Physical Therapist Malpractice Attorneys Serving Pennsylvania

Physical therapists (PTs) have a legal duty to keep their patients safe. When they fail to do that, patients who came in for help can leave with injuries that are worse than before.

If a physical therapist hurt you or someone you love in Pennsylvania, our medical malpractice attorneys at Bellwoar Kelly, LLP, can help you figure out your options and fight for fair compensation.

Common Physical Therapy Malpractice Scenarios

PT malpractice can happen in many ways. The injuries it causes are often serious and can last a long time. Common examples include:

• Negligent manual therapy or spinal manipulation: Excessive force or improper technique during hands-on treatment can cause nerve damage, herniated discs or arterial injury
• Unsafe exercise progressions: Advancing a patient too quickly or prescribing exercises beyond their current ability can result in muscle tears, fractures or joint damage
• Improper use of modalities: Incorrect application of ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat or ice can cause burns, tissue damage or nerve injury
• Poor guarding and fall prevention: Inadequate supervision during gait training or transfers can result in falls, fractures and traumatic brain injuries

A therapist can avoid injuries by following the right steps and paying close attention to the patient in front of them.

Post-Surgical And Medically Complex Patients Are At Higher Risk

Patients recovering from surgery or dealing with serious health conditions need extra care. When a therapist does not account for their limits, real harm can follow. Some examples include pushing range-of-motion exercises too hard after shoulder surgery, ignoring weight-bearing limits after joint replacement, treating someone with osteoporosis without adjusting the workout, performing neck manipulation on a patient with a hidden vascular condition, or missing signs of a blood clot before starting leg exercises. Routine rehab can quickly become a source of new injury when these risks are overlooked.

Failure To Monitor, Reassess And Escalate Care

A therapist’s job does not stop once a session starts. They need to keep watching for changes and know when to stop and get help. Signs that need immediate action include new neurological symptoms, severe or uncontrolled pain, alarming changes in vital signs, signs of infection and suspected compartment syndrome. If a therapist ignores these warning signs, keeps going anyway or does not contact the referring doctor, that can be negligence under Pennsylvania law.

Supervision, Delegation And Clinic Safety

Physical therapists are responsible for everyone treated under their supervision, including patients seen by assistants or aides. Malpractice claims can come from poor staff supervision, clinics that are too crowded for patients to get proper attention, broken or unsafe equipment and failure to follow basic infection control rules. Clinics and hospitals can also be held responsible for poor hiring, bad training or unsafe conditions on their property.

Informed Consent, Documentation And Professional Boundaries

Before doing anything high-risk like dry needling, cervical traction or aggressive manual therapy, a therapist must explain what they are going to do, what the risks are and what other options exist. Patients need that information to make an informed choice. Therapists also have to keep clear and timely records of every session. Missing or changed records can seriously hurt a malpractice claim. Any kind of boundary violation, including inappropriate physical contact or sexual misconduct, is among the most serious forms of PT negligence and can lead to both civil and criminal consequences.

Proving A PT Malpractice Case In Pennsylvania

To win a physical therapist malpractice case in Pennsylvania, you need to show that the therapist did not meet the accepted standard of care and that this failure directly caused your injury. Key pieces of evidence include:

• Expert testimony from a qualified physical therapist or medical professional establishing what the standard of care required
• Treatment notes, incident reports and clinic records documenting what occurred
• Medical records showing the nature and extent of your injuries
• A certificate of merit filed in compliance with Pennsylvania’s procedural requirements

In most cases, Pennsylvania gives you two years from the date of injury to file a claim. If the victim is a minor, they have until their 20th birthday. A successful case may recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and long-term disability damages.

Do You Have Questions? Call Us

If you think a physical therapist’s negligence caused your injury, do not wait. Our Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys are ready to review your case and walk you through your options. Call us at 610-422-7041 to schedule your free consultation today. You can also send us an email.