Medical malpractice is a specialized and complex area of law, due to the overlap of medical and legal issues. If you or a loved one are a victim of medical malpractice, you are not alone. And, you'll need an attorney well-versed in medical malpractice law to ensure your rights are protected and you are able to receive the compensation you deserve.
After cancer and heart disease, medical malpractice is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. And, 10,000 cases of complications due to medical errors occur every day. How do you ensure you find the best advocate for you or your family member? The medical malpractice attorney you choose will have a huge impact on the outcome of your case.
When searching for a medical malpractice attorney, there are several things you should remember, research, and ask.
First, how much experience does the attorney have with medical malpractice? As we said before, malpractice is a very specialized area of law, involving knowledge of both the law and medicine. A lawyer with little experience in the malpractice area may not have the breadth of understanding your case requires.
Once you've located a few law firms or attorneys, narrow down your search by doing some research. Go online and visit the attorney's website Read their bio and find out more about them. See if they have any client testimonials on the site. Check to see if they belong to associations, like the American Association for Justice or local organizations. Have they won any awards or held leadership roles? Check your state bar association to ensure the attorney is in good standing. What do they care about? Are they available to address your needs?
After you've narrowed your search down to a few candidates, get in touch with the lawyers and set up a consultation. Meeting with an attorney face-to-face helps you find out if you will “click” with them, which is extremely important as you will likely be spending a lot of time with them on your case. Note if you feel comfortable with them, if you're treated with respect, and if you met with the actual attorney rather than someone on staff. You want to make sure right from the beginning that you will be getting the personal attention you and your case deserve.
Ask the lawyer a few questions, like how long have you been practicing law? How many medical malpractice cases do you handle? Will you be handling my case personally, or will someone else be? If someone else will, how much experience do they have? Who would I be dealing with day-to-day? How experienced are you with going to trial? How do you handle payment?
A good attorney should have some advice and an action plan for you even before you hire them. They may want to interview witnesses, collect evidence, get medical records, and document injuries. Ensure any lawyer you interview is engaged with your case right from the start.
You should never have to suffer due to the negligence of a medical professional. At Plaxen & Adler, P.A., our Maryland medical malpractice lawyers provide compassionate and knowledgeable representation to victims of medical malpractice. You can trust us to fight for your best interests. To learn more, or to schedule a free consultation, please call 410-988-4449.
