Hospital-acquired infections are serious and often preventable medical complications that can cause permanent injury or death. If you or a loved one developed an infection because a hospital failed to follow proper safety protocols, call (304) 720-6700 or message Tiano O’Dell, PLLC today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your potential claim.
Why Choose Us
- We have a record of success in high-stakes medical negligence litigation.
- Decades of experience handling complex hospital liability and medical malpractice cases.
- A reputation built on preparation, integrity, and results, with referrals serving as a strong endorsement of the firm’s work.
Our Results
- $4.98 million verdict for a medical malpractice case involving a missed diagnosis in the emergency room.
- $1.4 million settlement for a medical malpractice case involving the prescription of the wrong medication.
- $785,000 verdict in a medical malpractice case where a negligently cut bile duct caused severe injury after insurers initially offered nothing to settle.
What Are Hospital-Acquired Infections?
Hospital-acquired infections develop during or after a hospital stay and were not present at the time of admission. These infections often occur because hospitals failed to maintain sterile environments or properly monitor patients. Common hospital-acquired infections include:
- Surgical site infections.
- Sepsis caused by untreated infections.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
- Clostridioides difficile infections.
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia.
- Bloodstream infections from IV lines.
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
These infections can prolong recovery, require additional surgeries, or lead to organ failure.
How Hospital Infections Occur
Hospitals must follow strict infection prevention protocols. When staff members cut corners or ignore these standards, patients face serious risk. Common causes include:
- Failure to properly sterilize surgical instruments.
- Inadequate hand hygiene by medical staff.
- Improper wound care or dressing changes.
- Use of contaminated medical equipment.
- Delayed diagnosis or treatment of infection symptoms.
- Poor isolation procedures for contagious patients.
- Understaffing that leads to rushed or incomplete care.
Many hospital infections result from failures that should never occur in a properly managed medical facility.
Injuries and Complications
Hospital-acquired infections often cause severe and lasting harm, including:
- Sepsis and systemic infection.
- Organ damage affecting the kidneys, lungs, or heart.
- Extended hospital stays and repeat surgeries.
- Permanent disability or reduced quality of life.
- Fatal outcomes leading to wrongful death claims.
Elderly patients, surgical patients, and individuals with weakened immune systems face increased risk.
Liability in Hospital Infection Cases
Hospital infection cases often involve medical negligence. Liability may fall on:
- Hospitals that failed to enforce infection control policies.
- Physicians who ignored signs of infection or delayed treatment.
- Nurses who failed to monitor patients or follow hygiene protocols.
- Surgical teams that used improperly sterilized equipment.
- Facilities that failed to isolate infectious patients.
West Virginia follows a modified comparative negligence rule under West Virginia Code §55-7-13a. Injured patients may recover damages if they are less than 50 percent at fault. Any compensation awarded is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned.
How a Charleston Hospital Infection Attorney Can Help
Hospital infection cases involve complex medical records and aggressive defense tactics. A Charleston, WV Medical Malpractice Lawyer can help by:
- Securing hospital records, infection control logs, and staffing documentation.
- Identifying when and how the infection developed.
- Working with medical experts to establish breaches in the standard of care.
- Identifying all responsible parties, including hospitals and providers.
- Calculating the full financial impact of the infection and resulting complications.
After hiring an attorney you can have the peace of mind that your case will move forward while you focus on recovering.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one suffered a preventable infection during a hospital stay in Charleston, legal help is available. Call (304) 720-6700 or message Tiano O’Dell, PLLC online today to schedule a free consultation.
