Mistakes To Avoid When Dealing With a Medical Malpractice Case (For 2024)
Research has found that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States of America. It is estimated that over 250,000 people die annually due to medical errors in the U.S. When medical malpractice does not result in death, it often leads to serious harm. When you are hurt because of a medical professional’s negligence, you are a victim of medical malpractice. If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, you can file a legal claim against the negligent medical professional and recover financial compensation. To help ensure you recover the compensation you deserve in your medical malpractice case, avoid, among many others, the following mistakes:
Mistake #1: Taking Too Long to Hire an Attorney
After realizing you have experienced medical malpractice, you should not wait too long to retain an attorney to investigate a possible malpractice claim. There is a time limit for filing your medical malpractice claim. If you wait too long to file your medical malpractice claim, the statute of limitations for your case may expire, and you may be barred from filing your claim.
Mistake #2: Not Following Your Current Doctor’s Advice
After suffering harm because of medical malpractice, you don’t want to make your injury worse by not following your current treating doctor’s advice. If you don’t follow your treating doctor’s orders to mitigate the harm caused by the negligent doctor, the negligent doctor’s insurance company may argue that the severity of your injury resulted from your own actions. After experiencing medical malpractice, you have a duty to mitigate damages.
Mistake #3: Not Preserving Evidence
You need evidence to prove your medical malpractice claim. It will help to gather as much relevant evidence as possible. Types of evidence you can collect for your medical malpractice case include medical records, appointment records and notes, and pictures and videos of your injuries.
Mistake #4: Hiring the Wrong Attorney
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when dealing with a medical malpractice case is hiring the wrong attorney. An attorney without enough experience in medical malpractice cases may not have the expertise required to navigate the complexities of these cases. An unqualified attorney may fail to gather strong evidence, struggle to assess the value of your case, or lack the negotiation skills needed to achieve a favorable outcome.
Mistake #5: Discussing Your Case With Other People or on Social Media
Finally, you should avoid discussing your medical malpractice case with other people or on social media. Discussing your case with other people could result in you inadvertently revealing information that could be detrimental to your legal strategy. Discussing your case with others may lead to misinformation, which may lead to distorted versions of facts.
Contact an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you suffered harm due to medical malpractice, our Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at Carroll Law Firm can help you with your legal claim. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
