If you suffered injuries and economic damages at the hands of a healthcare professional, you may have the right to seek damages in a malpractice claim. To be successful, you will need an experienced Albany medical malpractice lawyer to negotiate with the insurance adjuster.
Since this is probably the first time you’ve needed this type of legal counsel, here are the best selection criteria to use when comparing attorneys:
1. Relevant Experience in Malpractice Law
Although malpractice is part of the general field of personal injury, it has very specific characteristics. One of these is the fact that doctors and hospitals work with some of the biggest insurance companies.
These companies are very aggressive in defending claims and often choose to take the case to court instead of settling. Thus, you will need an attorney with a proven track record both in negotiations and in medical malpractice lawsuits.
To check this aspect, look over the attorney’s biography and the State Bar of Georgia.
2. Professional Integrity and Ethics
Take the time to research the lawyer’s reputation on Google. Read reviews and client testimonials and pay attention to any negative opinions. Are they simply based on frustration for not getting the desired outcome? Or did the lawyer fail to represent the client properly?
Also, does the legal professional have any complaints on their record? These are aspects that you should further investigate to understand the merits of these complaints.
3. Knowledge of the Medical Field
An Albany medical malpractice lawyer should have a solid understanding of medical terms. This particular field of personal injury law involves analysis of aspects such as:
- Did the doctor fail to diagnose a condition or prescribed the wrong medication?
- Did the doctor perform their job within the accepted standard of care?
- Did the healthcare professional follow the accepted protocol in a specific procedure (birth, surgery, etc.)?
In order to prove the doctor’s negligence and win your claim, the lawyer must have an in-depth understanding of medical terms and procedures. This knowledge comes either from years of practice in this legal field or being trained in medicine. Some healthcare professionals decide to change careers and train as lawyers.
4. A Network of Expert Witnesses
After years of experience in malpractice law, an attorney has a network of various types of expert witnesses from the branches of medicine that lead to the largest numbers of lawsuits.
According to statistics, these are:
- Dermatology
- Urology
- Plastic surgery
- Ophthalmology
- Neurosurgery
- Obstetrics and gynecology.
You can also evaluate the lawyer’s experience by the number of professionals – from registered nurses to surgeons – they can enlist to support your claims of medical errors. A reliable attorney will willingly disclose some information about the expert witnesses they can count on even during the free case evaluation.
5. Communication Skills
Finally, you can assess an attorney’s professionalism by the way they talk to you. Do they take the time to explain complex terms in everyday language? Do they ask you for clarifications to make sure they understood your story clearly?
The way you interact with the legal professional during the initial appointment is a good indication of what you may expect in the future if you hire them.
Discuss Your Case with a Skilled Albany Medical Malpractice Lawyer!
If you suffered injuries and complications due to medical error, you are looking at even more healthcare costs, increased pain, as well as a loss of faith in doctors and nurses. These are genuine economic and non-economic damages, which you have the right to recover.
However, you will have to let an experienced Albany medical malpractice lawyer fight the legal battle on your behalf. At Joe Durham Jr., P.C., you are in capable hands. We know how to negotiate with insurance companies and win lawsuits, if necessary.
We encourage you to reach out to us and schedule a free case review as soon as possible after your medical error incident: 229-210-6226!
