Having to be rushed to an out-of-state hospital for a medical emergency may be quite terrifying. You may be unfamiliar with the reputation for quality healthcare this facility holds, not to mention that you are likely experiencing great physical discomfort and pain so far away from home without anyone in your immediate support system present. On top of all this, you may be unsure whether your insurance coverage will apply here. What might make this matter worse, though, is if you incur additional injuries and damages at this hospital. Well, please read on to discover what to do if you get injured at an out-of-state hospital and how a seasoned New York City medical malpractice attorney at Mark L. Bodner, P.C., can help you understand your legal rights at this time.
What should I do after being injured at an out-of-state hospital?
After getting injured, you should conduct the same procedure at an out-of-state hospital as anywhere else. First, you should notify the hospital administration about your injury and request that they initiate an official incident report. Before you get discharged from the hospital, you should obtain a copy of this report, along with copies of all the medical records acquired during your stay. This early documentation may prove pivotal in your future medical malpractice case, as there may be no mistake with when, where, how, and what/who caused your injury to occur.
Aside from your potential legal claim, it is arguably more important to concern yourself with your immediate health. With that, we strongly urge you to seek follow-up medical care in your home state, with a medical provider whom you have known to trust. Here, you may collect additional medication documentation, which may highlight the severity of your injuries and the extent of your current and future damages (i.e., medical bills, time spent away from work, physical pain and emotional suffering, etc).
Can I sue an out-of-state hospital for medical malpractice?
Understandably, you may be confused over who has jurisdiction over your medical malpractice claim if your incident happened at an out-of-state hospital. Well, we may clarify this for you when you speak to us at your initial consultation. But generally speaking, you must file your legal claim in the state where the hospital is located. Even if you live out of state, your injury occurred under another state’s medical laws and licensing requirements. The only exception here may be if this particular hospital advertises or offers services at satellite locations across state lines.
No matter what specific malpractice matter you are currently dealing with, a competent New York City medical malpractice attorney from Mark L. Bodner, P.C., is willing and able to step in and facilitate the process. Retain our legal services today.