Just like every other type of personal injury claim, Iowa medical malpractice lawsuits have deadlines that an injured person or their family must meet.
Generally speaking, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including medical malpractice claims, is two years from the date of injury. This means injured patients or their families only have two years to settle their claim or file a lawsuit. If a lawsuit is not filed or the case is not settled by that time, you may lose out on your right to be compensated for your injuries.
Time May Be Running Out On Your Medical Malpractice Claim
Medical malpractice cases take time and money to investigate. The attorney taking your case will need to gather your medical records for review. Then, an expert witness – usually another doctor that is hired by your attorney – will evaluate those records. This expert will be looking to see if the doctor who allegedly hurt you was negligent in their care and if your injuries were caused by the doctor’s negligent action or inaction in treating you.
It can take six months or more to investigate a medical malpractice claim before filing a lawsuit. If you or a loved one suffered permanent injuries or death because of a medical error, you should speak with an Iowa malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.
Exceptions to the Iowa Statute of Limitations
There are exceptions to the Iowa statute of limitations, especially if the injured patient was a child. The only way to know if your case can still be filed after the two-year mark has passed is to speak with an Iowa medical malpractice lawyer. They will tell you if your particular case meets one of these exceptions.
Investigating whether a serious injury or death was caused by malpractice can be overwhelming and intimidating. Call RSH Legal today at 1-319-774-1542, and one of our experienced medical malpractice attorneys will tell you what your next steps should be.
