8 Questions to Ask Your Malpractice Attorneys

Being injured by negligence or malpractice on the part of the medical professionals who are supposed to be helping you can be an overwhelming experience. Malpractice attorneys play an important part in your pursuit of justice to make amends for the wrong you suffered. That makes finding the right attorney to work on your behalf an absolutely critical step to take.

Finding the right attorney among all of the firms offering their services requires getting the right information to make the right choice for your needs as a client. If you’re seeking help from an attorney in regards to a malpractice case in Baltimore, be sure to ask these questions to know you’re getting the help you deserve.

8 Questions to Ask Your Malpractice Attorneys

1. Does Your Firm Have Experience Handling Medical Malpractice Claims?

Not every law firm that offers you their services will have experience in dealing with the medical malpractice claim that you’re pursuing. Be sure to find an attorney who has a proven track record taking on cases in the medical field so that you’re getting the best representation possible. Asking the attorney you’re considering when they began working on cases in the malpractice field can give you an idea of their experience.

More specifically, you should ask if the malpractice attorneys you’re considering have experience with your particular type of case. Medical malpractice is a wide-ranging field in the legal world, including everything from birth injuries to failures to diagnose conditions on time and much more. Finding an attorney who has dealt with a case similar to yours before can make the difference in getting justice for what was done.

2. What Timeframe Do We Have to Pursue My Case?

From the moment your malpractice or negligence-related injury occurs, time is of the essence. For one thing, your injury means that medical expenses and other bills will begin to pile up, and you’ll need some way to make up for the time you’re missing at work. You also need to file your claim within a specific timeframe in order to meet the requirements set out by the statute of limitations pertaining to your case.

Meeting these time constraints requires contacting attorneys in a timely fashion, and getting a team who will work quickly to bring your case forward. Typically, the timeframe for a medical malpractice case is between two to six years. However, limitations can vary depending on the state the case is being heard in and the exact nature of the malpractice, so be sure to discuss the specifics of your case with an experienced attorney to know what timeframe you have.

3. What Positives and Negatives Do You See in My Particular Case?

You want an attorney who will give you a balanced view of your situation rather than just telling you what you want to hear. Asking for both the potential opportunities as well as the drawbacks that the attorney sees in your case will give you a realistic look at the outlook that your case has.

Potential strong points for a case could include past legal cases involving similar circumstances that give set a legal precedence that favors your case. Conversely, drawbacks might include a lack of evidence connecting the injury you suffered to the medical treatment you received or a lengthy period of time between the malpractice incident and the case being brought forward.

4. Do You See This Case Going to Trial or Ending with a Settlement?

Having a clearly defined strategy is crucial in a malpractice case ending with a positive resolution for you. Part of that strategy involves determining whether this case is likely to be settled with the medical office who caused your injuries or if the case is more likely to go to court. In the latter case, it’s important that the law firm you’re working with has experience arguing these cases in the courtroom.

More than 95% of malpractice claims end in a settlement rather than a trial, but it’s important to have an attorney who will discuss the benefits of both outcomes. For example, a settlement might result in a swifter resolution, but jury trials often award bigger payouts when malpractice lawsuits are ruled in favor of the plaintiff.

5. How Extensive Is Your Medical Knowledge?

Along with knowledge of the legal landscape around medicine, the best malpractice attorneys are also well-versed in the medical field itself. After all, who better to know when medicine has been performed incorrectly than somebody who knows the correct procedures themselves? That’s why some attorneys specializing in malpractice claims hold medical degrees themselves or may have practiced medicine previously.

This background knowledge can be very useful in pursuing your case. Ideally, an attorney might have some knowledge of the exact field of medicine that your malpractice case relates to. But even general knowledge of medical practice can be a valuable resource for your attorneys to call upon while pursuing your case.

6. Who Will Remain in Contact with Me at Your Law Firm Throughout My Case?

By working with a law firm on a matter as personal as medical malpractice, you’re putting a lot of trust in the attorneys. You want to be assured that your case is being taken seriously and that diligent work is being carried out on your behalf. Good communication on behalf of the lawyers working for you is essential to your experience.

Ask for specific information on who will be your point of contact throughout the process of pursuing your case. Furthermore, ask which partners at the law firm specialize in malpractice cases to know who will be working to bring your case to a resolution. Straight answers on this front will set clear expectations for what you’ll see as the case proceeds.

7. Do You Have the Financial Resources Necessary to Take on This Case?

Investigating a claim of malpractice and bringing it to trial can be an expensive process. Calling upon the expert witnesses necessary and gathering evidence are just some of the expenses you might face in pursuing a case such as this.

That makes it important to work with a well-established law firm that has the resources necessary to cover the up-front costs of your investigation. Be sure to check with the law firm that you’re considering for your malpractice case to ensure that they have all of the resources needed to take on a case of the scale that you’re facing.

8. What Notable Malpractice Cases Have You Worked on in the Past?

Often, the biggest malpractice cases make headlines. Finding out whether your attorneys have worked on some cases that have attracted attention can give you an idea of their experience. Do your research on these past cases to get valuable insight into the results that these attorneys have managed to achieve in the past.

Working with a trusted and experienced malpractice attorney can make all the difference when you’re facing the difficulties caused by negligence from a medical professional. Because timeframes are so important in cases like these, it’s important that you move quickly to find a resolution. Contact Peter Angelos Law in Baltimore today and get the justice you deserve.