American Ambulance Sued in Fresno

A family has received a considerable settlement from American Ambulance after filing a medical malpractice lawsuit on behalf of an injured father. This victim’s life has been permanently altered due to injuries sustained while traveling aboard an ambulance in Fresno County back in 2018. Although this is a notable victory and a massive story in the world of medical malpractice, the settlement could have been much, much higher.

If you believe you have experienced medical malpractice in California, get in touch with a qualified, experienced attorney as soon as possible. Medical malpractice lawsuits are notoriously difficult to navigate, which means that hiring a competent, skilled attorney is absolutely vital. You also need to act quickly, as the statute of limitations can prevent you from taking legal action if you wait too long.

Massive Settlement Awarded to Family of Father in Vegetative State

Initially, the family of an injured father won a whopping $49.8-million settlement from American Ambulance. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2018 incident that left a father in a permanent vegetative state while being transported in an ambulance. The family alleged that a paramedic mistakenly removed a breathing tube while transporting the father and then failed to replace it. As a result, the victim has been in a “persistent vegetative state” since 2018, and doctors are not sure whether he will ever regain full consciousness. He could live for decades longer, but it is clear that he has suffered serious brain damage.

The family says that they need the settlement to pay for top-quality medical care for the victim, and they wish to transport him to a better care facility where he will stay for the rest of his days. The wife of this victim was actually pregnant with his child at the time of this incident, which may explain the nearly $50-million settlement. Whenever surviving spouses are left alone to raise children without the support of a primary wage-earner, you can expect significant settlements such as this.

The Settlement Was Reduced

However, this settlement was eventually reduced to just $17.3 million. Although this might still sound like a lot of money, you have to consider the rising cost of living, which is currently skyrocketing due to inflation. Remember, this settlement is supposed to support the wife and her children for the rest of their lives after losing the primary breadwinner of the family. Not only that, but the settlement must also cover state-of-the-art medical treatments for the surviving victim, who may continue to live on for decades to come. This lowered settlement might just barely cover the family’s living expenses when all is said and done.

So, why was the settlement reduced? It all comes down to California’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act. This set of laws was originally passed in 1975, and it involves damage caps on medical malpractice payouts. The goal was to lower insurance premiums for healthcare providers in California.

One would expect that this lowered settlement amount would allow American Ambulance to rely on their insurance provider to handle this issue. However, new reports suggest that the organization has been “abandoned” by its insurance provider. As a result, the company is apparently facing bankruptcy, and this could affect millions of people in the Fresno area who rely on this ambulance service for critical, life-saving treatment and transport.

Many Questions Remain Unanswered

This lawsuit is far from over, as the surviving family members are moving forward with appeals and other strategies in an attempt to recover a more adequate settlement amount. American Ambulance has vehemently denied any possibility of bankruptcy and insists that it will continue to serve the community. The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act will once again face dissolution in 2022 when voters have the opportunity to eliminate these laws in California. Much hangs in the balance, and this case could have a tremendous impact on medical services and future medical malpractice lawsuits in California.

Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today

Mary Alexander & Associates is ready and waiting to assist all injured victims in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and all surrounding areas. Thanks to years of experience with personal injury lawsuits, we can guide you towards a fair, adequate settlement that reflects the true extent of your injuries.

It goes without saying that the American Ambulance service is a vital service. But their importance to our society does not give them the right to harm innocent people through gross negligence. In fact, the importance of this service means that they should be held to a much higher standard. As with any legitimate medical service, innocent Californians trust ambulance providers to do the right thing. Tragically, this trust is often misplaced. Book your consultation today, and we can help you hold these organizations accountable for your injuries.