ease.
Frequently Asked Questions About Consulting a Medical Malpractice Attorney
Below is a table comparing various scenarios and when you should consider consulting an attorney:
| Scenario | Is There Basis for a Claim? | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| A physician performed surgery that led to a serious complication that was not disclosed in advance | Possible — depends on whether the complication was reasonable and foreseeable | Contact an attorney immediately |
| A hospital left an instrument inside your body after surgery | Yes — this is clearly negligence | Contact an attorney immediately |
| A physician failed to perform a mandatory examination that was standard practice, resulting in delayed diagnosis | Possible — depends on the severity of the impact | Consult with an attorney |
| Standard treatment resulted in a rare but known complication | No — unless you were not informed of the risk | Verify whether informed consent was obtained |
| A physician prescribed you a medication that was incompatible with other medications you were taking | Possible — depends on whether the physician should have known about the interaction | Contact an attorney |
| A hospital failed to properly monitor your condition during hospitalization | Possible — depends on the severity of the negligence | Consult with an attorney |
Frequently Asked Questions — When to Consult a Medical Malpractice Attorney
Do you suspect you were harmed by medical negligence?
Do not wait — time is critical. Schedule a free initial consultation meeting with our firm in Petah Tikva today.
Leave your details — we’ll get back to you
We’ll respond within 24 hours