It is never easy to decide whether to pursue legal action. Throughout my career I have had many people ask me what warrants hiring a medical malpractice lawyer like myself. While I may be biased, of course, my belief is that anyone who has legitimately been wronged at the hands of a healthcare provider — whether it was a botched surgery, a birth injury, a delayed or missed diagnosis, or another form of medical malpractice — deserves justice. It is simple, really: healthcare providers should be held liable for provable negligence. Hiring a medical malpractice lawyer is one of the best ways to make that possible. Here are all the reasons why you should consider hiring a medical malpractice lawyer, along with what you can expect if you opt to move forward with a case of your own. Medical malpractice lawyers know how to get you the outcome you deserve. Every medical malpractice case is different. Some involve life-altering injuries or disabilities, and some lead to death. No matter the severity of your case, the right medical malpractice lawyer will make every attempt to elucidate the facts to ensure that you get the justice you deserve. Medical malpractice lawyers know how to best make your case. Every patient is different, which means every case has a different foundation: varying medical issues, outcomes, doctors and so forth. All cases require significant investigative work. Initially, medical malpractice lawyers get a full scope of what happened to the patient, learning more about the injuries themselves and the medical decisions made. Lawyers are adept at figuring out if there is a viable case by looking at the specifics of what happened either medically or situationally to cause the result. Assuming there is a viable case, lawyers can then assist in mapping out a plan which ideally leads to a resolution in favor of the client. Sometimes this resolution may be a settlement, which is the most common result, or a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. In some ways, it could be said that medical malpractice lawyers understand medicine and the healthcare industry just as much as they understand the law. And when done right, and when feasible, they find a way to combine all their smarts to win a case or secure a settlement. Medical malpractice lawyers understand the medical issues that can indicate malpractice. While a bit simplified, in a medical malpractice case you have to demonstrate the following, as briefly summarized by the American Bar Association: a health care provider violated the standard of care of those with similar training and experience, which resulted in harm to a patient or patients. However, proving negligence is far more complicated than this summary. Common examples of negligence include delayed or missed diagnoses, unnecessary surgeries, and surgical errors. Not every bad outcome or event warrants medical malpractice or personal injury case. But lawyers who work in this field know exactly what to look for to decide as to whether it is a viable case or not. If it is a viable case, an experienced medical malpractice lawyer will have the resources to conduct a thorough investigation and collect the necessary evidence to build the strongest case possible. These resources may include: consulting relevant experts whose affidavit may be required to file a case; hiring experts whose credentials, opinions and testimony are required to prove your case; deposing members of the medical team or teams that provided care; tracking damage amounts; handling all correspondence with the opposing party; and, working toward a resolution that is ideally in favor of the plaintiff. Medical malpractice lawyers know the laws in your state. Each state has implemented a statute of limitations which regulates the amount of time an injured person has to initiate a lawsuit. These differ from state to state. For example, in the state of California, an injured person must file his or her lawsuit within two years from the date of the injury. However, in the state of Washington, an injured person must file the lawsuit within three years from the date of the damage. There are often exceptions to the statutes for those with valid justifications, including in California and Washington. Along with the statute of limitations, some states have different recovery caps for damages. Some states cap economic damages, some cap non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering), some cap both, and some cap neither. A medical malpractice lawyer knows how to navigate these laws best to ensure that their clients comply with the state-specific statutes and understand what a potential recovery may look like. Additionally, an experienced medical malpractice lawyer will be well versed in the state-specific statutes, regulations and procedural rules that will guide how your case is handled. Medical malpractice lawyers ensure that you are involved throughout the entire process. Medical malpractice lawyers get you involved on day one. They provide counsel and support to you throughout the entirety of the case, so you do not have to go through the most challenging moments alone. While they will do the heavy lifting in terms of preparing and working up the case, you will be an integral part of the team. This type of partnership facilitates the development and ultimate resolution of the case. Medical malpractice lawyers know how to fight on your behalf. Medical malpractice and personal injury lawyers have a narrow focus, which means that they have strong subject matter knowledge to draw from as they evaluate and litigate a case. They fight diligently so their clients may receive the justice to which they are entitled. Medical malpractice cases are often complex, expensive, and all-consuming, so it follows that lawyers will only take on a case if they believe in its merit. Once you find the right lawyer or law firm for you and your case, they will do everything possible to successfully pursue the case. Medical malpractice lawyers often work on a contingency fee basis. Medical malpractice cases are often very expensive due to the extensive discovery and the hiring of and working with expert witnesses. Cases may cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring to trial. However, if you find a medical malpractice attorney with the resources to take your case on contingency, you will not have to pay anything up front. Under a contingency agreement, the attorney will not get paid unless you receive compensation. How I can help. With my unique trifecta background within the medical and law fields, I am able to offer a unique perspective for my clients. Whether you need assistance by reviewing a case you are interested in pursuing or filing, need co-counsel, or you would like a general consultation, I am ready to dive in. In addition to all of the reasons above to hire a medical malpractice lawyer, I also believe it is important to trust who you are working with so they are able to provide the best service possible. As a professional and entrepreneur, it is my goal to be there for my clients from the first day. You can have confidence I will always fight my hardest, be honest and transparent, and provide the best service and partnership I can. Let’s get started today.