When you seek treatment from a podiatrist, you expect your foot or ankle condition to improve – not get worse. Preventable medical errors like a missed diagnosis or improper procedure can leave you facing additional pain, medical bills, time away from work, and lasting complications.
The good news is that if you believe a podiatrist’s care caused you harm, you may have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim under New York law. An experienced podiatric malpractice attorney from The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, PC, can review what happened, explain your legal options, and help you determine what to do next. Contact us today to discuss your case in a free initial consultation.
Why Choose The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, PC?
When choosing an attorney to represent you in a podiatric malpractice claim, you need to trust that the lawyer you work with is prepared to provide the level of attention your case deserves. Here’s why New York patients harmed due to their medical providers’ preventable errors choose The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, PC:
- Lawrence Karam has over 25 years of experience representing people harmed by podiatric errors.
- The attorney you meet with initially will be the same attorney you communicate with throughout your case and who represents you in interactions and negotiations with the other parties involved.
- The firm has a lengthy track record of successful outcomes in complex podiatric malpractice cases.
- We work on contingency, only collecting a fee if and when we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is always free, and we charge nothing upfront for our legal services.
What Is Podiatric Malpractice?
Podiatrists have a responsibility to provide care that rises to a particular professional standard. When they fail to do so and wind up causing harm to a patient, that patient may be entitled to pursue compensation for their resulting losses through a podiatric malpractice claim.
However, a poor outcome on its own doesn’t necessarily mean malpractice occurred. The key factor is whether the podiatrist failed to act in the way a reasonably competent provider would have acted under similar circumstances.
Podiatric malpractice can take many forms, including:
- Misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose a condition and allowing it to worsen
- Failing to order appropriate tests when a patient’s symptoms call for further evaluation
- Misinterpreting test results or overlooking significant findings
- Making preventable errors during a procedure
- Failing to properly monitor a patient or respond to complications
- Prescribing an inappropriate medication or dosage
- Failing to obtain informed consent before treatment
- Failing to make a timely referral when a condition requires care from another provider
Common Podiatric Treatments That Can Give Rise to a Malpractice Claim
Podiatrists diagnose and treat a wide range of foot, ankle, and lower leg conditions. Errors in some common types of podiatric treatment may create the grounds for an injured patient to file a podiatric malpractice claim against their doctor.
Foot Drop
Foot drop can result from nerve damage or other underlying conditions. A podiatrist may face a malpractice claim if they fail to identify the cause, delay appropriate testing, or provide treatment that worsens nerve damage or other symptoms.
Bunion Surgery
Bunion surgery may require a podiatrist to reposition bones, tendons, or ligaments. Claims may arise when surgical errors cause nerve injuries, improper bone alignment, infection, chronic pain, or the need for additional corrective procedures.
Plantar Fibroma
A plantar fibroma is a benign growth in the tissue along the bottom of the foot. Errors in diagnosis or surgical removal can potentially lead to unnecessary procedures, nerve damage, scarring, or other complications.
Hammertoe Surgery
Surgical treatment for hammertoe may involve correcting bones, joints, or tendons. Improper technique or poor post-operative care can lead to continued deformity, instability, infection, or persistent pain.
Heel and Plantar Fascia Procedures
Patients who experience chronic heel pain may undergo injections or surgery when conservative care fails. Malpractice may involve improper injections, unnecessary procedures, or damage to the surrounding nerves and tissues.
Ankle and Foot Surgery
Podiatrists may also perform procedures involving fractures or other harm to a patient’s ligaments, tendons, and other foot and ankle structures. Mistakes during surgery or recovery can result in impaired mobility, prolonged pain, or the need for additional medical treatment.
How Can You Prove Podiatric Malpractice?
Proving podiatric malpractice requires you to show that the podiatrist who treated you failed to meet the accepted standard of care and directly caused you measurable harm. Some of the types of evidence you may use to support your podiatric malpractice claim include:
- Medical records showing your diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care
- Imaging and test results that may reveal missed or improperly addressed conditions
- Testimony from qualified medical professionals explaining how your podiatrist’s care fell below accepted standards
- Documentation of any additional treatment you needed because of the injury
- Financial records showing your medical costs, lost income, and other losses
What an Experienced Podiatric Malpractice Lawyer Can Do for You
When you turn to The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, PC, to support you after a podiatric error, you can expect us to manage the details of your case from the outset. We’re here to handle the insurance and legal steps involved in pursuing compensation for your losses while you focus on healing. Our firm will:
- Review your medical records and identify where the podiatrist’s care may have fallen below accepted standards
- Consult qualified medical professionals who can evaluate the treatment you received
- Gather evidence showing how the error caused you additional harm and financial losses
- Calculate the value of your claim based on your injuries and related losses
- Handle communication and negotiations with insurers and opposing counsel on your behalf
- Prepare your case for litigation and advocate for you in court when necessary
Contact a New York Podiatric Malpractice Attorney Today
If you suffered preventable harm due to a podiatrist’s mistake, you deserve the opportunity to hold them accountable for the financial, physical, and personal losses you’ve experienced. You also deserve experienced and dedicated support from skilled legal professionals. Contact the office of The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, PC, to meet at no upfront cost with an attorney and learn more about your legal rights and options.