Have you been a victim of medical malpractice? If you are, you are not alone. While most doctors are thoroughly trained and equipped to do their jobs, doctors are still human, and mistakes happen in the medical field. However, if you are injured or ill as a result of medical malpractice, you need to be properly compensated so that — in addition to your health implications — the medical malpractice incident does not create financial hardship for you.
Regardless of if your medical malpractice issue is a result of medical device failure, a defective medical product, nursing home neglect, or some other medical malpractice issue, one of the most critical factors in getting the help you need to recover and heal is the medical malpractice attorney who represents you. Medical malpractice lawsuits are a common part of the medical industry, and the insurance companies who protect medical providers are adept at making sure you get as little as possible in your settlement. While this might be your first time trying to work with a medical malpractice insurance company, your medical malpractice attorney has dedicated their career to situations just like yours, and will know the ropes for getting you the best settlement possible.
To help you identify the best possible medical device manufacturing defect or medical malpractice attorney for your situation, we’ve put together a list of qualities to look for, below:
- Experience.
Do you know what they call the lowest scoring attorney to pass the bar exam? A lawyer. Just being a lawyer doesn’t not equip an attorney to properly fight for your cause. However, the longer a lawyer has been in business, working cases that are similar to yours, and getting great results, the more confident you can feel that they’ll be successful in your case as well. Not to mention, the longer an attorney works in this field of law more “tricks of the trade” they gain that could benefit the outcome of your case. - Specialization.
Just as you would not want to go to an optometrist if you need a podiatrist, you will get the best legal outcome in your medical malpractice suit by using a legal professional who specializes in your particular issue. Some personal injury lawyers who take on medical malpractice cases also deal with issues like vehicle accidents, product liability, and workers compensation. This is okay, but you want to make sure that they have a lot of experience in the particular type of claim that you’re making. Ask for examples of similar cases they’ve worked on, and the outcome of them.
We’ll add that medical malpractice is a tricky area of law, and even the best lawyers don’t have perfect winning records, but you don’t want to use a lawyer who has never had a win. - Medical Experts.
The success of your case relies on the expert witnesses who will testify that the health care provider your claim is against made a mistake that resulted in your injury or illness. It is incredibly important that your lawyer has connections with medical experts who can make a convincing case on your behalf, and so extra care must be dedicated to vetting and choosing the right expert witnesses. When you ask your potential medical malpractice attorney how they choose expert witnesses, you want to hear a defined process. If the lawyer dismisses the question or just says they find someone when the need arises, you might want to keep looking. This could be the factor that wins or loses your case. - Communication.
You’ll be working closely with your medical malpractice attorney throughout the process of your claim. Even if they are highly experienced and equipped to handle your case, if you don’t jive with them, you might find it difficult to be successful. This is not a black and white quality that you can put on paper. The only way to find a lawyer that you have rapport with is to meet with them and choose fr yourself. Ask them how much time they have to dedicate to your case. Ask how you can get in touch with them, if needed. Ask how long it take for them to return your calls. These factors will help you identify a lawyer that communicates well with you.