Approximately 10% of dental malpractice cases are from nerve injury.
According to the True Cost of Health Care, in 2016, there were approximately one thousand dental
malpractice lawsuits.
There were probably many more potential lawsuits, but most potential plaintiffs were unaware of their
right to sue a dentist for malpractice.
Assume you visited your dentist, and they botched the job, leaving you with painful nerve damage.
Can you sue the dentist?
What are you required to prove?
Should you appoint an attorney to sue on your behalf?
Let’s seek answers to these questions.
Can You Sue Your Dentist?
Your dentist owes you a duty of care as a qualified professional.
So even if your dentist made a genuine mistake, that duty of care could be breached so that they could
be liable for your nerve damage.
Dentists carry insurance to cover their mistakes should they occur, so you should not hesitate in suing a
dentist when you have a deserving case.
What Do You Need to Prove to Succeed With Your Claim?
You are required to prove four elements
● loss of taste
What Amounts Are Generally Awarded for Nerve Damage?
Every case is decided on its own particular facts.
Awards thus differ significantly between different plaintiffs.
The cost of pain, suffering, correction of the damage, and long-term treatment requirements are all
considered during any award.
The average payment in a dental malpractice suit is $65,000.
What Kind of Procedures Can Result in Nerve Damage?
Standard procedures which may cause nerve damage include:
● molar extraction
● wisdom teeth removal
● dental bridge installation
● dental implants
● root canal treatments.
Suppose your dentist performs a specialist procedure for which he is not qualified. In that case, he may
have over-reached his qualifications and skill level. This could be grounds for a personal injury claim.
Do you need to appoint an attorney?
You can handle your claim yourself.
Before you do, consider that personal injury cases are often complex. They require knowledge of the law
and medical procedures.
If the matter proceeds to trial, there will be a need to call and cross-examine expert medical witnesses
to establish negligence. But, again, this is best left to lawyers to handle.
A Final Word
You can sue your dentist.
Before you do, see a highly experienced and specialized personal injury attorney to assist you with your
claim.
Your lawyer will handle all aspects of the claim, including dealing with the insurance companies and
taking your matter to trial if needs be.
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