Medical Malpractice at
Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic

The Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic in Billings, Montana serves as a crucial healthcare facility for veterans throughout the region, providing essential primary care and specialty services including cardiology, mental health, and women's health services. The Montana VA Healthcare System opened this modern facility in 2014 to serve Billings area veterans' growing healthcare needs.

Medical errors and negligence can occur at VA facilities, despite their well-equipped facilities and quality care standards. If veterans are harmed by poor care at the Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic, they can seek compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). However, these cases require specialized knowledge of both medicine and federal law.

Our firm's unique combination of medical and legal expertise, including our doctor-attorney founder and on-staff nurse, allows us to thoroughly evaluate VA medical malpractice cases. With over 25 years of experience handling FTCA claims nationwide, we understand how complex it can be to prove negligence in the VA healthcare system.

The Montana VA Healthcare System operates the Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic as a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Located at 1766 Majestic Lane in Billings, this modern facility was established in 2014 and named in honor of World War II veteran and Bataan Death March survivor Benjamin Charles Steele.

The clinic offers outpatient services, such as primary care, mental health treatment, lab work, a pharmacy, and specialty care. Key specialties include addiction treatment, audiology, cardiology, dental care, dermatology, gastroenterology, and gynecology services. The facility also features dedicated women's health services to meet the unique healthcare needs of female veterans.

The Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic is a primary VA healthcare facility in Montana and helps veterans in the Billings region access quality medical care. The facility serves thousands of veterans annually, coordinating with other VA facilities across Montana to provide comprehensive healthcare services.

• Diagnostic Errors: Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can occur when providers fail to properly evaluate symptoms or order appropriate tests. This is particularly concerning in specialties like cardiology and gastroenterology where timely diagnosis is crucial. Learn more about VA diagnostic errors in Montana →

• Medication Errors: With an on-site pharmacy serving numerous veterans daily, medication mistakes can happen through incorrect dosing, drug interactions, or dispensing errors. These errors are often preventable through proper medication management protocols.

• Specialty Care Complications: Problems can arise during specialized treatments in areas like dental procedures, dermatology treatments, or gynecological care. If providers deviate from the standard of care, serious harm may happen. Learn more about VA surgical errors →

• Mental Health Treatment Issues: Given the clinic's focus on mental health services, errors in psychiatric care, medication management, or suicide risk assessment can have devastating consequences.

• Women's Health Negligence: Female veterans may experience substandard care in gynecology or other women's health services, leading to preventable complications or delayed treatment.

Under the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. § 2675), veterans must first file an administrative claim before pursuing legal action for medical malpractice at the Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic. This process begins by submitting Standard Form 95 (SF-95) to the appropriate VA Regional Office.

For claims involving the Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic, administrative claims should be filed with:

VA Regional Office 400 Fort Street Butte, MT 59701

Strict deadlines apply to FTCA claims. Veterans must file their administrative claim within two years of when they knew or should have known about the malpractice. After filing, the VA has six months to investigate and respond. If the claim is denied or six months pass without a response, veterans have six months to file a federal lawsuit.

For complete step-by-step instructions, see our comprehensive guide: How to File a VA Medical Malpractice Claim in Montana →

Montana's state medical malpractice laws, including the three-year statute of limitations (MCA § 27-2-205), do not directly apply to FTCA claims against the Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic. However, Montana state law may influence how damages are calculated in FTCA cases. While Montana has no strict damage caps for medical malpractice, federal judges often consider state standards when determining appropriate compensation.

How do I file a malpractice claim against Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic?

You must first file an administrative claim using Standard Form 95 with the VA Regional Office in Butte, Montana. This must be done within two years of discovering the malpractice. Our doctor-attorney team can help ensure your claim is properly documented and filed.

What is the deadline for filing a claim against Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic?

The FTCA requires administrative claims to be filed within two years of when you knew or should have known about the malpractice. Missing this deadline typically bars you from seeking compensation.

Can I sue Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic directly?

No, you cannot sue the VA facility or its employees directly. The FTCA requires you to file a claim against the federal government itself, following specific administrative procedures.

What damages can I recover for malpractice at Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic?

You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the malpractice. Each case is unique, and our experienced team can help evaluate your potential compensation.

Do I need a Montana attorney for my Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic claim?

While not required, working with attorneys experienced in both VA healthcare and FTCA claims significantly improves your chances of success. Our firm handles VA malpractice claims nationwide and has recovered over $145 million for clients.

What services at Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic are most often involved in malpractice claims?

While malpractice can occur in any medical service, claims often arise from specialty care services such as cardiology, mental health treatment, and women's health services. Proper documentation and expert medical review are crucial in these cases.

We also handle medical malpractice cases at these Montana facilities:

• Fort Harrison VA Medical Center (Fort Harrison) →

If you've experienced medical negligence at the Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic in Billings, Montana, you have legal rights under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). However, these claims follow strict procedures and timelines that you must understand to protect your interests.

The FTCA requires you to file your claim within two years of when you knew or should have known about the negligence that caused your injury. For veterans and military families in the Billings area, this means carefully documenting when you first discovered problems with your care at the Steele VA Clinic. Once you file your administrative claim (Form SF-95), the VA has six months to respond. Only after this six-month period, or after the VA denies your claim, can you file a lawsuit in federal court.

Having an attorney who is also a medical doctor can be crucial for VA medical malpractice cases. These specialized professionals understand both the legal complexities of FTCA claims and the medical standards of care that should have been provided at the Steele VA Clinic. They can effectively review your medical records, identify deviations from accepted standards of care, and articulate how these failures impacted your health.

Through an FTCA claim, you may be able to recover various damages, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. For veterans in Montana, this can include costs of additional medical care needed to correct problems caused by VA negligence, rehabilitation expenses, and compensation for how the negligence has affected your daily life and ability to work.

Don't let uncertainty about the legal process prevent you from seeking justice. Many attorneys who handle VA medical malpractice cases offer free initial consultations to evaluate your claim. During this consultation, they can review the specific details of your experience at the Steele VA Clinic, explain how the FTCA process applies to your situation, and help you understand your options for moving forward. Remember, these consultations are confidential and come with no obligation to proceed with a claim.

To protect your rights, consider reaching out for a free case evaluation as soon as possible. Time limits are strict, and gathering medical evidence becomes more challenging as time passes.

We handle various types of VA and military medical malpractice cases in Montana:

• Montana Surgical Errors Cases →
• Montana Emergency Room Errors Cases →
• Montana Brain Injury Cases →
• Montana Spinal Cord Injury Cases →
• Montana Misdiagnosis Cases →
• Montana Medication Errors Cases →