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

Medical malpractice and personal injury lawsuits share a lot of similarities but there are some key differences to take into consideration. Medical malpractice is a type of professional negligence that occurs when a healthcare professional, like a medical doctor, provides substandard care that results in injury or death to the patient. On the other hand, a personal injury lawsuit is any legal action that is filed due to an injury caused by the negligence of another individual or entity. The key difference between medical malpractice and personal injury lawsuits is the burden of proof. Generally speaking, if a patient is seeking compensation for medical malpractice, they must prove that the medical professional acted negligently by providing substandard care that caused the injury. To prove negligence, the patient must show that the medical professional failed to provide the required standard of care and failed to provide the same level of care that a reasonable medical professional would have provided in the same situation. In a personal injury lawsuit, on the other hand, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s negligence caused the plaintiff’s injury. When filing a medical malpractice or personal injury lawsuit, plaintiffs must have evidence to support their claim. The evidence can include medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony. Ultimately, the difference between a medical malpractice and personal injury lawsuit lies in the burden of proof and the specific elements of each case.

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