Personal Injury Lawyer
When patients go into a hospital or doctor’s office, they expect to come out feeling better. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out this way. Sometimes medical professionals can make mistakes that end up injuring their patients. If you’re one of the many victims of medical malpractice, you likely feel scared, frustrated and unsure of what to do. However, if you take the following steps, you can be on the road to recovery sooner.
Go to Another Doctor
If you think a doctor made a mistake while treating you, it’s critical to find another doctor right away to correct the mistake. Your health should be your first priority. The new doctor will take a look at your medical history and may perform certain tests first. Then, he or she will treat you to correct the damage caused by the first doctor.
Get Your Medical Records
The next thing you have to do is retrieve medical records from the first doctor who treated you. These documents will contain information about your symptoms and the tests and treatments performed and can be used to prove that the doctor committed medical malpractice. For example, if you went to the emergency room because you were experiencing chest pain and you have a family history of heart disease, the doctor should conduct tests to see if you’re having a heart attack. If the doctor fails to do that and misdiagnoses you, he or she could be held liable for medical malpractice.
Consult With a Lawyer
Medical malpractice is one of the most complex types of personal injury law. That’s why you don’t want to file a lawsuit on your own. It’s important to have an experienced and knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer on your side. When you have your initial consultation with your lawyer, provide them with as much information as possible about your case. If you have your medical records, bring them with you. The more information your lawyer has to go on, the better he or she can help you.
Write in a Journal
It’s also a good idea to write in a journal every day about how your doctor’s mistake has impacted your life. Include the symptoms you experience and how they’ve changed your life. For example, if your pain keeps you up at night, jot that information down. Your journal entries can be used as evidence in your medical malpractice case.
Avoid Talking to Insurance Companies
After you file a medical malpractice lawsuit, an insurance company will likely contact you about your case. Even if they seem friendly, you should avoid speaking to them. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and may twist your words around and use them against you in court. Tell them to talk to your lawyer.
If you’re a victim of medical malpractice, contact a medical malpractice attorney right away.
