Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals can sometimes make mistakes. But when those mistakes cause you harm, you have the right to sue for damages. A Seattle Medical Malpractice Lawyer can help you prove negligence and recover compensatory damages. There are several criteria that must be met to succeed in a malpractice claim.
1. Experience
When doctors, nurses and other medical professionals make mistakes, it can have devastating consequences. A Seattle Medical Malpractice Lawyer can help you determine if you have a valid claim and get the compensation you deserve.
A skilled malpractice attorney will have extensive experience in evaluating and litigating complex cases involving medical negligence. They will know how to examine medical records, consult with experts, and prepare for trial. They will also be familiar with the requirements in Washington state for mandatory mediation, which can often help clients reach a settlement without the cost and stress of going to court.
2. Reputation
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits are one of the most complex types of tort cases to win. It takes a Seattle Medical Malpractice Attorney with a strong reputation to get the results you deserve.
Medical negligence is any act or omission by a health care provider that deviates from the accepted medical standard of care and causes an injury or complication. This could include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, or the failure to follow up on test results. Washington follows a joint and several liability rule, so you may be entitled to compensation from multiple parties. Your lawyer can identify the responsible party and help you secure the maximum possible award. Obtaining compensation can help offset your financial losses and allow you to focus on recovering.
3. Expertise
Negligent actions and mistakes from hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals cause serious complications for patients all over the country every year. Often, victims are entitled to significant financial compensation.
To successfully pursue a medical malpractice claim, you must be able to prove that your physician departed from the professional standard of care. This requires expert witnesses.
A lawyer who understands the complexities of medical malpractice cases can ensure that you receive the full amount of damages you deserve. He or she will contact similar medical experts and request their opinion about whether your doctor’s conduct was negligent.
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4. Personality
A Seattle Medical Malpractice Lawyer should have a personality that is confident and resolute. This is an important attribute in a case where health care providers (and their insurance companies) do not like to admit error, out of professional pride and fear of sanction or increased premiums for malpractice claims. As a result, they retain high-powered lawyers to defend their cases to the very end. A Seattle medical malpractice attorney will be able to stand up to these massive resources and argue your claim vigorously. The highly skilled Seattle medical malpractice defense attorneys at Johnson, Graffe, Keay, Moniz & Wick, LLP will work relentlessly for the best possible outcome to your case.
5. Knowledge of the Law
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals owe a duty of care to their patients. When they fail to follow this duty of care, they may be liable for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice can include misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes and other types of errors.
A successful medical malpractice claim requires a Seattle Medical Malpractice Lawyer to know the law in detail. This includes the specific duties a doctor and hospital owe in each situation and how to identify if those duties were violated.
It is also necessary to understand how to prove that the provider acted negligently and that this negligence caused injury. In addition, there are strict time limits, known as statutes of limitations, within which a lawsuit must be filed. Failure to do so could result in the courts refusing to hear the case.