While all dental procedures come with some measure of risk, it is your dentist’s job to be as careful as possible to avoid causing lingual nerve damage and other injuries. Washington residents have the right to file lawsuits against any dentist who fails in this basic duty.
The team at Jackman Law Firm can help you get justice and financial compensation after a surgery goes wrong. Our Washington dental malpractice lawyer can investigate and fight your case on your behalf.
What Can You Get From a Dental Malpractice Suit in Washington?
In the state of Washington, you are entitled to ask for two main types of compensation after suffering a personal injury in Washington. These are explained in greater detail below.
Financial Losses from Lingual Nerve Damage
Your injury has probably already cost you a significant amount of money thanks to:
- Additional medical expenses you incurred to diagnose and treat the nerve damage
- Time you missed from work while undergoing and recuperating from the procedure(s)
- Work you will miss in the future while dealing with the consequences of the malpractice
- Any other related expenses, such as having to hire someone to watch your kids while you undergo injury treatment
We can calculate how much money this injury has cost you to ensure you seek enough damages to recoup your monetary losses.
Physical and Emotional Injuries Caused by Lingual Nerve Damage
The human mouth performs many necessary tasks but is highly sensitive. Any amount of damage can have a big impact on your life, including:
- Causing physical pain and discomfort
- Causing emotional distress from having to deal with the unnecessary injury and all of the inconvenience it brings to your life
- Reducing your quality of life if you are no longer able to talk or eat as easily as you did before
Quantifying non-economic damages like these is often trickier than dealing with economic/financial damages. Our dental malpractice attorney can help you determine a just amount. Call us today to get started on your case.
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Pursuing Compensation Through Washington Lingual Nerve Damage Lawsuits
The lingual nerve is responsible for ensuring you can feel and use your tongue properly and without hurting yourself (e.g., accidentally biting your tongue). If nerve damage interferes with this ability, you can file a suit against the negligent dentist, anesthesiologist, or dental practice.
RCW § 4.16.350 gives people in Washington state the right to sue a negligent medical professional, including dentists, for up to three years after the incident or one year after the incident’s discovery. To file a lingual nerve damage lawsuit in Washington, you can:
Talk to Our Washington Dental Malpractice Lawyer
We are a law firm that you can trust. Jackman Law Firm is dedicated to protecting ordinary people from negligent medical providers and the big insurance companies that represent them.
In addition to assessing your case at no cost or obligation, we return all calls and emails promptly. Our team knows how anxious you are about your case and strives to keep you well-informed.
Let Us Investigate Your Lingual Nerve Injury
It is not enough to simply accuse the dentist of malpractice and ask for compensation. As your lawyer, we can:
- Recruit a dental expert to evaluate your case and confirm that negligence played a role
- Review your medical records to see what was done and when, as well as what treatments you needed to deal with the lingual nerve damage
- Review your dentist’s records to see if they have a history of negligent behavior or complaints from patients
- Conduct interviews with you and your loved ones to get a better idea of how the injury has affected various aspects of your life
The information from this and other evidence can tell us who you should sue (for example, we can target the individual dentist or the entire dental practice).
Work With Us to Achieve a Fair Nerve Damage Settlement
You should not have to confront the insurance company by yourself, and you do not have to do so. One of our dental malpractice lawyers can do all of the work while regularly consulting you about:
- What settlement offers the insurer has made (if any), and whether they are good enough to merit serious consideration
- Whether we think negotiating for a pretrial settlement is worth the time and effort
- How negotiations are going
- When and if it may be necessary to take the liable party to trial and pursue a jury award instead of a settlement
- How the trial is going and what we are doing to defend your rights in the courtroom
Clients are always welcome to contact our office for additional support and advice at any time.
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Lingual Nerve Damage Symptoms and Treatments
According to a 2023 article from StatPearls, damage to the lingual nerve is one of the most common injuries that occur during dental surgery. A lingual nerve injury may cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Increased or decreased sensitivity, up to and including a “complete loss of feeling” (numbness) or a tingling sensation
- Pain in the tongue or lips
- Trouble talking, biting, or chewing
- Injuries caused by biting the tongue or the inside of your mouth
Treating Lingual Nerve Damage in Washington State
In most cases, these symptoms, while upsetting, will clear up on their own. If they do not, you may require medication, physiotherapy, or another surgical procedure to address the problem.
The risk of injuring the lingual nerve during surgery is well-known to dentists, so there is no excuse for them to be unaware of the danger or to exhibit carelessness while operating on you. Jackman Law Firm can help you pursue justice after such an injury.
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FAQs on Dental Malpractice Lingual Nerve Damage in Washington
What should I do if I suspect my lingual nerve was damaged during dental treatment in Washington?
If you believe your lingual nerve was damaged during dental treatment, first seek a medical evaluation to confirm the injury and its extent. Then, document your symptoms, treatments received, and any changes in your condition. It’s crucial to contact a dental malpractice lawyer familiar with Washington’s laws, like those at Jackman Law Firm, who can advise you on the next steps for potentially filing a claim.
How do I know if my lingual nerve damage is a case of dental malpractice?
Determining dental malpractice involves proving that your dental care provider failed to meet the standard of care, leading to your lingual nerve damage. This typically requires expert testimony on what a competent dental professional would have done under similar circumstances. A specialized attorney from Jackman Law Firm can help evaluate if your situation meets these criteria.
Can I recover compensation for lingual nerve damage in Washington, and what might that include?
Yes, if your lingual nerve damage is due to dental malpractice, you may be eligible for compensation. This can cover medical expenses for treatments related to the injury, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Each case is unique, so consulting with a lawyer from Jack Jackman Law Firm can provide you with a clearer understanding of what compensation you may be entitled to.
What is the statute of limitations for filing a dental malpractice claim in Washington for lingual nerve damage?
In Washington, the statute of limitations for dental malpractice claims is generally three years from the date of the injury or one year from the date the injury was discovered, whichever is later. However, it’s important to consult with a dental malpractice lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed within the legal timeframe.
Why choose Jackman Law Firm for my lingual nerve damage case?
Choosing Jackman Law Firm means partnering with a team that has specific experience in dental malpractice cases involving lingual nerve damage. Our lawyers are knowledgeable about the complexities of these cases and are dedicated to advocating for the rights of those injured due to malpractice. We strive to secure the compensation you need to recover and move forward.
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Learn More About Lingual Nerve Damage Lawsuits From Our Washington Firm
Before you decide whether or not to file a Washington lingual nerve damage lawsuit, call Jackman Law Firm for a free case evaluation. We would be glad to answer all of your questions. If you decide to hire us and proceed with your case, our team will explore every possible way of getting you compensation from the negligent dentist.
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