Being involved in an incident of medical malpractice is an extremely difficult situation, especially since most victims have never been in one before. Oklahoma, specifically, has about 36.3 malpractice suits per 100,000 residents — the second most in the country behind Louisiana.
Finding and choosing the best and most qualified medical malpractice lawyer for the job can be stressful, especially if you don’t know where to start or what exactly you should be looking for. Our malpractice lawyers at The Edwards Law Firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offer a free review of your claim and only get paid when they obtain a recovery or settlement on your behalf.
In this blog, we’ll go over some basic tips to keep in mind if you find yourself in a situation that requires seeking a professional, qualified medical malpractice lawyer.
Ask For A Recommendation
If you have absolutely no idea where to start when it comes to finding a medical malpractice lawyer that you can trust, start simply by asking for recommendations from friends, family members or perhaps other lawyers you’ve worked with in the past. We are typically a lot like the people we surround ourselves with. If someone close to you has utilized a medical malpractice lawyer they were satisfied with in the past, chances are that same lawyer will serve you justice as well.
You can also use the internet and search engines to find top-rated and highly reviewed medical malpractice lawyers in your community — a more impersonal approach to recommendations, but still effective. This is another great way to weave through lawyers and find one that will best represent your case.
Refer To Your Local or State Bar Association
Another reliable way to find a reputable and established medical malpractice lawyer is to refer to your local or state bar association, whether that’s via phone or internet. Many of these associations are used to these kinds of requests for information, which is why a lot of them have referral services that connect qualified lawyers with potential clients.
These associations also can weave through some lawyers for you, finding ones that specialize in the exact (or close enough) type of medical malpractice incident you’re involved with.
Conduct Plenty Of Research
Research everything. From your prospective lawyer’s biographical information to the type of medical malpractice you think you’re dealing with, the more you know, the less likely you’ll be left in the dark. Extensive research and documentation also can help your prospective lawyer make a more winnable and strategic case for your unfortunate situation.
Interview The Lawyer
This is the most important step of the whole process, as the interview with the lawyer will really allow you to get a feel for their work, personality, experience and other qualities. Experience in medical malpractice is extremely important, and not just any lawyer can properly handle these types of claims and cases.
Here are four important categories to keep in mind when asking questions to a prospective medical malpractice lawyer:
Medical Knowledge
Extensive medical knowledge is essential in regards to medical malpractice claims. Your prospective attorney should understand medical terms, procedures, diagnosis and theories to correctly represent you in a court of law. They should also have their own professional medical resources and experts to gain further information from, if necessary.
Litigation Experience
You want to choose a medical malpractice lawyer who has years of experience under their belt, as this type of case is lengthy and oftentimes difficult to prove in a court of law. Ask your prospective attorney to provide previous cases they’ve solved in regards to medical malpractice, and you can also feel free to ask for references from former clients of theirs.
Due to the complex nature of medical malpractice claims, a seasoned malpractice lawyer with extensive litigation experience is crucial for getting the most compensation for your damages.
Reputation
Check into the reputation of your prospective lawyer, which you can do by reading reviews online, by talking to other lawyers in your community, or by asking those who are close to you that you can trust. If an attorney is recognized by a national organization for their expertise, or if they are in good standing with any state or local bar association, that’s another sign that they’re a reputable and established medical malpractice lawyer.
Specialization
Most attorneys have to pass a written bar examination and attend an accredited law school to be a qualified practicing lawyer, but not all have to specialize in a certain type of law.
Finding a lawyer that specializes in medical malpractice law can serve as an advantage in your situation, because the more they know about the subject, the more likely they’ll know how to leverage to get you the correct amount of compensation for your specific situation.
Overall, you’ll be spending a good amount of your time with the medical malpractice lawyer you choose. You want to make sure you can trust them and feel comfortable enough around them to ask difficult questions. The lawyers at The Edwards Law Firm are personable and have also recovered more than $100 million in compensation for their clients.
Schedule A Free Case Evaluation
Our medical malpractice lawyers at The Edwards Law Firm provide legal counsel for victims in the Tulsa area and surrounding communities. We will work tirelessly to ensure you receive proper compensation for your medical malpractice damages, whether that be lost income, money for pain and suffering, medical bills or compensation for other permanent harm from your situation.
For more information or to schedule your free case evaluation with us today, call us at (918) 221-0516 or at our toll-free number at (888) 600-9836 during business hours. You can also fill out our online form.