What should you do if you have a medical malpractice case? Part 1

Medical malpractice suits arise when a medical professional negligently commits a mistake which results in an injury to a patient. The mistake is negligent when it deviates from the standard of care that a doctor of similar education and specialty would have provided. Medical malpractice suits are designed to enable patients to pursue compensation against their caregivers. In this situation, physicians hold all of the power because they are the only ones that understand the medical nature of the issues present. As such, you may want the assistance of an attorney before filing your lawsuit.

The first thing you should do is contact the medical professional who made a mistake. It sounds counterintuitive, to talk to the person who may intend to sue. But it is important because it will allow you to understand the nature of the mistake and how it happened. You need to do this before you file your lawsuit because people tend to become less forthcoming if they are being sued. Additionally, it is better if you approach the physician, lawyers tend to make people nervous.

Second, if the doctor won’t speak to you, contact their medical board. The medical board cannot compel a physician to pay a settlement to you. But medical boards can impose disciplinary measures to force the doctor to speak with you about the nature of the incident. Additionally, medical boards can give you guidance on the nature of the accident and help you determine the best way to pursue compensation.

Did you suffer an injury due to the negligence of the medical staff? If you did, you might want to contact an attorney to review your rights to compensation. You are entitled to compensation for your current injuries, medical bills, and future medical expenses. It is critical that you secure sufficient compensation in your final settlement or judgment because anything that the settlement didn’t cover will come out of your pocket. You are entitled to one shot to receive fair compensation; you don’t want to mess it up.