200,000. That’s the estimated number of patients who die each year in the U.S. alone due to medical malpractice. Unfortunately, as it is a common situation in the country, you should have an experienced medical malpractice lawyer by your side just in case a doctor does not do their work correctly.
Here are 5 tips for finding a good medical malpractice lawyer that would be of great assistance to you if you are treated in a negligent or careless way.
Get referrals.
Find out if you personally know someone who can point you in the right direction. Get as many referrals as possible. This way, you have wide room to navigate when you will start to narrow down your options.
Narrow down your options to about three or four names.
To effectively do this, there are some general things that you can look into before you set an appointment with them. Track record, of course, is the most important. Find out if the law firm has extensive experience in handling medical malpractice cases or if the lawyer is a member of associations that deal with personal injuries. If you are up to it, you can even check the state bar association website to see the lawyer’s standing. Online reviews are helpful as well.
Once you have three or four names, you can schedule a face-to-face meeting.
Ask about the duration of the case and the cost of their legal services. You should be extra keen about the lawyer’s capacity to be upfront with their fees as well as how they present the probability of you successfully closing the case. Be careful with legal practitioners who promise you the moon.
Select the best.
Your choice should be made both from an objective and subjective standpoint. The track record is your objective basis. In life, communicating is vital to success, and it is doubly crucial in law. A lawyer who listens to you and understands your case is going to be far more effective when arguing your side.
Remember, legal proceedings can get difficult. You need someone on your corner who is not only excellent at what they do. An attorney who makes you feel comfortable with their skills and makes you feel free to talk to them is needed. Find someone who cares enough to give appropriate feedback and will not mislead you with false promises.
Map out your case.
Once you have chosen your lawyer, it is time to sit down and plan out what to do next. Be prepared. Know the initial steps when filing a medical malpractice case which can be found online. In the unlikely situation that you feel the legal services being given to you are insufficient, you do have the right to find someone else as the case moves forward.
Experiencing medical malpractice is truly traumatic for the patient and their loved ones. Employing these tips in finding a good medical malpractice lawyer is the first step towards finding closure from such a painful experience. Here at DeZao law, we will handle your case with care and ensure you get the justice that you deserve.