Buffalo medical malpractice lawsuits can be very time consuming and expensive for all parties involved. Fortunately, that situation may soon change based a program designed to resolve such cases quickly that appears to be coming to Erie County.
Currently there are approximately 4,000 medical malpractice claims filed in New York State each year. Many of these claims are straightforward matters that could be resolved quickly, but instead become bogged down in the court system as the attorneys involved use traditional methods in an effort to reach resolution.
Under the proposed program, cases come before a judge earlier in the process, facilitating meaningful dialog between the parties and resulting in cases settling more quickly. A version of the program being brought to Erie County has been used in the Bronx, where it has shown both to cut down on court delays and save money. It also cuts costs to hospitals and directly impacts their insurance costs because time and money is not wasted litigating matters that will eventually settle anyway.
The program is funded by a $3 million federal grant used to train judges on medical issues and is being expanded to Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. Some Erie County judges are also being trained.
If you have been the victim of medical malpractice and have any questions, please feel free to call us at 716-542-5444. We would be happy to help you.
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