Choosing a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you or a loved one are a victim of medical malpractice, unfortunately, you're not alone. After cancer and heart disease, medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the United States. On top of that, 10,000 complications due to medical mistakes occur every day.

If you believe you have a medical malpractice case, you'll need an experienced lawyer on your side. The overlap of medical knowledge and legal knowledge required for a good medical malpractice attorney makes your choice extremely important. You need someone who knows both areas of law to ensure your rights are protected, to best advocate for your unique situation, and to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Your attorney checklist

Do your research when looking for a medical malpractice attorney. Most attorneys offer free consultations, so you can do a search, narrow it down, and visit a few before deciding. These are a few things you can do to help you choose the best malpractice lawyer for your needs:

• Ask friends and family for recommendations. Make sure, though, that their recommendations are for attorneys who deal with malpractice claims, not “all-purpose” law firms that may treat you like any other case. An attorney who exclusively handles, say, slip-and-fall cases may be an expert in his or her field, but that does not mean he or she has the resources or knowledge base required for complex malpractice claims.
• Research online. You can find local attorneys online and get a lot of information from their websites. Read client testimonials. Ensure they work in medical malpractice. Check to see if they're in any legal associations or professional organizations, or won any awards. Do they have a list of settlements and verdicts listed on the site? Also, check the state bar association to ensure they are in good standing.
• Once you've decided on a few lawyers, set up consultations. It's important to meet with an attorney in person so you can get a feel for him or her, and see if your personalities mesh. After the meeting ask yourself, did you feel comfortable? Were you treated with respect? Did you feel listened to? Did you meet with the actual attorney or someone on their staff? Did the attorney give you a basic action plan for your case? You will be spending a lot of time with your lawyer and with the firm’s staff; you don’t want to be uncomfortable throughout the process. 

 Don't suffer because a medical professional was negligent on the job. Call the Larson Law Firm P.C. today to schedule a free consultation with one of our trusted North Dakota medical malpractice attorneys.