Medical malpractice claims are intricate and technical. Hiring an experienced attorney with the proper resources is your best option to recover fair compensation. Finding a qualified attorney can seem monumental if you don’t know what makes a good attorney. If you’ve been searching for the “best medical malpractice attorneys near me,” continue reading for information to help you find the right lawyer.
What to Look for in an Attorney
Medical malpractice claims are emotional and stressful. You want an attorney who will listen and talk to you throughout the process. As you research attorneys, look for the following characteristics and attributes.
Good Communication Skills
When consulting with medical malpractice lawyers, you should feel like their priority. Red flags should start popping up if the lawyer is on their phone or leaving the room to handle other matters. You should also be skeptical if you’re repeating information and not getting insightful responses from the lawyer.
A massive amount of information is exchanged between parties in a medical malpractice claim, and you need to trust that your lawyer conveys the correct information. Don’t jeopardize your claim by hiring a lawyer who doesn’t listen and won’t give you their full attention from the start.
Confident, Not Arrogant
Medical malpractice defense teams are well-oiled machines that look for any advantage over a patient’s attorney. You want to hire a confident attorney knowledgeable about every aspect of a medical malpractice claim and won’t be bullied. A confident attorney relies on their skills to litigate your claim, not bravado.
On the other hand, an arrogant attorney may overestimate their ability to litigate your claim. Arrogant malpractice attorneys may tell you your case is an easy win or a no-brainer. Given the nuisances of medical malpractice claims, you should be leery if an attorney tells you this. Your attorney should be candid about your claim’s strengths and weaknesses.
Empathetic
If you were injured while treated by a healthcare provider, it can shatter your trust in professionals. An empathetic medical malpractice attorney understands you might hesitate to trust another professional. They’ll take the time to listen to your story and advise you on compensation that can help you heal. The medical malpractice claim process is overwhelming. Hiring an empathetic attorney can help alleviate stress by navigating the process and allowing you to focus on healing.
Financial Resources to Support Litigation
Medical malpractice claims can be expensive. A medical malpractice attorney should have adequate financial resources to investigate and hire medical experts to prepare for settlement negotiations and court properly.
Ask your attorney specifically about what expert witnesses they will use to support your claim. If an attorney dances around this topic, it might indicate they don’t have adequate resources to litigate your claim to the fullest extent possible. This may result in you recovering less because your attorney didn’t have sufficient evidence to overcome the healthcare provider’s defenses.
Experience
Given the complexity of medical malpractice claims, it’s a good practice to search for “lawyers specializing in medical malpractice near me” to narrow in on lawyers primarily representing clients in medical malpractice claims. When you meet with the lawyer, ask them how many medical malpractice cases they have handled and their success rate.
Medical malpractice is a unique niche of personal injury that requires extensive knowledge of the law and medicine. Ideally, you should hire a lawyer who has been representing clients in medical malpractice claims for several years. Defense lawyers are savvy and well-funded. You want an experienced lawyer to navigate the ins and outs of the defense’s strategies.
Tip: A lawyer’s ability and competence don’t always correlate with their experience, but it’s usually a good indicator.
Client Testimonials
A reputable medical malpractice lawyer should be open to discussing previous claims’ results. Client testimonials on a website are a great resource to get a feel for the attorney. When you meet with medical malpractice lawyers near you, ask them how the facts of your situation compare to other cases. The medical malpractice lawyer can’t guarantee an amount of compensation in your case, but they may be able to provide insight on compensation recovered in similar claims.
Hire a Local Florida Attorney
You may see advertisements for national medical malpractice attorneys. Still, every state has its laws outlining the procedure to file a malpractice claim and the types of compensation available to a patient. Local attorneys are more familiar with state laws and less likely to make procedural errors. Plus, they may know how local judges have ruled on past medical malpractice cases, which helps them build a more persuasive argument for your claim.
Trust Your Judgment
Medical malpractice claims can take months or even years to conclude, which means you’ll be working with your attorney for a while. During this time you should feel comfortable opening up to your attorney about your injuries and asking them questions about your claim. You should also be confident that your attorney will be receptive and responsive to your inquiries. Searching for a “medical malpractice attorney near me” will return numerous results. If you have doubts after consulting with a medical malpractice attorney, trust your judgment and meet with another one.
Call James Horne Law PA Today
James Horne Law PA has over 10 years of experience representing clients in medical malpractice claims. Our firm is dedicated to zealously advocating for compensation, and we won’t be deterred if going to trial is the best option for maximum recovery. We enjoy taking cases to trial and recovering compensation for our clients. Move James Horne Law PA to the top of your search for “medical malpractice lawyers near me,” and contact us to schedule a consultation.
James “Jay” Horne is an AV-Preeminent rated aggressive litigation attorney, who focuses his practice on medical malpractice, personal injury and family law matters. He has successfully represented clients from case inception through trial and appeals in state and federal court. Jay was born and raised on the Suncoast. He is married and proud father to a one year old son. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, golfing and distance running during the cool months.
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