What is the difference between a medical malpractice lawsuit and a personal injury lawsuit?

Medical malpractice and personal injury lawsuits are both forms of civil litigation, but they are not the same. Medical malpractice involves a health care provider or medical facility making a medical mistake that directly leads to a patient’s injury. Personal injury is a more general term that can refer to any type of injury, whether physical or psychological, caused by another person’s negligence. In California, a medical malpractice lawsuit seeks to recover damages caused by the health care provider’s negligence. For example, if a doctor fails to diagnose a serious medical condition and this results in the patient’s death, the doctor could be held liable for medical malpractice. The patient’s family could then file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor to seek compensation for their loss. In contrast, a personal injury lawsuit may be filed for any type of injury. For example, if you are injured in a car accident and it was not your fault, you could file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver of the other vehicle. The lawsuit would seek to recover damages for physical and psychological injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages. Overall, the major difference between a medical malpractice lawsuit and a personal injury lawsuit is the type of injury at issue. A medical malpractice lawsuit seeks to recover damages caused by a health care provider’s negligence and a personal injury lawsuit can be filed for any type of injury.

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What is the difference between a medical malpractice lawsuit and a personal injury lawsuit?

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