The Truth behind Tort Reform

Paul Grieco

Contributor

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Several times each year for the past several years, many state legislatures and our national legislature try to convince the general public that there are too many frivioulous lawsuits and runaway juries are awarding plaintiffs millions of dollars and as a result tort reform is needed. These meritless claims are nothing more than an attempt by insurance companies to limit their exposure and increase their profits. Many studies have confirmed that the real crisis is the amount of mistakes that occur in hospitals and in health care systems, causing injury to innocent victims. One such study has estimated that over 98,000 people are killed each year due to medical mistakes. Medical malpractice is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Despite these numbers, only one in eight victims of medical malpractice ever file a claim. As such, the majority of the victims of malpractice are never adequately compensated for their injuries. The facts don't support the need for tort reform. Our civil justice system has worked and will continue to work in its current form . Victims have a right to full and fair compensation.