Ureteral injuries during hysterectomy procedures are preventable surgical errors that can cause devastating complications requiring additional surgeries and lifelong medical problems. When surgeons fail to exercise proper care during these operations, injured patients have the right to pursue hysterectomy malpractice claims for their damages. Contact Bobby Jones Law today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Greenville medical malpractice lawyer.
What Is a Ureter, and How Can It Be Injured During Surgery?
The ureter is a narrow tube that carries urine from each kidney to the bladder, running through the pelvic region where hysterectomy procedures are performed. During surgery, surgeons work in proximity to these delicate structures, creating risk for accidental damage, including:
- Direct cutting or transection during tissue dissection
- Crushing from surgical clamps or instruments
- Thermal injury from cauterization devices
- Ligation when sutures inadvertently include ureteral tissue
- Devascularization that compromises the blood supply
- Kinking or obstruction from surrounding tissue manipulation
When surgeons rush through operations, fail to properly visualize the surgical field, or neglect to verify ureter location before cutting or clamping tissue, they create unreasonable risks that often result in preventable injuries.
Signs You May Have a Ureter Injury After a Hysterectomy
Ureteral damage doesn’t always become apparent during surgery, with some injuries only manifesting symptoms days or weeks after the procedure as complications develop:
- Severe abdominal or flank pain
- Fever and chills
- Decreased urine output or inability to urinate
- Blood in urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fluid accumulation in the abdomen
- Elevated creatinine levels
- Urinary leakage into the abdominal cavity
- Back pain on one or both sides
- Sepsis or systemic infection
Prompt recognition and treatment of ureteral injuries reduces the severity of long-term complications, but delayed diagnosis often occurs when surgical teams fail to monitor patients appropriately after procedures. We investigate whether your medical team promptly recognized the warning signs and provided appropriate interventions to minimize the damage from the initial surgical error.
When a Surgical Error Becomes Medical Malpractice
Not every ureteral injury during hysterectomy constitutes hysterectomy malpractice, as rare complications can occur even when surgeons exercise reasonable care. South Carolina medical malpractice claims require proof that your surgeon’s performance fell below the accepted standard of care that competent gynecologic surgeons follow under similar circumstances.
We retain leading medical experts who thoroughly review surgical records, operative reports, and postoperative care to identify specific instances in which your surgical team failed to meet professional standards. Their testimony provides the foundation for proving that negligence caused your injuries and justifies the compensation you deserve.
Compensation for Ureter Injuries in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Compensation for ureteral damage addresses your financial losses and personal suffering caused by surgical negligence and resulting complications. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may recover the following:
- Medical expenses for corrective surgeries and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages during recovery periods
- Reduced earning capacity if complications prevent full work return
- Pain and suffering from additional procedures
- Emotional distress from unexpected complications
- Loss of enjoyment of life activities
- Permanent kidney damage or dysfunction
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Cost of future medical monitoring
Hysterectomy malpractice settlements vary significantly based on injury severity, the extent of permanent damage, and how complications affected your daily functioning and quality of life. At Bobby Jones Law, we build comprehensive damage claims that account for all past, current, and future losses stemming from the surgical error, ensuring insurance companies cannot minimize the actual impact of your injuries.
Why You Need an Experienced Malpractice Attorney for Surgical Errors
Medical malpractice cases involving surgical complications require experienced legal knowledge and resources that general personal injury firms don’t possess. Successfully proving surgeon negligence and recovering fair compensation demands a thorough investigation, expert testimony, and aggressive advocacy against well-funded defense teams.
Proving Malpractice
Patients must prove four key elements to recover for medical negligence: the surgeon owed a duty to provide care according to accepted medical standards; the surgeon breached that duty by failing to meet the standard of care, as established through expert testimony; the breach directly caused the ureteral injury and related complications; and the patient suffered actual damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and impacts on daily life, which document the full extent of harm.
Powerful Opponents
Hospitals and their insurance carriers deploy teams of defense counsel, litigation specialists, and medical experts dedicated to denying responsibility for surgical errors that harm patients. These well-funded organizations prioritize protecting their reputations and minimizing financial exposure over acknowledging mistakes and fairly compensating injured patients.
Healthcare facilities often deny apparent negligence, blame patients for complications, and force litigation even when evidence clearly demonstrates substandard care. We possess the resources, trial experience, and determination necessary to stand up to these powerful institutions and their sophisticated defense strategies, refusing to back down until you receive the justice and compensation South Carolina law entitles you to recover.
Strict Deadlines
South Carolina imposes a two or three-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims, with limited exceptions that rarely extend this deadline. Missing this filing deadline permanently destroys your right to compensation, regardless of how strong your case might be.
Contingency Arrangements
We handle hysterectomy lawsuit cases on a contingency basis. You pay no upfront costs or hourly fees for our representation. Our compensation comes from your settlement or verdict, if and when we secure it. Contingency arrangements align our financial interests with your recovery goals, eliminating barriers to accessing experienced legal representation.
Contact Our Greenville Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today
At Bobby Jones Law, we compile comprehensive evidence of your injuries and losses before negotiating aggressively with insurers, trying to minimize your compensation. We thoroughly investigate your hysterectomy, pinpoint negligent surgical practices, and retain board-certified medical experts to testify on violations of the standard of care.
We don’t shy away from trials and prepare your case for litigation if fair settlements aren’t offered. Our firm fights to hold negligent surgeons and healthcare facilities accountable for the harm caused by substandard care.
Don’t allow hospitals or insurance companies to avoid responsibility for surgical mistakes that caused preventable ureteral injuries and lasting complications. Contact Bobby Jones Law today for a free case evaluation with an experienced Greenville medical malpractice lawyer.
