How To Choose The Best Medical Malpractice Lawyer In Miami
This article originally appeared on fooyoh.com
Research reveals that more Americans die yearly due to medical malpractice than in other accidents. When medical practitioners fail to conform to the standards of medical practice, this can lead to death or injury. This could lead to devastation for you or your loved one. Notably, most injuries occur due to a doctor’s deviation from medical standards of care.
Therefore, you can easily face medical negligence when being treated in Miami. Luckily, all medical malpractice issues in Miami have to be prosecuted.
When this happens, you will need a medical malpractice lawyer to fight against the medical practitioners to claim compensation.
If you or your loved one is a victim, read on to learn how to choose the best medical malpractice lawyer for your case. Below are the key points to consider before settling on a competent lawyer who meets your needs.
Positive Track Record
The hospital's attorney should respect your lawyer for a victim to get compensation due to their pain and suffering. To be respected, your attorney should have enough experience. They should have a good track record of such cases and success stories.
Having a lawyer with a proven track record in Miami shows that they have enough strategies to deal with your case, no matter the defense. Therefore, before choosing a lawyer, It is important to review their success. An ideal medical malpractice lawyer should show a positive track record both in and out of court.
Extensive Knowledge
Cases related to medical malpractice need confirmation from medical experts to show evidence of negligence. Mostly, such cases don't succeed because defense lawyers can use their medical experts to confuse the jury or when the victim's lawyer cannot present the case properly. Hence, your licensed medical malpractice lawyer should know medical legislation.
Therefore, having one with enough experience and knowledge will put you in a good position to win because they can prove that the damages resulted from negligence. This allows them to prepare for any issues that may hinder the case and take the right precautions to avoid them.
Ability To Fund The Case
Medical malpractice cases in Miami are usually expensive, often more than $200,000 before the trial. Most lawyers cannot advance such an amount, and some ask clients to settle the costs while the case runs rather than accepting the contingency fees as is the norm. This can be expensive for you, as it could be an amount you cannot advance to your lawyer.
Consultation Fee
Litigation expenses can easily increase. Nevertheless, you should check the lawyer's consultation fee before hiring them. Some firms may give their services on contingency terms, knowing that most malpractice victims may not be sure about their finances. This means that the victims won't pay any advance fees but will only pay a proportion of the compensation received.
Reviews From Past Clients
One of the best ways of choosing a medical malpractice lawyer is by checking the opinions of past clients who had cases similar to yours. It would help to ask the lawyer you meet to offer you a list of clients they have served. If the lawyer cannot provide the list, they might lack the required experience or proven track record you need for your case's success.
Reviews from past clients are a better way to know who you’re dealing with. Their opinions can go a long way in shaping your decision.
In Person Visit
Visiting different attorneys in person lets you decide which suits your needs. A face-to-face consultation allows you to compare the different lawyers since you can ask questions. While on such a visit, feel free to ask questions for clarification.
Ask the lawyer how much time or workload they dedicate to medical malpractice. If most time and workload are dedicated to this field, there is a high chance of success in your case, considering that medical malpractice is demanding and experience is vital.
While on this, prioritize your special needs and preferences about the kind of lawyer you need. In-person communication helps build rapport with your lawyer.
But before visiting, contact them and ask if a face-to-face conversation is necessary. However, you should not avoid a lawyer who cannot schedule an appointment on short notice. The best medical malpractice lawyers are usually busy and may spend little time with potential clients.
Check Background
Apart from having an in-person visit to the lawyer's offices, you can also contact them online. The lawyer should have a website with all the information about their educational background and experience.
The website could contain information that could be useful as you search for the right lawyer. Check their biographical information and see whether they specialize in medical malpractice cases.
However, someone could pay and join, so ensure they are active members or perform roles that make them respected among the other medical malpractice lawyers. Contact them through their website or visit them to ensure you get an appropriate lawyer.
Contact State Bar Association
Contacting the state bar association will give you important information, like whether or not the lawyer has issues of indiscipline. Most associations in Miami will tell you if the attorney is a member of any medical malpractice associations and whether they have any recognition from the bar.
Limitations Of Filing A Medical Malpractice Case In Miami
The law in Florida under the Statute of Limitations requires one to file the case within two years, after which the harm was discovered. If the case involves a minor, it should be filed before they reach their eighth birthday. Also, you cannot sue a medical professional for negligence, just as you would do a driver.
You and your medical malpractice lawyer must conduct investigations before trial. Florida’s Malpractice Act requires that one provide enough proof of a medical professional's negligence. For this to happen, another professional in the same field should sign an affidavit or testify in court. Such cases are pursued if the lawyer says there is a reasonable ground to do so.
Contact A Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Miami for Assistance
The best way to choose a medical malpractice lawyer is to check their track records, expertise, reviews from previous clients, and more. Contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to fight for your rights. Finding a qualified lawyer increases the chances of you being compensated.