Medical malpractice cases are some of the most unexpected personal injury cases a person can end up in. When you go to the doctor, whether it’s for a simple cold or a serious surgery, you expect to be in good hands and surrounded by people who are going to help you solve the problem.
When someone is negligent, that experience turns into a nightmare.
When a medical professional causes you harm by being negligent, you need a medical malpractice lawyer. However, medical professionals are oftentimes protected very well, and you can’t afford to hire a lawyer that doesn’t perform at the top of their field.
Today, we’re going to go over 5 tips to choose the best medical malpractice lawyer possible and help you find justice.
1. A Specialization in Medical Malpractice
Lawyers aren’t just general law experts who cover every aspect of the law. The legal system is so complex that lawyers choose specializations for different disciplines of law. Some focus on handling the simple things such as civil cases between neighbors, some only deal with divorces, and some handle the biggest class action lawsuits against massive corporations.
For medical malpractice cases, you’ll need a personal injury lawyer, but you want to make sure the lawyer deals specifically in medical malpractice cases regularly.
The reason for this comes down to two things.
First, the laws affecting medical malpractice cases are different from other cases. There are precedents that have been set, medical professionals have various expectations and protections that have legally binding standards attached to them, and more. A lawyer who has never worked with medical malpractice cases won’t know those finer details.
On top of that, medical malpractice is a dramatically different situation than other personal injury situations such as car accidents or dog bites. The harm that is caused is far different, unique scenarios are a part of most cases, and simply understanding how the medical field works is a challenge in and of itself.
If your chosen lawyer isn’t specialized in medical malpractice, it can lead to you losing your case over a minor detail that a more experienced lawyer wouldn’t have missed.
While some of the things we’ll talk about might have exceptions, this is an absolute must.
Of course, lawyers often specialize in a variety of disciplines that are related to each other. A lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice will oftentimes service clients with other types of personal injury cases, as well. So, if you don’t see medical malpractice right away, search through their full list of services.
2. A Record of Success
The next thing you want to look for beyond the lawyer’s specialty in medical malpractice is how successful they have been throughout their career.
You don’t want to choose a medical malpractice lawyer who loses cases often. If they lose a lot, the chances are that you’ll lose your case if you let them handle it. Considering medical malpractice cases tend to be very serious with life-changing injuries involved, you definitely don’t want to waste your chance at justice.
A good win record with some high-profile cases is always a great sign that you should get them on your team. The goal is to take the case all the way to the finish and receive the maximum amount of compensation as possible. That’s achieved with a win.
However, it’s not all about wins.
While you certainly want what you’re owed, there are oftentimes factors that prevent you from realistically being able to get every penny. You might need to settle for an agreement that is close enough to what you want but won’t drag the case out or put it in jeopardy.
If a lawyer has a good record of getting clients high-value settlements close to what their case is worth, that can be just as good as a lawyer with lots of wins. Settlements are often quicker, and in some cases, they’re the most likely way to get compensation. It’s good when a medical malpractice lawyer knows exactly when to accept one without costing you too much of what you’re owed.
3. Reputation
If your prospective lawyer wins or gets a lot of high-value settlements, this will likely take care of itself, but you do want to check the lawyer’s reputation.
Even if the lawyer gets great results, you still want to see if they have a reputation for being easy to work with, communicative, and generally someone you can rely on in such a stressful situation.
Testimonials from previous clients and accolades in the field are often good indicators of this.
4. Focused Service
If you’re dealing with a firm, don’t be surprised if the person from the ad isn’t the one who works directly with you. Many firms hire paralegals to take on a larger volume of cases.
However, you want to make sure that you’re being focused on. One lawyer handling dozens of cases means that you won’t get the attention your case deserves. You want personalized service where a lawyer is either only focusing on your case or only has one or two other cases on their case load.
5. Choose Someone You are Comfortable with
Finally, it’s highly important that you consider your own comfort with the lawyer before you commit.
Communication is absolutely key. You can’t afford to hire someone who you’re not comfortable speaking to, or if they have a personality that overshadows you to the point you don’t feel comfortable speaking up.
You’ll be extremely stressed dealing with the harm caused by the malpractice and handling the legal process. That makes it even more important to have a healthy line of communication with your lawyer.
Beyond that, you’ll be divulging your medical information, and that’s a personal aspect of your life. Knowing you’re comfortable and the person is professional is an absolute must.
The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo is Here to Help with Your Medical Malpractice Case
The medical malpractice lawyer you choose is extremely important. Make sure you get the best medical malpractice lawyer possible to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact Scott D. DeSalvo today for a consultation.
