Recent research estimates that over 250,000 people in the US, die due to medical malpractice every year. This makes medical errors deadlier than Alzheimer’s, stroke, or even accidents. Quite frightening, isn’t it? While medical professionals are human and prone to making errors, many of these errors are preventable. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury due to medical negligence, it’s worth hiring a malpractice lawyer. This post discusses essential points to consider when comparing Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorneys.
How do You Know You’re a Victim of Medical Malpractice?
Some of the most common signs of a medical error in Western Pennsylvania include:
- Lack of standard tests like X-rays, ultrasounds, and EKGs might mean that the medical professional didn’t provide adequate treatment for infections, illnesses, and injuries.
- Delayed diagnosis of a condition that, if detected and treated early, can be cured or reversed
- Failure to provide follow-up care for conditions that require it
- Medical negligence may occur if the facility is understaffed
- Misdiagnosis can lead to medication errors or, worse, wrongful death. As such, it is grounds for a malpractice claim
Advice for Choosing the Right Medical Malpractice Lawyers
If you’re looking for a medical malpractice lawyer, you’d want to consider the following things before you make a move.
Experience in Medical Malpractice Law
When hiring an attorney to handle your medical malpractice suit in Pittsburgh, PA, you must prioritize experience in this field. Medical malpractice claims are the most complicated types of personal injury cases to pursue. As such, a lawyer whose first medical malpractice claim will be this case won’t do you any justice.
Look for a lawyer with documented experience with medical malpractice lawsuits. Be sure to interview any medical malpractice lawyer who has handled a case similar to yours. At Frischmann & Rizza, we have experience handling all kinds of medical malpractice cases, including birth injuries, prescription errors, cancer misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes, and other types of hospital errors.
Ask About Their Charges
Hiring an experienced team to handle your malpractice claim is a significant investment. Like any purchase, you must compare the fees charged by different medical malpractice attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA, before making a final decision. This ensures you get the best value for your money.
A general rule of thumb is to compare at least three or four Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyers. You want to be sure that you can afford their pricing. Otherwise, the personal injury law firm won’t be of much help to you. Most medical malpractice lawyers in Pittsburgh, PA, charge on a contingency basis. This means you’ll pay the attorney a percentage of any money you get after recovering compensation.
Be sure to ask about the costs of handling malpractice cases. Will the Pennsylvania super lawyer absorb upfront costs like document preparation, filing fees, or witness fees? Ideally, the personal injury law firm offers a free case evaluation.
Consider the Results of Previous Medical Malpractice Cases
Do you know that there is an 80% to 90% chance of a negligent doctor winning a medical malpractice lawsuit? Hiring an experienced medical malpractice lawyer can increase your odds of winning the case and getting the financial recovery you deserve.
Their experience in handling medical negligence cases and expert advice will ensure the proper medical records and pertinent evidence get to the courts promptly. They also have connections to medical experts who can further help prove that medical negligence caused the personal injury.
A reputable and experienced medical malpractice attorney should be open about the results of previous medical malpractice claims. Whether it was a medical error that resulted in wrongful death, birth injury, or surgical accidents, this information will tell you if a successful outcome is likely. You’ll want to know as much as possible about the previous cases as possible. Ask the law firm representatives about the type of financial settlement recovered and the number of unsuccessful cases.
Communication Style is Important Too
Medical malpractice cases can be emotionally exhausting. You have medical bills, lost wages, medical treatment, and recovery to worry about. The last thing you need is the inability to communicate with your Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorneys. As such, you must prioritize communication style when hiring a law firm in Pittsburgh, PA, to handle your medical malpractice case.
Some attorneys prefer communicating via email, while others opt for the weekly or bi-weekly phone call. Consider your preferred communication style before proceeding with your Pittsburgh medical malpractice claim.
Network of Medical Experts
Every Pittsburgh medical malpractice case involves other parties, not just the plaintiff and defendant. The majority of the cases take advantage of a medical expert to show that a healthcare professional was negligent. An experienced malpractice attorney will have a wide network of medical professionals ready to argue on your behalf. The Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyers will even have a team of medical consultants on staff.
Ask the Right Questions
For something as important as a medical malpractice case, you should talk to multiple malpractice lawyers in Pittsburgh to find the right fit. Take advantage of the free consultation most law firms in Western Pennsylvania offer to ask the following questions.
- How long have you been handling malpractice cases?
- What timeframe do we have? Is there a statute of limitations we need to comply with?
- Who will be my contact person during the duration of this medical malpractice lawsuit?
- Have you handled any medical malpractice cases with the same circumstances as mine?
- Which factors of my medical malpractice case will work for and against me?
- Can you tell me about some of the settlements or verdicts you’ve worn for previous medical malpractice clients?
- What kind of medical experts do you think would strengthen my case?
- How do you get paid? Will your law firm pay all the upfront costs?
The answers to these questions will give you an idea of the firm’s philosophy and personality. You will get to know if they are a good match and whether they can effectively manage your medical malpractice case.
Victim of Medical Malpractice? Contact Our Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Attorneys
If you or you’re loved one are a victim of a medical mistake, the team of Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyers at Frischmann & Rizza can help. We’ll take on negligent medical professionals and the healthcare system to ensure you get the settlement you deserve. Whether it’s lack of consent, serious infection due to surgical error, or a negligent doctor who didn’t spot the sights of a heart attack in the emergency room, we’ve got your back. Call us today at (412) 291-3977 to schedule an appointment and get a free case review.
Related Article: The definition of the MRI burns and when it becomes a medical malpractice
