Foldenauer Law Group is a team of experienced trial attorneys helping people involved in business and professional negligence disputes or suffering injuries caused by another’s negligence. When people hear the term “professional negligence,” they often associate it with medical malpractice. However, in California, professional negligence can arise from negligent or wrongful actions not only by doctors and medical professionals, but also attorneys, architects, engineers, accountants, and other professionals.
Breaking Down Professional Negligence
Professional negligence occurs when any professional, including the ones highlighted above, fail to perform their duties with the level of skill, care, and diligence expected of them. Ultimately, this failure results in quantifiable harm to their client or patient. Though we will outline some examples in a moment, you can be affected financially, physically, or both, depending on the specifics of your case. Depending on the harm you have endured, you may need to contact an experienced business litigation attorney instead of a personal injury one. They can help you understand your legal rights while explaining your options for seeking compensation or redress.
To better understand how professional negligence can be a root cause for various cases, look at the following examples. These are specific situations where reaching out to an experienced attorney is strongly advisable.
- A person receives substandard medical care from a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider and suffers harm. They could sustain additional injuries, medical bills, and be unable to work. They seek compensation to provide for themselves and their families before they return to work. There may be scenarios where a person is left incapable of returning to their previous line of work due to their injuries.
- Although our law firm prides itself in being your most loyal and dependable ally during a time when you need the most, professional negligence can apply to the legal community. Consider the person whose lawyer fails to provide them with competent legal representation, resulting in harm or loss.
- Accountants or financial advisors could provide their clients with inaccurate or misleading information, which could have a significant financial impact.
- A contractor or engineer fails to meet the appropriate standards of care, causing damage to your property and putting your safety in jeopardy.
The Importance of Reasonable Care
The result doesn’t always determine whether there was professional negligence. If a financial advisor provided you with detrimental advice, you cannot automatically assume negligence. Regardless of the field, the professional must adhere to the standard that other professionals would hold in a similar situation. In other words, how would other doctors, financial advisors, or lawyers act had they been given a chance? Here are some other factors to consider.
- Could the professional have foreseen that their actions or advice would cause you harm?
- Could they have taken another form of action or advised you differently?
- If there was another course of action to take, why wasn’t it taken?
- Was the professional aware (or should have been) of other viable options?
If you have suffered harm due to the actions of a professional, you should consult with an attorney who is experienced in handling professional negligence cases. We can help you determine if you have a valid claim, or point you in the right direction towards recovery. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.