Wisconsin state laws regarding medical malpractice are very specific, which is why you need an experienced medical malpractice lawyer who understands local cases.
Read more: What is medical malpractice?
Wisconsin Medical Malpractice Laws
- Statute of Limitations and Discovery Rule: you must file a lawsuit within three years from the date of injury or within one year from the date you discovered the injury. However, it is important to note that no more than five year can pass from the date of the act or omission.
- Liability Rules: In Wisconsin, the at-fault defendant must be at least 51% or higher at fault if you are seeking the full verdict amount. Any percentage less than 50% against the individual will lead to a smaller payout than the full verdict amount. If the plaintiff is found more than 50% at fault, there is no recovery.
- Mediation: There is a requirement that the plaintiff request mediation either prior to or immediately after filing a lawsuit.
- Payout Limits for Non-Economic Damages: Wisconsin imposes a cap of $750,000 on what people can collect for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lower quality of life.
- Claims against the University of Wisconsin (UW) Health System: Wisconsin imposes a total cap on damages of $250,000 for claims against employees of the UW Health System.
- Patient Compensation Fund: In Wisconsin, physicians must pay a yearly fee to the patient compensation fund in addition to carrying malpractice insurance.
- Expert Testimony: In Wisconsin, they require expert testimony.
- Family ties: In a wrongful death due to medical malpractice, if the victim is an adult, only a spouse or minor child may sue; an adult may not.
What to do if you believe you have a case?
If you believe you have a medical malpractice case, since they are so complex, you should contact a medical malpractice attorney at Habush Habush & Rottier to review the specifics of your case right away. There will be lots of documents to gather, analyze, and discuss. Medical experts will need to be contacted as well. An attorney can help you complete all the steps in the process.
Read More: How Does a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Work?
Attorney Eric J. Ryberg
Madison
Eric Ryberg is a shareholder in the firm and Co-Managing Partner of the Madison office. He has successfully tried personal injury cases in Dane, Rock, Sauk, Waukesha, Eau Claire, Dunn, Jefferson, Iowa, Brown, and Kenosha counties. He is admitted to practice before the State of Wisconsin and the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
In 2011, Eric was recognized by the Wisconsin Law Journal as one of the 25 Up and Coming lawyers in the state and has received an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating from Martindale Hubbell.