Medical Malpractice Attorney | What to Expect After a Medical Malpractice Claim

What to Expect After a Medical Malpractice Claim

There are a few things that are likely to happen when you decide to move forward with a medical malpractice claim. First, there is a chance that the physician that you are suing or, if you happen to be suing a healthcare facility, the hospital that you are suing will offer you a settlement right away. In some cases, they may want to perform an end run around your lawyer and offer you a check directly. Generally speaking, it is a very bad idea to accept such an offer. If a settlement is offered, talk to your lawyer about it and make sure that the people you are suing always go to your lawyer, never directly to you.

Fees

Some physician malpractice specialists work under contingency arrangements. This means that the fees for their services will not come due unless they actually win. Most of the time, the people that win their claims end up paying their legal representation out of the settlement or jury award money that they win. If you don't have enough money to hire a lawyer, a contingency arrangement is an excellent way to go about getting effective legal representation.

Going to Court

At some point, it's likely that you will have to go to court to have your case heard by a jury. Your lawyers will make sure that you are ready to go and participate in the trial when it's time for you to show up in the courthouse. While this can be somewhat intimidating, having a good lawyer makes it much easier to deal with and ensures that you're adequately prepared to take on the opposition in this case. Most of the time, the entire affair is a lot less stressful than people think when they're going into the courtroom. The anticipation is usually much worse than the reality.

Settlements and Awards

There is no way to guarantee that you will receive either a settlement or an award from the jury. In fact, the only way you can possibly find out is to actually have the case heard. Before the trial, the other party will have the option of approaching you with the settlement amount. Your lawyer can help you negotiate with them to determine whether or not they are willing to offer an amount that makes it worth your while to skip going to court. Sometimes, this allows you to get a suitable sum of money and to avoid the fees associated with the trial.