When facing the unexpected and challenging situation of dealing with medical malpractice, it is important to be prepared for your initial consultation with a lawyer. Your doctor’s negligence may have significantly impacted your health and career, and the upcoming meeting with an attorney is a crucial step toward seeking justice.
In the article below, we provide questions you should consider asking potential medical malpractice lawyers before hiring them to take on your medical malpractice case.
1. Do You Have Extensive Experience in Medical Malpractice Cases?
Medical malpractice law is a highly specialized and complex field within the broader scope of personal injury law. It requires a deep understanding of medical conditions, as well as an appropriate approach to gathering and presenting evidence. Moreover, it requires access to leading medical experts who can provide crucial insights and testimony. A successful medical malpractice attorney must be able to meet all of these demands while also possessing strong negotiation skills to effectively deal with insurance companies. If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiations, the attorney must be prepared to initiate litigation and advocate for the client in court.
Due to the complexity of these legal claims, not every attorney can represent clients in medical malpractice cases. In truth, even amongst those specializing in this area, not every attorney may be the best fit for a particular client. This is why you must thoroughly assess an attorney’s qualifications and approach during the initial consultation and decide if they are the right lawyer for the job.
2. How Much Time Do I Have To File My Case?
According to Virginia’s medical malpractice statute of limitations, there is a time limit on cases against medical care workers and providers for alleged professional negligence or malpractice. This law provides individuals two years from the date the medical mistake happened to pursue their legal claim. If they fail to file within that time, they may lose their ability to pursue the compensation they deserve. For this reason, it is important to discuss your potential case with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to determine your legal options.
3. Have You Worked on Medical Malpractice Cases Similar To Mine?
When asking if your case is similar to another case the attorney has handled, you are seeking reassurance that they have the necessary experience, resources, and skills to handle your claim. This question will also help verify that the medical malpractice attorney understands the specifics of your situation, is familiar with the care you will require in the future, has the ability to gather the necessary evidence, and can accurately assess the value of your case.
4. Do I Have a Viable Medical Malpractice Legal Claim?
Finally, one of the most important questions to ask a medical malpractice attorney is whether you have a viable legal claim. This is because if you do not have a case, you should not proceed. You do not want to spend time and money on a process that will not get results.
As a result, even if you strongly believe that a medical worker committed an error that caused you harm, remember that it may be possible that there are underlying factors that could weaken your case in a court or mediation setting. Therefore, consider all possible reasons your case may fail before proceeding further.
Contact Hollingsworth Law Today To Learn More About Team
If you believe you have a valid medical malpractice case or want to learn more about the process of bringing a medical malpractice claim in Virginia, contact Hollingsworth Law today and review your questions with our skilled legal team.