How much can you get for malpractice suit in Texas?

Asked by: Dr. Lavonne Fay  |  Last update: September 20, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (15 votes)

The basics of Texas law
It caps the amount of money that can be awarded for pain and suffering in any medical error claim to a maximum of $250,000. There is no limit on the amount that can be reimbursed for medical costs or lost wages.

What is the average malpractice settlement in Texas?

What Is the Average Settlement for a Medical Malpractice Injury in Texas? In Texas, medical professionals are held to a high standard of care with strict penalties imposed for negligence. The average settlement for a case involving a medical error is almost $200,000.

How much can you sue for medical malpractice in Texas?

The Texas medical malpractice law has put caps that limit the damages a patient can get if they win the case. The cap for the amount the defendant can pay the plaintiff, for all healthcare providers and hospitals, is $250,000.

What is the maximum malpractice award in Texas?

For example, if an individual pursues a medical malpractice claim against a physician or a single healthcare institution, they may only receive a maximum of $250,000 on non-economic damages. If a person wants to sue multiple healthcare institutions, they can only receive a maximum of $500,000 in non-economic damages.

How much can you sue a doctor for in Texas?

The size of the cap depends on whom the plaintiff is suing. Each plaintiff may recover: $250,000 in noneconomic damages from any single health care institution (such as a hospital), but no more than $500,000 from all health care institutions named as defendants in the case.

What you and your family need to know about medical malpractice in Texas

40 related questions found

Is it hard to sue a doctor in Texas?

These cases can be challenging to pursue because winning a judgment does not guarantee that the plaintiff will recover any damages. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can address these obstacles and review if any other parties involved are liable for the negligent care.

Can you sue a doctor for pain and suffering in Texas?

In Texas, medical malpractice suits can be filed for “treatment, lack of treatment or other claimed departure from accepted standards of medical care” that result in injury or death to the patient. [1] Remember, it must be proven that this harm resulted from the healthcare professional's negligence.

Who pays the highest malpractice?

More than half of anesthesiologists report being named in a lawsuit at least once in their career and the specialty continues to have one of the highest malpractice premiums, according to the Medscape Anesthesiologist Malpractice Report 2021.

How long do you have to sue a doctor for malpractice in Texas?

In general, a medical malpractice lawsuit in Texas has a two-year window, so in most cases, you would have two years to sue a doctor after surgery. However, there are certain exceptions. Other than the deadline, there are other critical details involved which might affect your case.

What is the max damages in Texas?

Punitive damages are capped in Texas, as listed in the Texas Statutes here. Punitive damages are capped at the greater of $200,000 or two times the amount of economic damages PLUS the amount equal to non-economic damages up to $750,000.

What is the maximum medical malpractice damages in Texas?

$250,000 cap for all individual physicians or health care providers combined. $250,000 cap for a hospital or facility, up to a maximum of $500,000 if there are multiple hospital or facility defendants. Although the noneconomic damages cap became law in 2003, it's not indexed for inflation and isn't adjusted each year.

How do I prove medical malpractice in Texas?

Texas law requires persons injured by substandard medical care to prove:
  1. the existence of doctor-patient relationship or some other duty of care;
  2. the doctor or hospital was “negligent,” meaning that the care provided was below the prevailing standard of care within the medical profession; and.

Can you sue a doctor in Texas for malpractice?

You can file a medical malpractice lawsuit anytime a hospital or their employees are negligent or act wrongfully and cause you harm. Specifically, that means that a physician or hospital failed to disclose or adequately disclose the risks or hazards involved in the medical procedure you were undergoing.

Is it better to settle in a malpractice lawsuit?

The decision as to whether to settle out of court is often determined by the amount of money the at-fault party is willing to offer for settlement. If this amount is unacceptably less than the amount you are seeking, and you know your case is strong and compelling, opting for a settlement may not be to your advantage.

What is the highest malpractice settlement?

Ten of the Largest Medical Malpractice Verdicts of 2022
  • $111 million verdict in Minnesota: Thapa v. ...
  • $97.4 million verdict in Iowa: Kromphardt v. ...
  • $77 million verdict in Georgia: The Estate of Nicholas Carusillo v. ...
  • $75 million verdict in Georgia: Buckelew v. ...
  • $68.8 million verdict in Florida: Crohan v.

What is the standard for medical malpractice in Texas?

In the medical malpractice context, negligence means that the healthcare provider breached the applicable accepted standard of medical care. Under Texas law, the accepted standard of medical care is to act as a healthcare provider of reasonable and ordinary prudence would act under the same or similar circumstances.

What is the discovery rule in Texas for medical malpractice?

One such circumstance is the discovery rule, which basically means that the statute of limitations clock doesn't start ticking until an injured person knew or reasonably should have known about the negligence or injury. In many cases, the discovery rule clearly applies.

Is medical malpractice the number one killer?

Over 250,000 people in the U.S. die each year because of medical errors, making it the third leading cause of death in this country behind heart disease and cancer, according to a Johns Hopkins study.

How rare is medical malpractice?

More than 100,000 deaths each year might be related to medication complications. Up to 1,500,000 people suffer a nonfatal injury due to a medical error each year. Only 1-in-50 medical malpractice victims will pursue a claim. About 50% of medical malpractice cases are filed against surgeons in particular.

What medical specialty is sued the least?

Surgical specialities had the highest risk of being sued, and internal medicine subspecialties had the lowest risk.

How is pain and suffering calculated in Texas?

In Texas, the basic multiplier method is used to determine the value of pain and suffering in personal injury cases. An insurance company will add up all of your economic damages like medical bills and lost wages, and multiply the sum by on a scale between 1.5 and five.

How do you prove pain and suffering in Texas?

Medical evidence: Nothing is more objective for a jury than to hear your treating medical professionals describe exactly what's happened to you and how the injuries have caused pain and suffering. For example, if your back is in severe pain, the doctor can show precisely why it is.

Is there a limit on pain and suffering in Texas?

Damage Caps

Whenever the state is the defendant, your total claim is limited to $100,000. Finally, Texas will cap your pain and suffering (and other non-ecomonic) damages at $250,000 for medical malpractice claims and claims against a government entity.

Can you sue for misdiagnosis in Texas?

If you have been misdiagnosed by your doctor, you may be able to sue for medical malpractice. An attorney can help you determine whether or not you have a viable case and how much compensation you may be entitled to receive.

Can you sue a hospital in Texas for negligence?

If you or a loved one were injured in a Texas hospital due to negligence or a malicious act you can be awarded compensation for “damages”. These damages include: Economic damages – These damages reimburse medical bills and lost wages from missing work.