The Top 4 Reasons You Need a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you believe you have been injured because of what a healthcare professional has done (or has not done), then you might have a valid Philadelphia medical malpractice claim. In case you have any doubt as to whether to hire a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney, read on to learn the top four reasons you definitely need a medical malpractice lawyer. 

A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY UNDERSTANDS THE ESSENTIAL RULES ON TIMING

In every medical malpractice case, time is of the essence. If you do not act efficiently and swiftly, critical information could be permanently lost or worse: You could lose the opportunity to file a lawsuit at all!

Under the Pennsylvania statute of limitations, you have two years from when you knew or should have known that your injury was the result of the defendants’ medical mistake.

In the case of a deceased party, Pennsylvania law allows the decedent’s loved one two years from the official death date to file a wrongful death medical malpractice lawsuit.

In some exceptional cases, the plaintiff can show that the defendants “fraudulently concealed” their negligence (for instance, if they persuaded the plaintiff that their injury was not caused by their actions or inactions). In the case of fraudulent concealment, the plaintiff is granted two years from the time they discovered (or should have discovered) that the defendants’ actions or omissions could likely have caused their loved one’s death.

You need to hire an experienced Philadelphia medical negligence lawyer who appreciates the time-sensitive nature of your medical malpractice claim.

 A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY KNOWS THE RULES – ALL OF THEM

The above-referenced statute of limitations is not the only rule of law in a medical malpractice case. In fact, there are hundreds of different rules and procedures a medical malpractice lawyer in Philadelphia must know. Some pertain to what elements need to be included in the Complaint, how you serve the Complaint upon the defendants, when you serve the Complaint, what attachments must be included with the Complaint, how to conduct discovery, when to conduct discovery, which motions must be filed in order to preclude evidence, and then, if the case goes to trial, there are evidentiary rules and rules of procedure that govern that whole process. It takes a combination of a law school education and several years of experience to learn and understand the pages upon pages of complex rules and procedures. Your medical malpractice attorney knows the various rules and how to comply with them.

A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY HELPS GATHER CRITICAL EVIDENCE

An experienced medical malpractice attorney knows what actions must be taken early in the process such as ordering medical records including hospital intake forms, nurses’ logs, doctors’ notes, lab results, diagnostic orders and test results, etc.

Other examples of evidence that needs to be gathered in a timely fashion include witness statements, photographs and videos, and physical objects that are related to the medical malpractice claim such as prescription bottles and medical devices.

The presence or absence of these crucial forms of evidence could dictate whether your medical negligence lawsuit is successful or not. A Philadelphia medical negligence lawyer will help gather the critical forms of evidence you need to win the lawsuit.

A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY KNOWS THE RIGHT EXPERTS

An experienced medical malpractice attorney has a huge database of high-quality expert witnesses. It’s important to note that not only do you need a medical expert to help prove that medical negligence occurred in your case – you need a medical expert who practices the same field of medicine as the healthcare professional who harmed you. For instance, if your injuries occurred during gastrointestinal surgery, you will need an expert who is a gastrointestinal surgeon. Your Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer is well connected with various experts and knows whom to call upon for the pertinent expert work.

If you believe you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a medical error in Philadelphia, contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at VSCP Law.