7 Qualities to Look for When Choosing Medical Negligence Lawyers

If you’ve been harmed due to the negligence of a medical professional, you can claim compensation for your losses, particularly if you have high medical bills or if you’ve lost your job as a result of the incident. Filing a lawsuit can help you to move on with your life and provide for your family, so you can recover without worrying about your personal finances. To get the compensation you deserve, you should hire medical negligence lawyers local to Baltimore. But how can you find the best attorney possible, and what qualities are most important? Aside from great qualifications, your lawyer should also have local experience, a good track record, a fair billing system, and a great reputation in the local community. At your initial consultation, you can make sure that they have excellent communication skills and are a good personal fit for you. Let’s examine how you can find the best possible lawyer.

7 Qualities to Look for When Choosing Medical Negligence Lawyers

1. Excellent Qualifications

Naturally, you wouldn’t want an underqualified lawyer working on your case, so you should have a look at the educational background before making a decision. Check various attorneys’ biographies to see whether they have graduated from reputable schools, such as the Kelley School of Business.
If your attorney has been practicing law for a long time, they might also have additional qualifications and participate in continued education. This is very important because the law changes on a regular basis and attorneys need to stay updated. Don’t hesitate to give your chosen law firm a call and ask them about their staff’s qualifications if you can’t find enough information online.

 

2. Local Experience in Baltimore

Experience is key when it comes to fighting for maximum compensation. While young attorneys can be great because they have a lot of energy and enthusiasm, you should make sure that your lawyer has already taken on and been successful with some cases similar to yours. That way, they will have the relevant knowledge and contacts to succeed. You should also check for how long the lawyer has been working in the local area. Some medical negligence laws are federal, but others are local to Maryland, so working with someone who has several years of experience in this state is best. If you choose a law firm that’s well established in your area, it’s likely that the attorneys working there have the best resources and access to experts such as doctors, who can strengthen your case.

3. A Great Track Record

Once you’ve made sure that the attorneys in the law firm you’ve chosen are well qualified and have the necessary experience, you can have a look at the “Verdicts & Settlements” page to see what kinds of cases the firm has worked on in the past. Are any of them similar to your situation? And how successful have they been in gaining a high level of compensation for their clients?

Depending on what happened and how much you are suffering as a result, your lawsuit could be worth a five, six, or seven-figure amount. If the lawyers are regularly getting these kinds of results, you can assume that they will do the same for you.

4. Good Communication Skills

One of the most important skills a lawyer needs is good communication. You can find out how the firm you’ve chosen communicates when you book your initial consultation. Pay close attention to how quickly they get back to you and whether their emails and phone calls are always friendly. At your consultation, you can then determine whether the attorney’s way of communicating works well for you.

Keep in mind that a great law firm in Baltimore is always busy, so the medical negligence lawyers might be working on many different cases at once. They won’t be able to pick up the phone whenever you call or answer your emails straight away, but they should get back to you soon, usually within one or two business days if the inquiry is urgent.

5. A Fair Billing System

There are several different ways lawyers bill their clients, and the best billing system is different from case to case. Sometimes, your case might be taken on without any upfront costs, and you will have to pay your lawyer a contingency fee when you win your case. This is usually 30-40% of your winnings, and it’s a great billing system if you don’t have a lot of money or if you are worried that your case will go on for a long time.

Some lawyers prefer to charge a flat fee or by the hour. This can be better if your case is relatively easy and you don’t need to spend very much time with your attorney. No matter what system is used, the charges should be explained to you clearly at the beginning of the process, so you’re not surprised with extra fees later on. If in doubt, ask the lawyer to give you an estimate of what your case might cost.

6. A Positive Reputation in the Community

The law firm you choose should not only be successful but also ethical. One of the best ways to find out more about how outsiders view an attorney is to check out reviews from past clients. They have been through the process of hiring and working with the lawyer, so they can tell you what the experience is like. If many people state that they were satisfied, it’s likely that you will, too. Additionally, you can find out if the attorney is well respected in the legal community. Some lawyers, especially ones who have been working for more than a decade, have been recognized as Super Lawyers and are members of professional organizations such as the American Association of Justice or the Maryland Association for Justice. This shows that they are plugged into their community and interacting with other lawyers on a regular basis.

7. A Good Personal Fit

A medical negligence case can take many months or even more than a year, so you’ll be spending a lot of time with your attorney. Consider whether you are happy to work closely with this person for this length of time. Do you like their attitude and way of interacting with you? Do you feel comfortable asking questions and discussing the private details of your case? If so, they are likely a good personal fit, so working with them will be easy.

 

Hiring great medical negligence lawyers doesn’t have to be hard, as you can find most of the relevant information online. Check out potential candidates’ websites to find out more about their biography, track record, and reputation in the community. Most law firms also have a “Verdicts & Settlements” page, so you can check what cases they have taken on in the past and whether they were successful.

Once you’ve found someone who might be a good fit, you should book an initial consultation and speak to them face to face. That way, you can evaluate their communication skills and find out whether their personality matches yours. Call us at Peter Angelos Law in Baltimore, MD to book a meeting with one of our top attorneys. With more than 25 professionals working for us, you’re sure to find the perfect fit.

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