Ambulance Malpractice

People suffering from symptoms that may indicate a medical emergency often call 9-1-1 to beckon ambulances to take them to hospitals. Receiving prompt care and timely transportation to medical facilities is critical to positive outcomes in many instances. Therefore, if ambulance personnel do not perform their duties properly, it can lead to devastating health issues, and in some cases, result in a loss of life. While the people who work for ambulance companies are typically not doctors, they can nonetheless be held liable for ambulance malpractice, and anyone hurt due to the negligence of ambulance workers should speak to a lawyer regarding their rights. The knowledgeable Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group are skilled at helping people hurt by careless medical providers pursue damages. If you were harmed by careless ambulance workers, we can gather the facts and evidence needed to set forth compelling arguments on your behalf.

People expect ambulances to possess the equipment needed to provide urgent medical care and stabilize patients. If an ambulance is not adequately stocked or organized, it can cause a delay in providing critical treatment, which may constitute malpractice. Similarly, if the employees who work for an ambulance company are not properly trained to provide emergency medical services or fail to provide care that complies with their training, it may be considered malpractice as well. For example, if an ambulance worker does not take a patient’s vital signs or fails to note abnormalities that may require urgent care, it may lead to grave harm. Likewise, if an ambulance worker does not properly perform a task such as intubating or restraining a patient, it can cause significant injuries.

Generally, Maryland medical malpractice cases require the plaintiff to prove harm suffered due to the defendant’s negligence. A plaintiff asserting malpractice claims against ambulance personnel, though, may face a different burden of proof. The precise standard that applies depends on numerous factors, including whether a commercial or volunteer ambulance company provided the services in question and whether the ambulance was acting as a rescue company when the harm occurred.

Commercial ambulance companies that are not providing rescue services, such as those hired to transport patients from one facility to another, may be held liable for harm caused by negligence. A plaintiff alleging negligence must show that the defendant had a duty to act in compliance with a standard of care, which is the care that a reasonable ambulance worker faced with the same situation would employ, and behavior that departed from the standard and constitutes a breach of the duty. The plaintiff must then show that the defendant’s breach caused the plaintiff to suffer actual harm.

Volunteer ambulance companies and their workers have broad statutory immunity from liability and can generally only be held accountable for harm if it is proven they acted with gross negligence. Specifically, a plaintiff may have to demonstrate that a defendant knowingly failed to comply with the applicable standard of care, recklessly disregarding the fact that the breach of the duty owed may harm another person. Put another way, a plaintiff alleging gross negligence must prove that a defendant’s acts were either willful or wanton.

Regardless of the burden of proof that applies, a plaintiff that successfully proves a defendant should be held liable for their injuries may recover the cost of any medical treatment needed because of the harm suffered, compensation for lost wages, and damages for the trauma and pain caused by the defendant’s acts.

People rely on ambulance companies to provide competent care in critical situations, but unfortunately, some first responders neglect their duties, causing significant harm. If you were hurt by a negligent ambulance worker, you should talk to a lawyer regarding your potential claims. At Arfaa Law Group, our attorneys can assess your harm and advise you of what claims you may be able to assert in pursuit of damages. We have an office in Baltimore, where we frequently assist injured parties in medical malpractice cases. You can contact us at (410) 889-1850 or through the online form to set up a meeting.