Understanding how to find a good medical malpractice lawyer is vital for injury victims and surviving family members of wrongful death resulting from medical malpractice. These cases are complex and cover a wide array of negligence, falling under the scope of medical malpractice.
If medical malpractice caused you injuries and actual damages, schedule a free case evaluation today with a Missouri medical malpractice lawyer. You'll want to discover a plan to secure financial compensation for your losses—and pain and suffering.
How to Find a Good Medical Malpractice Lawyer Near You
Finding a good medical malpractice lawyer near you may involve more than a Google search, yielding half a page of paid advertisements. While the ad at the top of the page may be for an excellent attorney, perfect for your medical malpractice case, you should take further steps to determine the right one for your claim.
To find a good lawyer—seek referrals from trusted sources, read online reviews and testimonials, review lawyer websites, check with the State Bar Association, consider their practice area, and schedule free case evaluations.
Seek Referrals From Trusted Sources
Consider the people you trust in your life and ask them for referrals. For example, if you've worked with an attorney on other legal matters, they are a great starting place to seek referrals. Many attorneys know lawyers in different fields and can recommend a good medical malpractice lawyer. Additionally, family, friends, and coworkers may know of one.
Read Online Reviews and Testimonials
Complete online research regarding medical malpractice lawyers before trusting one with your case. Search online legal directories for local medical malpractice attorneys and read online reviews and testimonials about the attorney and law firm they represent. Google Reviews is a solid place to start. However, Avvo and FindLaw are other trusted directories for finding legal professionals.
Review the Medical Malpractice Lawyer's Website
Determining how to find a good medical malpractice lawyer involves reviewing their website. Are there testimonials advocating for their services? There should be. Look for evidence of medical malpractice knowledge through listed experience, case results, and articles published about medical malpractice.
Check With Your Local State Bar Association
Check your State Bar Association's website to search for a good medical malpractice lawyer. You can verify whether an attorney is licensed to practice in your state and their practice area. The State Bar Association also provides access to a lawyer's disciplinary history, including past actions against an attorney, such as reprimands, suspensions, and disbarments.
Consider Practice Area
Consider the practice area of the attorney you consult before hiring them to represent your case. You want a lawyer with experience with your malpractice type to represent your malpractice claim or lawsuit. For example, attorneys primarily handling birth injuries may not be as qualified to handle a dental malpractice case.
Schedule Free Case Evaluations
Most medical malpractice lawyers work for a contingency fee. They offer free case evaluations to learn the specifics of your case while strategizing a plan to recover compensation. Contingency fee arrangements require clients to pay nothing upfront. They also state your attorney only gets paid if you do. This practice incentivizes your medical malpractice attorney to work hard to win your case.
Because they offer free case evaluations, it is best practice to schedule a couple before committing to hiring an attorney. To ensure you find a good medical malpractice lawyer to represent your case, come prepared with questions.
Questions to Help You Find a Good Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Being ready with the right questions can help you narrow down which medical malpractice attorney will best represent your case. Jot down notes on how the firm answers your questions to compare and reflect on later. Some areas you should ask questions about are as follows:
- Questions About Fee Structure: While most medical malpractice lawyers work for contingency, it's vital that you have potential attorneys clarify their fee structure. Be sure to ask if their contingency fee goes up if your case requires litigation. You don't want any surprises.
- Questions About Medical Malpractice Cases: Ask about the law firms' experience representing medical malpractice cases. Navigating malpractices requires extensive knowledge of medical terminology, practices, and procedures. Find out how many cases the attorney has handled in recent years with examples of settlement amounts.
- Questions Regarding Related Cases: Does the attorney have experience handling medical malpractice cases like yours? If they have experience with similar claims, they have better odds of successfully securing your compensation. Confirm their experience representing malpractice cases with circumstances similar to yours.
- Questions Regarding Trials: Litigation is more involved than the insurance claims process. It is important that you ask about trial experience when hiring a good medical malpractice lawyer. If your case goes to court, you'll want an attorney with courtroom experience to ensure an optimal outcome.
- Questions About Your Case Specifics: You should ask potential lawyers several questions about the specifics of your claim, such as how long it may take to settle, what types of damages you may recover, and identifying potential weaknesses in your case.
- Questions Regarding Client Communication: Ask questions about how much communication you can expect from an attorney before hiring them. Will they answer your phone calls or emails? Do they provide regular updates? You may choose another lawyer if an attorney cannot communicate within reason. Timely communication isn't too much to ask from a hired professional.
Pay attention to tone and details. Are they sincere and informed with their responses, or do they sound like they are presenting a slimy sales pitch? You may encounter both types of attorneys while conducting interviews. Trust your gut.
How a Good Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help
A good medical malpractice lawyer will listen with compassion as you explain the circumstances of your case. They are empathetic to default and passionate about helping malpractice victims seek justice and vindication through financial compensation. They achieve this by doing the following:
- Providing free case evaluation
- Comprehensively investigating your medical malpractice claim
- Gathering and preserving evidence
- Consulting experts relating to your case
- Valuing the damages in your malpractice claim or lawsuit
- Negotiating fair settlements on your behalf
- Representing you in court if your case goes to trial
A Medical Malpractice Lawyer is Standing By
If you or a loved one are a victim of medical malpractice, schedule a free case evaluation today. These cases are complex and require extensive knowledge of medicine and legal proceedings. You'll want a professional to help you recover compensation for your losses and damages.