When you're badly injured, the last thing you want to think about is filling out paperwork, searching for an attorney, or trying to gather evidence. Yet, these steps are necessary if you want to collect the compensation you deserve due to someone else's negligence. The more you know about personal injury cases and hiring an attorney, the less stressful this time will be.
We've created this website to offer basic personal injury law advice for anyone who has been injured or who may become injured in the future. Keep in mind that if you've been injured in a car accident, due to medical neglect, or even by slipping in someone else's parking lot, your case qualifies a personal injury case — and thus you'll find our collection of articles relevant.
If you think that you are a victim of medical malpractice, it is important to not continue to allow yourself to be mistreated. You need to take action right away to protect your health and to protect yourself from a legal standpoint.
Step #1: Find Another Doctor to Work With
If you think you have experienced medical malpractice under the care of a specific doctor, you need to find a new doctor to work with. You don't want to keep working with the same doctor who you think may be harming your health.
You can ask your doctor for a second option but considering that you think they may be harming you, you don't have to ask them. You can contact your insurance company directly ask them for a recommendation for another doctor.
Fill your new doctor in on what you think happened with your past medical care and get the care that you really need.
Step #2: Get Your Medical Records
Once you have gotten yourself in the hands of a new doctor, you need to request your medical records. At this point in time, you shouldn't tell your doctor that you think that they have harmed you. You are just going to want to ask to get a copy of your medical records. You may have to put that request in writing.
Make sure the doctor's office knows that you personally want a copy of your records and that you don't want the records just sent to your new doctor. When you get the records, make sure that you go over the records and ensure that they are accurate. If any information is missing, be sure to request that information.
Step #3: Write Down What You Remember
Third, you need to start by writing down what you remember about your health. Write down when you thought that you were a victim of medical malpractice, and why you thought you were a victim of medical malpractice. You need to write down everything that you remember about your medical care from your perspective. It is smart to always keep a journal of your medical care, but if you don't have one already started, now is the time to sit down and reflect on what happened.
Step #4: Hire an Attorney
The fourth thing you need to do is hire an attorney. You want to hire an attorney who practices in the area of medical malpractice, as this is a very specific type of law. They will help you gather the information you need, and get the expert analysis you need, to determine if you can move forward with a lawsuit.
If you think you have been a victim of medical malpractice, you need to start by finding a new doctor to take care of you, then you need to get copies of your medical records from your previous doctor, write down what you recall on your own about your medical care, and get an medical malpractice lawyer to represent you and look over your case.