If you have been injured or harmed by a mistaken diagnosis, poor medical treatment or the negligence of a hospital, doctor or nurse, you may be considering filing a medical malpractice case. However, you likely have many questions about the proper first steps to take before doing so. While your questions may be answered best by an experienced medical malpractice attorney, there are a few simple steps that you can follow that may help your case in the long run.
Before filing a medical malpractice claim, you might want to contact the medical professional in question first. In doing so, you are giving them the chance to address the issue, explain what went wrong and why, and you are giving them the chance to fix the situation. Many times providers will offer to perform services needed to remedy the issue free of charge.
If, after contacting the medical provider in question, you still have concerns, you may want to contact the medical licensing board that governs the provider. By contacting the medical licensing board, you are ensuring that your issue is recognized and recorded. The board may also be able to advise you on your next steps.
After speaking with the provider in question and contacting the medical licensing board, your next step may be to contact an attorney. There are limitations for filing medical malpractice lawsuits, and working with an experienced attorney can help you stay well within that time limit. In addition to their many resources, a lawyer can help file a certificate of merit if necessary, and can negotiate an out-of-court settlement if able.
If you are considering a medical malpractice action, following the above steps may help you and your attorney remedy the situation more efficiently. A lawyer with medical malpractice experience can help identify areas of negligence and work to get you the compensation your injuries deserve.