Tag Archives: Medical Malpractice Lawyer Philadelphia

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What To Expect If You Have A Medical Malpractice Case According To A Philadelphia Lawyer?

Can’t still determine if you can proceed with a medical malpractice case? If you are having apprehensions whether your case falls under this category or not, let me give you an insightful overview of a medical malpractice case and what to expect from the perspective of a Philadelphia lawyer.

What is a Medical Malpractice?

A medical malpractice arises due to the negligence of a health care and medical professional while performing his or her duties and led to the harm or injury to the patient. Medical malpractice can be due to a misdiagnosis, errors committed in a medical procedure, poor aftercare treatment or failure to detect the symptoms of a serious illness.

Who can help if you are a victim of medical malpractice?

A legal representative is an ideal person in authority to contact and seek advice if you are a victim of medical malpractice. When locating a lawyer in Philadelphia for your medical malpractice case, see to it that the lawyer is fully licensed to practice this profession, has relevant experience in handling medical malpractice, specifically in the area of professional liability law.

What to expect during your initial meeting with a medical malpractice lawyer based in Philadelphia?

Your initial one-on-one consultation with your hired lawyer for this malpractice case in Philadelphia would normally start with an extensive interview of your current medical condition as well as the medical treatment availed. During this private meeting the lawyer aims to get enough information on your medical records, medical billing and treatments received where a medical malpractice has occurred. Once the lawyer arrived from a legal standpoint that you have a medical malpractice case, he or she will discuss with the client the next action to undertake.

Things that your hired lawyer will suggest do for your medical malpractice case in Philadelphia:

  • Get expert opinion from a medical professional

If your hired attorney in Philadelphia ruled out that you have a medical malpractice case, he or she will get the expert opinion of a medical professional. In the event the case will undergo trial, this expert will stand as a witness like a doctor with a similar specialty as the defendant and provide an opinion based on medical records reviewed.

  • Filing of a lawsuit

A settlement is most unlikely to happen in a medical malpractice case. Your hired legal representative will file the lawsuit, called “Complaint” or “Writ”. The timeline of a medical malpractice case pre-trial may take approximately a year or more (3 years) before it will get to trial.

  • Submit proof or affidavit

The medical malpractice attorney is must submit an Offer of Proof or Affidavit after the lawsuit is filed. This document guaranteed that there is indeed a case of medical malpractice. Rules on the submission of the affidavit may vary from one state to another and that’s why it an advantage that you hire an attorney who practices in Philadelphia and specializes in medical malpractice.

  • Discovery process takes place

Upon approval of the judge of the Offer of Proof or Affidavit, the litigation process will take place where the discovery will be performed. Here, both parties the plaintiff and defendant will be represented by their appointed lawyers, documents will be given as evidence including witnesses. The discovery process may take a year or more due to the deadline set by the court. The final decision will only arrive after the judge heard both sides of the arguments.

  • Mediation

After the discovery process is the mediation (settlement). Here, both parties with their lawyers will discuss settlement or negotiation in front of a mediator.

  • Trial

In the event, the mediation didn’t succeed the case will be brought to trial. The medical malpractice case trial may take a week or more before the judge will come up with a final decision. There are cases when a trial will be rescheduled due to conflict of schedules of the judge.

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How To Choose A Credible Medical Malpractice Lawyer In Philly?

Choosing a credible medical malpractice lawyer Philly can be truly overwhelming, especially if you or a loved one is still under recovery after a serious case of medical malpractice. A medical malpractice case is quite different from a personal injury case much complicated and would need an experienced lawyer that handled mostly medical malpractice lawsuits. So, how can you find a suitable lawyer to help you resolve this problem?

Quick Steps To Direct You To The Right Medical Malpractice Attorney Philly:

Step #1 – Ask referrals from a trusted individual

This is your initial task to help you locate a qualified medical malpractice lawyer ask referrals from a trusted individual like a general lawyer who happens to be connected with a lawyer expert in medical malpractice. You can also ask friends, relatives or colleagues at work that have used the services of a medical malpractice legal representative.

Step #2 – Contact your local bar association                                

If you haven’t been successful getting referrals, the next step that I’m sure will lead you to a good number of accredited lawyers practicing in medical malpractice is by contacting your local bar association. I’m sure most bar associations have a compilation of members with their corresponding specializations.

Step #3 – Do online research     

Yes, this is indeed a true source of relevant information, online research. In fact, you don’t even need to go out to get a list of medical malpractice lawyers. You can do the online research right in the comforts of your home or wherever you are at the moment. Just one piece of advice when doing online research, try to be more specific with your search. For example, if you live in Philadelphia and you medical malpractice case happened at this location, then, better type relevant keywords like “medical malpractice lawyer Philly” or “medical malpractice attorney Philly” and Google will provide you list of candidates that match your preferences. Be sure to narrow your list to what you really need and give them a quick call to verify if they can help you with your case.

Step #4 – Ask relevant questions

Once you have gathered enough names of legal representatives with specialization in medical malpractice, book a private consultation. See to it when you arrive at the meeting venue that you have prepared a list of relevant questions that will help you check if the lawyer is the right one for your case. Here are some of the common questions that every client with medical malpractice case can ask a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Philadelphia:

  • How long have you been handling medical malpractice cases?
  • What is the percentage of won cases?
  • Where most of the cases settled?

Your potential medical malpractice attorney must be confident in answering these questions and be willing to show proofs of satisfied clients who have received huge settlements.

Step #5 – Trust your innermost feelings

Lastly, the success of your medical malpractice case will not only be dependent on how good and efficient is your hired medical malpractice lawyer Philly, but also on other external factors like your rapport with this professional. If your innermost feelings tell you that this legal representative is a good fit for this complicated case and seems very sensitive to your needs, then, finalize your intention to contract his or her services.

Lawyers have different specializations and unique in their own ways. You might come across a very strict lawyer or find someone that can make you feel comfortable sharing your fears. When you are having a hard time deciding which one to hire to handle your medical malpractice case, go over the steps above and apply them when making a final selection. After all, at the end of the day, you will have to make a decision to avoid delays in the processing of your medical malpractice case.