7 Reasons to Hire Attorneys for Medical Malpractice
A recent study conducted by John Hopkins stated that more than 250,000 people die in the U.S. every year from medical errors. Other reports say that this number is too conservative and the number of malpractice deaths is actually around 440,000.
Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in American behind heart disease and cancer. If you are the victim of medical malpractice you need a lawyer to help argue your case.
Here are 7 reasons why you should hire attorneys and file a medical malpractice suit.
1. Dealing With Insurance Companies
Many patients are surprised to learn when a doctor is being sued for malpractice the doctor has little involvement in the actual case. Instead, the doctor’s malpractice insurance is the one who appoints a layer to defend the doctor.
The insurance company pays the layer to defend the doctor and if the patient wins it is the insurance company that will pay the full amount of the judgment. In reality, your medical malpractice lawsuit is more against the insurance company than the doctor or hospital who made the mistake.
The doctor is named as the defendant and does participate in the discovery process, interrogations, and depositions, but the insurance company will put up the day-to-day fight against the patient.
2. Handling The Endless Paperwork
If you have ever read a contract or legal documents then you understand how frustrating it can be to deal with confusing legal jargon. It’s easy to become confused in the first few sentences.
When you file a medical malpractice claim there will be a never-ending stream of paperwork. There are forms to fill out, sign, read, file, and respond to. Lawyers with medical malpractice expertise know the language and are familiar with these forms.
They also know the deadlines for submitting forms and will keep all your documents organized. They will respond to correspondence from all parties involved in the suit.
It can be a struggle to try to handle this on your own. It’s best to have an experienced malpractice attorney handling the paperwork.
3. Knowing the Value of Your Claim
Without experience, it’s hard to know the value of your claim. Talking to lawyers with medical malpractice experience is a good way to find out how much compensation you should be seeking for your injuries.
Experienced malpractice attorneys have been through this process and they know how to place a value on your case. Many factors are taken into account such as your injuries and loss of quality of life.
Your malpractice attorney will represent your needs and help you get the most successful claim. Doing this on your own could spell trouble when it comes time to negotiate your case in court.
4. Negotiating Your Best Settlement
Negotiating goes hand-in-hand with knowing your case’s value. An experienced medical malpractice attorney knows how to negotiate with the insurance company. In many cases, the insurance company already knows your attorney.
If they have a reputation of being tough and winning cases for their clients the insurance company may settle out of court. The insurance company will hire a powerful legal team to represent the doctor.
His legal team will say mistakes at hospitals and home healthcare businesses happen and the doctor shouldn’t be held responsible.
You need a medical malpractice attorney who won’t back down and will fight for you. Your attorney should be specialized in medical malpractice law and work with you to make sure the insurance company doesn’t take advantage of you.
5. Hiring Attorneys Can Speed Up the Whole Process
Choosing the best medical malpractice lawyer will significantly speed up the process. A good lawyer who has seen her or his fair share of cases understands the gravity of your situation.
They know that it is important to get your case heard quickly because you have medical bills and treatments that need to be paid for.
A good lawyer will move your case forward promptly and keep delays to a minimum. The insurance company will try to drag things out. Your lawyer won’t let this happen.
If you try to file a suit by yourself you will be at the mercy of the insurance company. A good medical malpractice lawyer will negotiate for you to keep things from stalling or slowing down.
6. Avoid Costly Mistakes
If you are not comfortable with the legal process or filing a claim, defending your case, and arguing your side to a judge chances are you could make some mistakes. Common lawyer fees are a small price to pay compared to the settlement you can receive from insurance companies.
With a medical malpractice suit, there is a lot at stake. Lost wages, medical costs, lost quality of life, and many other factors all play a role in your case. Take one misstep and you may lose your case.
With something as high-risk as a medical malpractice lawsuit, it is important to hire an experienced lawyer. Learning as you go just isn’t an option and could cost you a favorable ruling. Choose a lawyer with experience in medical malpractice to have the best chance of winning your case.
7. Attorneys Have Connections
Lastly, when you hire a medical malpractice attorney your not only getting their experience and knowledge, you’re getting their connections and resources too. Their connections and resources will play an important role in your case.
Medical malpractice attorneys have a team on consulting experts and medical experts who can help weigh in on your case. They have other lawyers at their practice too who have handled similar cases. They have resources that only an attorney can provide you with.
Don’t try to go it alone and fight for the basic resources you need to prove your case. Hire a skilled attorney to be on your side.
Hire Attorneys to Help With Your Medical Malpractice Suit
The insurance company has a lot of resources. They will try everything they can to make you give up or lose your case. Hire attorneys with medical malpractice experience. It will make a big difference in your ruling.
If you enjoyed this article please share it with friends and family who are thinking of filing a medical malpractice suit and browse more of our latest articles on the WCVB Boston Blog.
Trevor Anderson wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.
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