What To Do When You Suspect You Have A Medical Malpractice Claim

While no one plans on being a victim of medical malpractice, it’s crucial to know what to do — and what not to do — in that situation.

If you suspect that you or a loved one may have a medical malpractice claim against a healthcare provider, you should take the necessary steps to recover damages suffered as a result of negligence. In our human nature, many will feel the need to take reactionary steps, such as confronting the hospital or medical provider on their own. However, some actions can potentially reduce your chances of recovering full compensation. There are a few things to be aware of when you believe you have a medical malpractice claim. While no one plans on being a victim of medical malpractice, it’s crucial to know what to do — and what not to do — in that situation.

When you suspect medical malpractice, your foremost priority should be to get yourself or a loved one to another physician right away. If you believe that a doctor has made an error, you need to seek another medical professional’s care to determine if a mistake was made, and start to correct any wrongs before suffering new or worsen health issues. It is likely that once you can get a “second opinion” and/or corrective treatment, it can be used to strengthen your medical malpractice claim.

The information the hospital keeps in its patient records includes symptoms, medical history, tests ordered, medications prescribed, treatment plan, and more. It’s these details that often reveal whether a doctor has committed medical malpractice. Patients have the right to request a copy of their medical records, and that is something you need to do immediately if you suspect medical malpractice. While it is illegal to alter or falsify medical records, this doesn’t always stop some practices from doing so in an attempt to conceal their mistakes. A medical malpractice attorney can work to get these documents on your behalf, but requesting them early on reduces the chances of documents being tampered with and cuts down on the research and exploratory phase of your claim.

The next crucial step is to find and retain a medical malpractice attorney to help you navigate your potential medical malpractice case. In particular, look for an attorney who has prior experience representing your type of medical malpractice claim. While past results are not a guarantee of future results regarding your potential case, you’re better off working with an attorney who is familiar with the type of claim you are making. 

After retaining an attorney, they should become the main point of contact for all other parties involved with your claim. As such, you should refrain from contacting providers, healthcare practices, insurance companies, and others. Should any of these parties reach out to you, direct them to your attorney and speak with your attorney before you answer any questions. In general, you should avoid talking about your case to anyone besides your attorney and close family. This also means refraining from posting anything to social media regarding the specifics of your claim.

Do you believe that you or your loved one has suffered as a result of medical malpractice or medical neglect? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Cardaro & Peek, LLC today. 

The lawyers at Cardaro & Peek, LLC have the experience and resources necessary to investigate and litigate all types of medical claims throughout Maryland and Washington D.C. Cardaro & Peek, LLC has medical personnel on staff and has access to nationally recognized, board-certified physicians and other experts, to assist in the investigation, analysis, and prosecution of all types of medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one have experienced malpractice, give us a call at 410-752-6166. Please visit our website www.cardarolaw.com and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn for more information.

The post What To Do When You Suspect You Have A Medical Malpractice Claim appeared first on .