Medical malpractice actions have been on the rise in Atlanta, Georgia. Perhaps you have suffered an injury, debilitating illness, or death in the family due to the medical malpractice of a healthcare professional. Medical malpractice can take many forms, so it is to your advantage to be aware of these forms for your own case. Some of the most serious injuries are simply due to the sterilization of a hospital room or confirmation of hospital records. When hospital staffers fail to properly sanitize a hospital room or medical equipment, a patient may die because of pneumonia or other bacterial infections. A personal injury lawyer can help you gather evidence to prove that a room did not receive a complete walk-through before a patient spent his or her time there. Medical malpractice actions can also arise after car accidents or truck accidents. These types of vehicle accidents usually result in serious injuries for a victim. The victim may require immediate surgery after such accidents. If a doctor operates on the wrong part of an injured victim's body, then he or she may not receive the treatment necessary to sustain his or her life. In this instance, family members may wish to file a wrongful death action against the doctor who was responsible for the care of the patient that day. A law firm can also help you determine whether a premise liability statute applies to your case. Perhaps a patient accidentally tripped and fell due to a spill of water on the floor of a hospital. In this scenario, a patient may be able to recover due to a violation of a premise liability statute in your state. If you think that a loved one has been harmed due to the mistake of a medical professional, be sure to have a lawyer meet with you to discuss your case. A lawyer may be able to settle your case for the rightful compensation you deserve.