South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
A new analysis by Harvard Medical School researchers indicates that while the number of successful medical malpractice claims in the U.S. has fallen – dramatically so – the average payout in successful claims has risen.
Between 1992 and 2014, the number of medical malpractice claims nationally that resulted in a damage award to the plaintiff fell by a stunning 56 percent, researchers reported. However, the average amount that was paid out for claims that were successful climbed by almost 25 percent, from an average of $287,000 between 1992 and 1996 up to $353,000 from 2009 to 2014.
There are a few things going on here. The first is the very obvious effect of tort reform on medical malpractice lawsuits. Lawmakers across the country, under intense pressure from big industry lobbyists, have steadily carved away at plaintiff access to the courts for claims of negligence by medical professionals. Continue reading →