Medical errors might be the third leading cause of death in America.
Aside from death, medical malpractice can leave you or a loved one with paralysis or an extended hospital stay resulting in high medical bills and lost wages.
In such cases, the aggrieved has the option to go to court to have his case heard and seek compensation. Unfortunately, the legal system is complex, dynamic, and can take ages for a layperson to navigate.
Hiring a medical malpractice attorney is one of the best ways to increase your odds of winning your malpractice suit.
Let’s look more into medical malpractice and why you absolutely need to hire a lawyer.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is said to occur when a hospital, healthcare professional, or doctor causes an injury to a patient through a negligent act or omission.
The act or omission that causes the injury deviates from the accepted standard levels of care.
Medical malpractice revolves around errors in diagnosis, aftercare, treatment, and health management.
Reasons Why You Should Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney
There are many benefits to getting an attorney on board once you or a loved one suffers harm in the hands of a healthcare provider.
Here are the top five ones.
1. Skill and Expertise
This has got to be the top reason to hire an attorney. If you choose to self-represent, the other party will have stellar legal representation. This already puts you at a disadvantage.
A malpractice attorney is trained to handle cases such as yours, and not just that, but they probably have handed many other cases similar to yours.
They know the court filing system, investigative phase, discovery and have trial acumen as well. This is what you get by bringing one on board.
Your lawyer is also able to advise on the specifics of your case and steer you towards alternative resolution methods if these will produce the best outcomes for you.
If the case does wind up in court, your lawyer is well poised to reflect your needs to the jury following the standards expected in the legal field.
2. Element of Objectivity
If you lose a loved one or suffer an injury through medical malpractice, you are likely to be bitter and resentful. This is human nature.
However, these intense emotions can make it even harder to communicate effectively with the other party’s insurance company and attorneys.
Some of these emotions stem from the feeling of having being wronged. In reality, only a portion of what looks like malpractice suits qualify to be categorized as such.
Even before you put too many resources into pursuing a lawsuit, a lawyer can tell you what and what does not quantify as a malpractice suit.
Being overly emotional can also lengthen negotiations, make settlement discussions ineffective, and even stall them.
A legal expert is able to advise you on your rights and lead negotiations with a level head keeping in mind what the compensation regulations stipulate.
A medical malpractice lawyer will also point out if you have a weak case. This might not be good to hear, but it ultimately saves you time and money.
3. You Get a Master Negotiator
When working on a case, an attorney is privy to information a layman might not have.
By reviewing your case and the evidence, they can tell which causes have a strong case. The stronger the case, the better placed you are when negotiating a settlement.
They also know the different laws from one state to the next. This means they know the compensation your case should get in settlement and what it could get by going to trial.
Aside from this, an attorney is trained to be a master negotiator. Unless you work in a field with extensive negotiations, you are unlikely to have the skill on the same level as that of a lawyer.
With this skill, a credible attorney will be able to negotiate a higher settlement for you.
4. Ease Your Burden
When you lose a loved one or get severely incapacitated due to a medical error, this is indeed a trying time for you.
Without a sound support system, it can quickly get stressful and overwhelming.
This takes away the mental clarity to handle the process of this magnitude.
A malpractice attorney plays a vital role in handling the entire process from start to finish.
They will file, advice you, keep you updated on the proceedings and ensure the most favorable outcome for you.
An attorney’s knowledge of the law and legal processes also means they are able to avoid some expensive and time-consuming mistakes along.
5. a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Has the Resources
The high costs of seeing a lawsuit through are actually a primary reason why most people shy away from fighting for justice.
If you have a strong case, a good law firm will put forth the resources required.
Some of these will include clerical legal work, expert witnesses, investigation, and court fees.
If you do manage to get a lawyer that works on contingency, you are assured that they will go over and above to get you the highest compensation possible. Because they take a percentage of your settlement, your win is their win.
Aside from financial resources, a lawyer will tap into their professional resources by enlisting the help of their connections.
This can include doctors to consult on your health, as well as legal experts to ensure you get the best outcome.
Get What You Deserve
Essentially, getting a medical malpractice attorney to fight your case for you is among the best ways to point out the wrongdoing on your health provider’s part and stop them from hurting another patient.
It also increases your chances of getting a reasonable settlement. While you might not undo the unfortunate events leading up to the suit, the monetary compensation you receive can help you rebuild your life.
Have you or a loved one suffered in the hands of a medical professional? Do not hesitate to call up a reputable attorney in your area.
