Patients rely on medical professionals to provide the type of care needed to maintain good health. Unfortunately, some medical professionals are guilty of engaging in medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice occurs when a mistake is made by a doctor or nurse. The mistake must lead directly to additional injuries if you want to pursue a case in court.
If you think that you might have a case, here are three ways that you can improve your chances of winning a medical malpractice lawsuit.
1. Take Action Quickly
One of the best things you can do for your medical malpractice lawsuit is to take action quickly. You should meet with an attorney as soon as you suspect that you have been a victim of medical malpractice.
Most states have a statute of limitations that applies to personal injury lawsuits. This means that the amount of time you have to file with the court is limited.
Some states start the statute of limitations countdown when the injury caused by medical malpractice is discovered. Other states base the statute of limitations on when the medical malpractice occurred.
By taking action quickly, you can ensure that you have ample time to file your lawsuit.
2. Contact the Insurance Company
You should work with your attorney to contact the insurance company that represents the healthcare professional named in your medical malpractice lawsuit.
Some states require that the insurance company be notified of pending legal actions. Even if your state doesn't require this contact, notifying the insurance company will trigger an internal review of your unique situation.
An internal review can lead to new evidence you can use to support your claim. Your attorney can also communicate with the insurance company to negotiate a potential settlement that will spare you the stress of a trial.
3. Gather Lots of Evidence
The key to winning a medical malpractice lawsuit is having lots of evidence that supports your claim. Most of this evidence will come in the form of medical records. The sooner you give your attorney written permission to access your medical records, the better your case will be.
While you wait for your attorney to collect your medical records, you can start to compile your evidence.
Keep a journal that outlines your injuries, and the effect they have on your day-to-day activities. A journal can be helpful when it comes to determining how much money your medical malpractice case is worth.
To learn more, contact a medical malpractice attorney in your area.
