7 Crucial Things to Look for in a Malpractice Lawyer
If you are ever injured because of a doctor’s mistake, you must find a good malpractice lawyer. Finding the right one can seem daunting, but it’s important to do your research. But, what should you look for when choosing a malpractice lawyer? Here are seven crucial things to keep in mind.
1. Law and Medical Knowledge
When you are injured because of malpractice, you often deal with the legal system and healthcare for your injuries. A malpractice lawyer who is not well-versed in both areas may not be able to help you out as much as a malpractice lawyer who is well-versed in both. Some attorneys have acquired both medical and law degrees to become malpractice attorneys. You should also check if the malpractice lawyer is a member in good standing with the American Bar Association (ABA) or any other malpractice law association.
2. Fair and Honest
When you first meet with a malpractice lawyer, they should be able to answer any questions you have regarding your case. A malpractice lawyer should also be upfront and not sugarcoat the situation or, worse, lie to you. You need a malpractice lawyer who will be on your side and fight for you, not one that will tarnish the other party.
3. Fees
There is almost always a malpractice lawyer’s fee involved in lawsuits. The malpractice lawyer should never charge you any fees until you win your case. They should also offer their services on a contingency basis so that you don’t have to pay anything until you win. Finally, the malpractice lawyer should never charge fees for services not performed.
4. Access to a Medical Witness
If your malpractice case goes to trial, your lawyer will need a health specialist to testify that the doctor made a mistake. A lawyer who can find a doctor to testify on your behalf has a very high chance of helping you win your case.
5. Experience and Background
Before you hire a malpractice lawyer, they should provide proof of licensure and any malpractice cases that they have won. It’s also a good idea to look them up on the internet and see if they have a website or a malpractice blog. Additionally, you should check if they have any endorsements or recommendations from other doctors.
During an interview, you can ask them questions like:
- What malpractice cases have you won?
- How many malpractice lawsuits do you currently have in progress?
- Do you have any recommendations from doctors or other malpractice lawyers?
- Are you a member of any malpractice law associations?
- How long have you been practicing malpractice law?
- Does a malpractice lawsuit have a fee, or is it free for all cases?
6. Patient Listener
Go for a malpractice lawyer who is a patient listener since they can listen and understand your situation. They pay attention to detail and ask the right questions regarding your malpractice case. Since malpractice cases can be pretty complex, you need a lawyer who will understand what happened, the injuries, and all of the paperwork.
7. Trustworthy
There needs to be trust between the lawyer and the claimant in every law case. It is the only way the two stand a chance in court. Therefore, you will need a person to entrust your malpractice case facts and details. They should keep your information private unless they must share it with other parties involved in your case.
Choosing a malpractice lawyer can be a challenging and confusing task, but you need to find someone willing to fight your battle with you. If you meet these seven criteria, you should find a malpractice lawyer with adequate experience and a reputation that precedes itself.
