Close to 100,000 people die every year from preventable medical errors. This number is completely unacceptable. If you've suffered an injury due to medical error, please consider giving our law firm a call at 1-800-752-0042 for a free, confidential consultation.

Virginia (VA) Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Offices in VA Beach, Hampton & Elizabeth City, NC

One of every 10 patients admitted to a hospital suffers a preventable medical mistake. This rate of medical malpractice is shockingly high. Injuries from these mistakes in hospitals can lead to severe disability or death including additional hospitalization, infections, lost income, and increased medical expense. In response to this high rate of malpractice and substandard care in hospitals, consumer groups have been founded and developed to promote patient safety.

See also these related Virginia medical negligence articles:
The Horrors of a Wrong-Side Surgery

Medical Mistakes Can Lead to Sudden, Tragic Loss of Life

A number of these patient advocacy groups were founded by people who were themselves harmed by medical mistakes in hospitals. Often families who have had a loved one killed or severely injured by the health care system will devote some of the money they receive from a medical malpractice lawsuit or settlement to help prevent such hospital and medical errors in the future. Our firm - Shapiro, Lewis, and Appleton - in Virginia are all members of American Association for Justice (formally the American Trial Lawyers Association).

We strongly support such organizations which serve a great purpose in our justice system of not only deterring bad conduct by doctors and hospitals, but also helping to educate medical professionals and consumers about how to improve the system. One of the patient advocacy groups was started by a family whose daughter died after medical mistakes. The family is now helping others through the Josie King Foundation and has a website called www.josieking.org. This 18 month old girl was killed by errors that occurred at John’s Hopkins Children Center in Baltimore, Maryland (MD). John’s Hopkins is normally thought of as one of the best medical facilities in the country. At first, she was angry at the hospital but the mother turned the financial settlement she received from the wrongful death claim into a way of helping the very organization which took her daughter’s life.

The Josie King Foundation is now paying for health and safety programs at Johns Hopkins and other hospitals. This charitable foundation is helping advise medical and legal experts on avoiding medical malpractice and providing resources to hospitals seeking to improve safety.

The Josie King Foundation is not alone in this patient safety movement led by the very families of those hurt by medical errors. Another medical safety project was started by a family whose son ended up with severe brain damage as a result of neonatal jaundice being untreated. Another family member died after a cancer diagnosis was not communicated causing a delay in treatment and death. The folks who suffered these two tragedies are involved with a group called Consumers Advancing Patient Safety.

Knowing about malpractice cases from the many cases our firm has litigated for families over the years, I am impressed with these brave families. Someone that is able to take a tragedy and turn it into a cause for good is always inspiring. Many times the public is not aware of how many people with medical malpractice lawsuits and other injury claims will take the money they receive from the insurance company and do good deeds for others.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

Virginia Super Lawyers

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about.

Virginia Super Lawyers

Search Our Site

Get help Now!

Practice Areas

Close to 100,000 people die every year from preventable medical errors. This number is completely unacceptable. If you've suffered an injury due to medical error, please consider giving our law firm a call at 1-800-752-0042 for a free, confidential consultation.