Van Wey, Metzler & Williams is a prominent, nationally recognized law firm located in the heart of Texas Possessing a deep understanding of surgical errors, we focus on delivering exceptional legal representation for individuals who have suffered traumatic injuries due to surgical negligence.
With a strong reputation for excellence and an unwavering dedication to our clients, we bring extensive experience and relentless advocacy to every case we handle.
Unwavering Commitment, Proven Results
We acknowledge that undergoing any surgery can be a stressful experience for both the patient and their loved ones. We literally put our lives in the hands of health care providers who we may know little about.
Surgical errors occur far more frequently than they should and many of these errors are preventable. Some amount to “near misses” while others destroy or end lives.
When unforeseen tragedy strikes, we have provided assistance to numerous patients and their loved ones. At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we take pride in being a highly-skilled law firm with a proven track record of success in catastrophic surgical malpractice claims.
Our unwavering dedication to achieving justice and securing favorable outcomes for our clients has established us as the premier choice for compassionate and resolute legal representation.
Your Trusted Advocate
If you, or someone you care about, has suffered serious or fatal injuries due to surgical negligence, you deserve a trusted advocate by your side. Our team understands the complexities of both the medical and legal systems. With our extensive experience spanning decades, we have acquired the necessary knowledge to effectively navigate these challenging cases.
Van Wey, Metzler & Williams houses a team of nationally recognized trial lawyers. We have achieved notable success representing victims of catastrophic surgical errors in Texas and across the country. Our compassionate attorneys are dedicated to advocating for your rights and seeking the compensation you rightfully deserve from all parties responsible within the healthcare system.
Our proficiency extends across the spectrum of medical malpractice, including but not limited to surgical errors. We invite you to schedule a free consultation to discuss severe harm caused by healthcare professionals or medical facility mishaps.
Our Surgical Error Practice Areas Include:
Anesthesia Errors:
Anesthesia errors encompass a range of mistakes that can occur during the administration of anesthesia. These errors may include inaccurate dosage calculations, improper monitoring of vital signs, failure to consider a patient’s medical history or allergies, or errors in drug administration.
Bowel Perforation:
Bowel perforation refers to a puncture or rupture in the wall of the intestine, which can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications. These injuries may arise from surgical errors, instrument-related trauma, or complications arising from medical interventions. Bowel perforation injuries can result in leakage of bowel contents into the abdominal cavity, leading to infection, sepsis, damage to surrounding organs, and death.
Hysterectomy and Gynecologic Surgical Malpractice:
Bowel and Colon perforations sometimes occur during routine gynecologic surgeries, such as hysterectomies. Surgeons are required to exercise caution to avoid injuring the colon or bowel. When accidental contact does occur, the surgeon should inspect the bowel carefully to discover any injuries and correct them prior to closing the patient and sending them to the recovery room.
When a surgeon fails to recognize a bowel or colon injury, these patients become very sick and sometimes die. The progression of a bowel or colon perforation leads to sepsis, shock and death—if not identified and treated promptly.
We have represented many women who have had catastrophic ordeals following a simple and straightforward gynecologic surgery. Some of them thankfully survived, but only after enduring multiple surgeries and months of hospitalization. Others, regrettably, did not make it and died from their injuries, leaving grieving family members behind.
Retained Foreign Objects:
Retained foreign objects refer to the unintentional retention of surgical instruments, sponges, or other foreign items inside a patient’s body after surgery. Despite stringent surgical protocols, such errors can occur due to miscounts, distractions, or communication breakdowns among the surgical team. The presence of a retained foreign object can lead to infection, internal injuries, organ damage, and other devastating complications.
Hypoxic Brain Injury:
Hypoxic brain injury results from a decrease in oxygen supply to the brain. During surgery, anesthesia-related factors, such as inadequate oxygenation, respiratory issues, or complications in airway management, can lead to hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) or anoxia (complete lack of oxygen). These conditions can cause significant damage to brain cells and result in long-term cognitive impairments, motor dysfunction, memory loss, and, in severe cases, permanent disability or death.
Surgical Fires/Burns:
Surgical burn injuries are a specific type of burn injury due to surgical fires that can erupt on or in the patient’s body during surgical procedures. These are Never-Should-Ever-Happen events that unfortunately still occur. Surgical fires can occur any time all three of the following elements are present:
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Ignition source (e.g., fiber optic light sources, electrosurgical units, lasers)
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Fuel source (e.g., alcohol-based skin preparation agents, surgical drapes, the patient)
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Oxidizer (e.g., nitrous oxide, oxygen, room air)
Surgical burns can cause significant damage to the skin and underlying tissues, leading to pain, scarring, and serious, sometimes fatal, complications.
Wrong Site Surgery:
These surgical errors occur when a medical procedure or surgery is performed on the wrong site. Similar errors include a surgery performed on the wrong patient, or an incorrect surgical procedure being performed. Such mistakes can lead to unnecessary harm, prolonged suffering, scarring, and loss of function. These situations also result in a loss of trust in the healthcare system.
