When you are seeking any treatment from a medical provider, you expect that they will exercise reasonable care and that there will be no mistakes. Whether it is due to carelessness, inexperience, or simply cutting corners, many providers do make errors that injure patients. If you have been the victim of a medical error, you should speak immediately to a malpractice lawyer who will assess whether you have a valid medical malpractice claim against the provider in a lawsuit.
The Exact Number of Medical Errors in Vermont Is Not Known
Although there are rough estimates of the number of medical errors nationally, you will not be able to locate statistics about what has happened in Vermont. Medical providers are required to report “serious reportable adverse events” to a database that is maintained by the state. Hospitals are required to maintain their own policies and procedures to track these events and ensure that they are reported to the state as necessary.
Vermont keeps this information confidential, so it would not be available in any internet searches. Nevertheless, you must know that medical errors happen routinely in the state, and they are a distinct possibility when you are receiving treatment.
Actual medical malpractice cases that have been settled or won by plaintiffs may be a proxy for determining the number of medical errors in the state. From 2004 to 2025, there were 391 paid claims for medical malpractice. There were 32 paid medical malpractice claims in 2024, which indicates that the problem of medical errors may be getting worse in the state. Although Vermont has a lower number of paid medical malpractice claims than other states, it does rank ninth nationally in the number of paid claims per capita.
National Medical Error Statistics You Should Know
One study shows that roughly 400,000 hospitalized patients each year suffer some type of consequence from a medical error. This study just reports on patients who receive treatment in a hospital, and it may not include those who are victims of medical errors that occur in doctors’ offices. In reality, there may be millions of patients who are victims of medical errors each year. There are estimates that as many as one in every 20 patients may suffer some type of adverse result from a medical error every year. However, the exact statistics about medical errors are hard to come by because many go unreported, and medical providers often do not self-report when they make a mistake.
You May File a Lawsuit When You Were Injured From Medical Malpractice
Medical errors may form the basis of a malpractice lawsuit. Any medical professional who provides services to you owes you the duty of care. They must act as a reasonable medical professional would under the circumstances. If they do not uphold the duty of care, they may be liable for the injuries that they have caused you. If you are successful in your case, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation for your injuries. The average medical malpractice payout in a Vermont case is approaching $300,000.
Medical malpractice lawsuits are difficult, and they are not always easy to win. You can put yourself in the strongest legal position when you hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney at the outset of the process. Under Vermont law, you have either three years from the date that the malpractice occurred, or two years from the time that you discovered that you were injured as a result of malpractice to file a lawsuit.
Brattleboro Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kramer Law, P.C., Are Ready to Help With Your Claim
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a medical error, the Brattleboro medical malpractice lawyers at Kramer Law, P.C., can help. Our legal team can explain what evidence may be needed and guide you through the process. Call us at 802-257-2221 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our office is located in Brattleboro, VT, and we serve clients in the surrounding areas.
