Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
It is worth noting that situations similar to those described in this medical malpractice case could just as easily occur at any of the healthcare facilities in the area, such as Kaiser Permanente, UC Davis Medical Center, Mercy, or Sutter.
(Please also note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the participants in this wrongful death case and its proceedings.)
Facts
Ms. Hill is receiving at least $1,158/month in the form of a VA death benefit, $288/month as a partial retirement payment based on the decedent’s years of service/date of death, and an additional $60/month as a “family survivor” benefit. Plaintiff seeks economic damages including lost contribution based on decedent’s earnings and projected work life expectancy.
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.
Argument
The Collateral Source Rule
Under the traditional collateral source rule, a jury, in calculating a plaintiff’s damages in a tort action, does not take into consideration benefits, such as medical insurance or disability payments, which the plaintiff has received from sources other than the defendant, i.e., collateral sources, to cover losses resulting from the injury. California Civil Code § 3333.1 alters this rule in medical malpractice cases and in wrongful death cases brought by the heirs of medical malpractice victims. Civil Code § 3333.1(a) provides an exception to the collateral source rule in medical malpractice cases. That section states that in the event the defendant so elects, in an action for a personal injury against a healthcare provider based upon professional negligence, she may introduce evidence of:
“any amount payable as a benefit to the plaintiff as a result of the personal injury pursuant to the United States Social Security Act, any state or federal income disability or worker’s compensation act, any health, sickness or income-disability insurance, accident insurance that provides health benefits or income-disability coverage, and any contract or agreement of any group, organization, partnership, or corporation to provide, pay for, or reimburse the cost of medical, hospital, dental, or other health care services.” (See Part 3 of 5.)
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.