Medical malpractice cases are among the toughest to win on your own. If you want to go up against a doctor or hospital, then you’re going to need excellent legal representation. Your medical malpractice lawyer should be experienced, with a good reputation and a fantastic track record. Let’s go over some tips to help you find the best person to represent your case.
Contents
7 Tips for Finding a Good Medical Malpractice Lawyer
1. Consider One Firm
Narrow your search down to a single firm before you begin consulting with attorneys. Staying within one firm will make it easier for you if you discover you don’t get along well with the first one or two attorneys you consult with.
Staying with a firm dealing with medical malpractice in Baltimore MD makes it easy for attorneys within it to recommend the right lawyer within the firm, depending on your needs, their caseloads, and other criteria. You’ll also have peace of mind if you work with attorneys in a single firm that you feel comfortable associating yourself with.
2. Consider Multiple Attorneys
Talk to several attorneys within your chosen firm before you decide who you want to work with. Some of these attorneys may not want to take your case. Others will discover they don’t have time to take on your case right now, but they’ll recommend another colleague. It can take some time to find an attorney you feel most comfortable working with, so never go with the first person you speak to without talking to others first.
3. Consider Their Experience
How experienced is your attorney? You’ll probably feel most comfortable working with someone who has a few years of experience working on medical malpractice cases. For best results, look at the attorney’s track record to see if they’ve won cases similar to yours.
Let’s say the malpractice you suffered was a surgical error. Working with someone who’s won multiple cases in the last three years regarding surgical errors will be more beneficial to you than working with someone who’s won a couple of cases surrounding misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, and incorrect treatment of an ailment. Experience working cases as similar to yours as possible is invaluable.
4. Consider Their Track Record
Your attorney may have a lot of experience defending people in cases similar to yours, but that doesn’t mean they’ve done it well. Consider their track record and history of success. Have they won more cases than they’ve lost? What was the settlement?
Aim to work with someone who has won more cases than they’ve lost and has settled for good sums of money. It’s impossible to say what a good sum is in your individual case, so ask how much they wanted to win in their cases versus how much they got for their client.
5. Consider Their Professional Reputation
How do your attorney’s peers view them professionally? Would they recommend them as a good lawyer? And does your attorney hold any positions of power within legal organizations in your state? It would be a good idea to look all of this up.
A great attorney won’t shy away from sharing their qualifications, positions of power, and testimonials with you. Make sure you’re happy with them before you start working with your attorney, as you want to be sure you’re working with someone people consider highly skilled and pleasant to work with.
6. Consider Your Feelings
Your attorney may be the absolute best when it comes to their track record and experience, but if they make you feel uncomfortable in any way, then they may not be the attorney you want to work with. Medical malpractice cases often cause high levels of emotion, and you need someone who’s empathetic.
You need support from everyone you can get it from right now, and that includes your attorney. You may be suffering from severe emotional trauma or PTSD. An empathetic attorney will understand this and will never make you feel uncomfortable while working together.
7. Consider Their Fees
How does your attorney charge? Most medical malpractice attorneys charge a contingency fee. This means you won’t pay for their services until you win compensation. Their fee is then taken out of the settlement. If you don’t win, then your attorney gets nothing. An attorney who works on a contingency fee basis is generally the best choice for most people who may not be able to afford top legal help from attorneys who bill another way.
It may seem difficult to find a medical malpractice attorney the trust, but if you work with a top law firm, then it’s not too hard. Meet a couple of lawyers, look into their experience and backgrounds, and consider how you feel about each of them. You’re sure to find someone to take on your case who’ll do the best job possible for you.
