In the United States alone, medical errors cause an estimated 250,000 deaths per year, making them the third-leading cause of death for all Americans. Medical errors are usually due to poor communication between nurses and doctors, inadequate policies, or technical failures.
Medical errors can also result in injuries, seriously impacting people’s lives. If you’ve experienced a medical error in your care, it’s critical to determine if this error was due to failure to follow the standard of care. This is why knowing how to select a medical malpractice lawyer is critical.
A medical malpractice lawyer can help make this determination and find the evidence you need to win and get the compensation you deserve. Keep reading this guide to learn how to select the best medical malpractice lawyer for your case!
Do Your Research
Your first step is to sit down and take the time to do thorough research. You should start this process by searching Google for your area’s top medical malpractice lawyers.
Reading online reviews is critical. Google reviews give you a good idea of how happy former clients are about the services. The Better Business Bureau will also give you a good overview of reviews, ratings, and complaints.
It’s essential to review the website for each attorney you’re considering. They should have a professional website that outlines their services and how they can help you with your medical malpractice case. You should also find client testimonials and examples of previous cases they’ve worked on.
You can check out this link for an example of a reputable attorney, so you know what to look for.
Look at Background and Education
Once you’ve established the basics, you should look more into their background. To do this, you’ll need to look at their practice areas. For example, do they specialize in medical law? Did they ever practice as a doctor?
These are essential questions to ask since medical malpractice requires extensive knowledge of both legal and medical matters. A successful medical malpractice lawyer must have an in-depth understanding of medical procedures and standards of care.
Check out their previous education, from where they first went to school to all recent education and credentials.
It’s also vital to look at the state bar association to determine if they’ve ever had any disciplinary action filed against them.
All this information is readily available online, but don’t hesitate to ask these questions if you don’t see it.
Get Referrals
While doing your research, you should also look around for referrals. A great place to start is with friends and family. They’ll often know someone who’s used a medical malpractice attorney if they don’t have personal experience.
Even checking with coworkers is a good idea. This way, you can cast the net a bit wider and find someone that knows someone that’s gone through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
If you do find someone, be sure to ask about their overall experience and if they’d recommend the lawyer to friends and family.
Finally, finding people who’ve hired a lawyer for other purposes is much easier. You can always get the names of these lawyers and ask them for referrals.
Chances are, they can refer you to a reputable malpractice attorney in your local community.
Don’t be afraid to ask around as much as possible. You never know who may know someone who knows the right lawyer for you.
Ask Questions
When looking at your options for lawyers, asking as many questions as necessary is imperative. The truth is most people haven’t worked with an attorney before and don’t know what to expect.
The legal process can be confusing for many people, so you’ll need to ensure you get a general understanding.
Before you decide to hire an attorney, you should ask questions like:
- What experience do you have with medical malpractice cases going to trial?
- How do you know if I have a valid case?
- What information do I need to provide?
- What evidence do I need?
- What kind of timeline should I expect?
- Do professional organizations recognize you for your expertise?
- Can you schedule a free consultation?
- How much work do you handle on your own?
- How many paralegals will work on the case?
- Do you have connections to medical expert witnesses in case they need to testify?
Remember, if an attorney isn’t willing to take the time to answer your questions, that’s a sign to look elsewhere.
Compare Lawyer Fees
Next, you must determine the average cost of your case. Comparing lawyer fees is best, so you’ll need to get quotes from at least three different lawyers.
There are three common fee structures that you’ll likely encounter. First, there is a flat fee structure. With this structure, your attorney will charge you a lump sum to handle the entire lawsuit. Also, with a lump sum payment schedule, you usually won’t need to pay administrative costs or filing fees. However, this depends on the attorney.
You may also find lawyers that charge fees on an hourly basis. You’ll usually have to put money into an account in these cases.
Your lawyer will continue to work on the case until the funds run out; then, you’ll have to replenish the account. Some attorneys may have you pay the costs via monthly payments.
Finally, you’ll find lawyers working on a contingency fee structure. With contingency fees, you won’t pay anything upfront. Your lawyer will receive a specific percentage of the settlement that you win. You’ll be aware of this percentage upfront before you sign a contract.
Also, with this fee arrangement, your attorney will only receive a payment if you win medical malpractice compensation for your case.
Remember to ask about these fee structures when getting quotes from various attorneys. If you don’t have the money to pay upfront, you’ll need to keep looking to find an attorney that will work with you.
Follow These Steps to Select a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Now that you know how to select a medical malpractice lawyer, this process will be much easier overall.
Remember to take your time choosing an attorney. Don’t be afraid to keep asking questions until you feel comfortable. A reputable attorney won’t hesitate to answer your questions and book a free consultation.
To learn more helpful tips and tricks, be sure to check out the rest of our blog articles today!
