There’s a saying, “to err is human,” but when it comes to your healthcare provider, their mistake can leave you with a permanent health injury, pain, suffering, and sometimes can even cause death. If you suspect that you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, you may wonder whether you have a valid case and what steps you need to take to obtain compensation for your injuries.
You are not alone. In this article, medical malpractice attorney Deirdre DiBiaggio from DiBiaggio Law in West Palm Beach, Florida, outlines some steps you need to take if you suspect you have been the victim of medical malpractice by a doctor, hospital or other healthcare provider.
Obtain a Second Opinion from Another Healthcare Provider
First, if you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, you must put your health first. Please try to obtain a second medical opinion. This new medical opinion can prevent severe complications and even save your life. Finding another healthcare provider as soon as possible to correct a medical error is crucial. Before making a diagnosis, the second healthcare provider will need to review your medical records and possibly run additional diagnostic tests. The new physician can then begin to administer medical care to repair the harm caused by the initial medical provider.
When you file your legal claim against the first provider, the documentation and testimony of the second medical provider can confirm negligence that occurred. This medical evidence is essential for establishing medical malpractice, obtaining compensation and a just result.
Request Your Medical Records
Secondly, you should request copies of your medical records and keep them in a safe place. Because these records will be vital in proving your medical malpractice case., You should obtain a copy as soon as possible. The records will include information about your symptoms, medical history, tests performed, and prescribed medications. This information is frequently used to demonstrate that the doctor committed medical malpractice.
Before bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit, obtaining these records ensures that your healthcare provider will nott try to alter your information. Although it is against the law to falsify medical records, some doctors still choose to do so to shield themselves from liability.
Keep a Record
It is essential to keep a record of your injuries if you suspect you are a victim of medical malpractice. Do not leave anything up to your memory. Write down the symptoms that the medical negligence has caused you to experience and how it has affected your life. For example, if you cannot care for your home and family due to pain or disability, record this in your notebook. If you miss time off from work due to your injury, note this too.
Record everything you went through as a result of the healthcare provider’s error. Make it a point to write in your notebook every day. Record as much information as possible because it will be used as evidence in your medical malpractice case.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Due to the complexity of medical malpractice cases, it is best to approach the litigation with an experienced and qualified medical malpractice lawyer to have the strongest possible legal case. You can be certain that your negligent healthcare provider will hire attorneys to represent them, so you don’t want to go it alone. In medical malpractice litigation, the attorney’s courtroom experience is crucial to your case’s outcome.
When you meet with your attorney, explain the situation in as much detail as you can. No detail is too small or insignificant. If you’ve obtained copies of your medical records, make sure to give them to your lawyer. Share the contents of the record you’ve been keeping in your notebook as well. Your lawyer can then investigate the incident and gather proof of any medical error. If more details are required, your medical malpractice lawyer will contact you.
For your medical malpractice lawsuit, working with an experienced, knowledgeable, and highly qualified attorney is crucial. To read more of the benefits of hiring an experienced attorney, you can read our recent blog post here.
Avoid Contact With Other Parties
Once you’ve hired your medical malpractice attorney, they should serve as your primary point of contact in your case. You should not contact other parties, such as healthcare providers or hospital staff, to warn or threaten them about your medical malpractice claim. You need to avoid contact with them entirely. You should also avoid discussing your case on social media. The defendant will hire investigators who can discover your posts even if your account is private.
The defendant’s insurance provider may contact you after learning about your medical malpractice claim. Don’t discuss your case with them or consent to any inquiries. Instead, tell them to contact your medical malpractice lawyer.
Have You Suffered as a Result of Medical Malpractice?
If you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice, contact DiBiaggio Law as soon as possible to arrange a consultation with our team. Our skilled medical malpractice attorneys will fight for your rights and hold the negligent party accountable for their errors. If you are a medical malpractice victim, you can recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses with our assistance.
We provide free case evaluations to all clients. Get the help you need by scheduling an appointment today at (561) 473-9800, or complete our online form to book your consultation. We are based in West Palm Beach and serve clients in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties.
Copyright © 2022 DiBiaggio Law. All rights reserved.
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
DiBiaggio Law
605 Belvedere Road, Suite 17
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
(561) 473-9800
https://dibiaggiolaw.com/
