What to Do When You Suspect Negligence

Hopefully, you have no reason to believe your doctor can commit medical malpractice. The sad reality is that not everyone that is in the medical profession always acts in the accepted standard of care. It is true for almost every other profession but passing an exam does not automatically mean perfect knowledge in physiology and anatomy.

It is always great to put your trust in your doctor, but even the greatest doctors are after all only human. They can be distracted or tired, and make mistakes. Sometimes, these mistakes are dangerous or even fatal.

The American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys understands that negligence might be a result of errors in diagnosis, offering treatment, or even in the aftercare. If you or your loved ones are injured, don’t keep quiet. There are skilled attorneys who are ready to get on your side and gather all the details they can to help you prove a case.

Wise people “don’t keep quiet online” as there are attorneys who are trained to gather social media posts and use them against you in the lawsuit.

Get a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you suspect a case of medical negligence, you will need an attorney that specializes in malpractice law to help you gather all the vital details and file the suit correctly. Contact a reputable lawyer as soon as you suspect medical negligence.

If you suspect medical negligence, chances are you might have observed one of these examples:

  • Surgical errors
  • Failure to recognize symptoms
  • Incorrect medication
  • Unnecessary medical procedures
  • Incorrect medication

Here is what to do if you suspect negligence.

Don’t Contact the Medical Professional, Yet

To many, the first instinct is to reach out to the doctor or the hospital administrators to demand recourse to seek help.

There are cases that patients have contacted the hospitals and warned that they will “move to court” if the doctor or the institution fails to settle the claims. However, the hospital can easily deny the claim in a court of law as this contact can be determined as a pretrial notice.

Medical negligence leading to death has strict statutory limitations that are often shorter than personal injury cases. However, all cases require sending a notice to the involved doctors, not to mention the process of identifying witnesses.

Also, you should keep in mind that not all state laws are the same. A great New York wrongful death lawyer can help you put together all the details to file a strong case in NY, but might not be able to help you if you live in Kentucky. The devil is always in the details, don’t take any chances and make sure you get the right lawyer for the job.

Don’t Talk About It Online

According to the National Law Review, this is not a very wise thing to do. When you are injured or had a loved one suffer a wrongful death, the need to vent often ends up taking us online. You find yourself posting your thoughts on Twitter, posting on forums, and on online support groups. However, this is not a wise thing to do as the trail of breadcrumbs left for defense attorneys can weaken your suit. Innocent posts become exhibits A, B, and C.

Some states have a window period in which you can file for a claim. If you are running out of time, you can always get an attorney to file and switch to a more specialized one later. However, this is not advisable as every attorney has a unique way of filling the requirements. But, the point is to make sure you utilize the window you have.

Finding the Best Malpractice Lawyer

Finding the Best Malpractice Lawyer

It is extremely important to find an attorney that is well familiar with the negligence laws and has some years of experience in such legal work. Has he authored law books or written treaties? Or is he a law professor? These are great elements to factor into your decision.

There are complex procedural issues in medical negligence cases and you may want the most qualified attorney for the matter. This is especially important to make sure all the vital details are included and the filing is done correctly. As soon as you suspect medical negligence, contact a lawyer.

While no one wants to file a negligence suit if it is unnecessary, the details of the matter are not easily discerned. Make sure you hire someone who bats for the right team if you’re considering filing a lawsuit because you suspect your doctor of medical malpractice.

If you suspect a case of medical negligence, schedule a consultation with our team as soon as you can. To hold a healthcare provider accountable for their negligence, you will need a great attorney on your side.