Having to go to the hospital is rarely a pleasant experience, but it’s something we all need to do at some point in our lives. When we do have to undergo a medical procedure, we put our lives in the hands of medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, and care workers. In most cases, these people provide a stellar standard of treatment, but sadly situations do arise where some medical professionals fall short of the mark.
In instances where patients incur an injury or chronic condition due to medical negligence, they have both a right and an obligation to report the guilty party to the relevant authorities. If you feel you’ve been victim to such an incident, you should file a medical malpractice lawsuit that could provide you with compensation for the suffering inflicted upon you. If you do suspect medical malpractice, here are some essential steps you should follow to ensure the outcome of your lawsuit is as successful as possible:
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1Get a Second Opinion
To establish if it’s worth pursuing a medical malpractice case, it is useful to seek the opinion of another doctor. Your health should be your first priority here, so if you believe a doctor hasn’t diagnosed your problem correctly or isn’t treating you properly you should find another medical practitioner as soon as possible so you can receive the necessary care.
2Seek Legal Representation
While it is possible to file a lawsuit yourself, it is better to hire the services of a legal expert. A good medical malpractice lawyer cannot only give you a good indication of your chances of winning the case, but they can present your case in the way necessary to help you receive the best possible compensation package.
3Avoid Engaging With the Other Party
Whether you need to deal with insurance companies or the healthcare institution themselves, you might find that the opposing party will try to negotiate out of court in order to reduce their expenses. As a novice, it’s best that you avoid engaging with them and allow your lawyer to negotiate on your behalf. Your lawyer will likely have experience handling such parties and will be able to negotiate with them in a necessary manner to protect your interests.
4Keep Track of All Expenses Incurred
It is a good idea to hold on to any receipts incurred for other medical appointments you’ve had to attend as a result of the misdiagnosis. Your lawyer may choose to work with a forensic economist to establish the maximum settlement you could be entitled to. It is not easy understanding what forensic economists do, but to put it simply, they calculate what your legal team should fight for by predicting loss of future income alongside expenses already incurred.
5Maintain a Journal of Events
As soon as you suspect medical malpractice has taken place, start keeping a journal that tracks your health condition. Makes notes on any symptoms you are suffering as a result of the medical error. You should also try to keep track of how the impact of the error is affecting your daily life, such as if you have to take time off work. The information in this journal may prove to be useful for your attorney.
Suffering from a condition that was entirely preventable is highly frustrating, but you shouldn’t have to suffer in silence. Follow the right course of action to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. It will not only help alleviate some of your suffering, but could prevent the same thing from happening to another person in the future.