Severe Nerve Damage:
Severe nerve damage can result from errors that involve nerve compression, direct nerve injury during surgery, or neurotoxicity caused by anesthesia medications. Nerve damage can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life and may require long-term medical management, physical therapy, or surgical interventions. Proper positioning, careful monitoring, and meticulous surgical techniques are essential to minimize the risk of nerve damage during surgery.
Spinal Cord Injuries:
Surgical errors, such as incorrect positioning, improper use of surgical instruments, or mishandling of delicate spinal structures, can lead to severe trauma and injury to the spinal cord. These injuries can result in partial or complete loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury, potentially leading to paralysis and significant disability.
Gallbladder Surgery Malpractice:
Complications can arise when a medical professional deviates from the standard of care during gallbladder surgery. Possible issues include bile duct injuries, infection, bleeding, organ perforation, and postoperative complications such as bile leakage or formation of gallstones in the bile ducts. These complications can lead to severe pain, prolonged hospitalization, the need for additional surgeries, and even life-threatening conditions.
Robotic Surgical Malpractice:
While many people are led to believe robotic surgeries are safer, this is not necessarily true. Serious and life-threatening injuries can occur due to mechanical failure, operator inexperience, or burns due to electrical arcing.
Interventional Pain Procedures:
While these procedures are presented as very low risk, there can be significant risk to the patient when these procedures go wrong. The widespread use of propofol for anesthesia can be dangerous, resulting in serious injuries including brain damage, spinal cord injury, and death.
Wrongful Death Caused by Surgical Negligence
Tragically, surgical negligence can lead to fatal outcomes. If a surgeon or other medical professional involved in the surgical process deviates from the accepted standard of care, serious errors can occur, sometimes resulting in death.
The loss of a life that could have been avoided is both emotionally devastating for the family and often has serious financial implications. Our team brings a wealth of experience and understanding to the broad and enduring harm the wrongful death of a loved one causes.
Non Board-Certified Physicians
Studies show that approximately 80% of all malpractice claims are against non board-certified physicians and surgeons. Board Certification does not ensure competence. However, a competent physician should be able to pass the oral and written examination given by their specialty organization.
The Real Costs of Medical Malpractice
If you’re wondering, “Do I have a medical malpractice case?” consider not just the immediate medical costs but also the long-term financial impact of the injury. Many victims of medical malpractice find themselves grappling with questions like, “How will I pay my medical bills?” or “Could I become homeless if I can’t work?” The consequences extend beyond physical pain and emotional distress, both of which are severely capped under Texas law, to affect your ability to live and work.
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams PLLC, we understand that dealing with a potential medical malpractice claim involves much more than navigating legal hurdles. It’s really about securing your future against unforeseen medical and financial challenges. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a dedicated attorney who can ensure that all aspects of harm—financial, physical, and emotional—are adequately addressed.
Always consult an experienced medical malpractice lawyer. Your attorney can evaluate the fairness of any settlement offer and fight for the comprehensive compensation you deserve. Our team is committed to representing your interests and leveling the playing field against well-represented medical facilities.
The hospital will undoubtedly be represented by expert legal counsel whose goal is to get the best deal for the hospital. Most patients will be at a disadvantage and will not receive the justice or the compensation they deserve without a dedicated attorney fighting for them.
Do I Have a Medical Malpractice Case?
We understand the emotional distress and physical pain and suffering that can result from surgical errors. Nevertheless, it is crucial to determine whether your case constitutes surgical malpractice and warrants legal action. Our skilled attorneys will thoroughly investigate the facts surrounding your situation to determine the presence of surgical negligence.
As top-rated Texas medical malpractice attorneys, we understand not every surgery turns out as expected. Moreover, a poor outcome is not necessarily due to a surgical mistake. However, if a member of your surgical team deviated from the specified standard of care, it may be considered medical negligence.
Contact Our Premier Texas Surgical Error Lawyers
If you believe you have been a victim of surgical error, take the first step towards justice. Contact us today to benefit from the expertise of our Texas surgical error attorneys at Van Wey, Metzler & Williams. We are renowned for providing exceptional legal assistance and pride ourselves on being one of the top surgical error law firms in Texas.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
To speak with us directly, call (469) 809-5262 or toll-free (866) 329-0765 for a complimentary consultation. Or fill out our contact form online.
Fighting for Your Rights
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we are deeply committed to our clients’ well-being. When you or your loved one has suffered due to surgical negligence, we prioritize your needs. We treat you as an individual, not just as a case. We will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our legal services are provided on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you. With Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, you can rest assured that you are in the hands of the most qualified and dedicated surgical error attorneys in Texas.
Schedule your no-obligation free consultation today to explore your legal options and take the first step towards justice.
