If you think you've been harmed by medical malpractice and you want to sue your doctor, you'll need to keep a few things in mind right at the outset of your case. There are some critical differences between medical malpractice claims and other civil lawsuits, including:
Let's take a closer look.
All states have specific deadlines for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, set by laws called statutes of limitations. These laws can be very complex, since in most states the deadline can vary depending on the circumstances of a particular case. So the text of a typical statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits might include:
Get details on the medical malpractice statute of limitations in your state. But in order to make absolutely sure that you're in compliance with this law, it's a good idea to discuss the specifics of your situation with a medical malpractice lawyer. Speaking of which...
Finding a qualified and experienced lawyer is critical in a medical malpractice case—more so than in a standard personal injury case—for several reasons.
First, medical malpractice cases are a challenge to win, since they tend to involve complex legal and medical issues. Most of these cases turn on your ability to prove elements like the medical standard of care, how your doctor deviated from that standard in treating you, and how your condition was made worse as a result. All of these issues demand a detailed interplay of medical records, expert witnesses, and careful analysis of evidence. You want a lawyer who is accustomed to navigating cases like these.
Second, you need an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in order to get anywhere in settlement discussions with the doctor's insurance company. Medical malpractice insurance companies won't take an unrepresented plaintiff seriously, and might not even extend a fair settlement offer to a plaintiff whose lawyer does not specialize in medical malpractice. The insurer might prefer rolling the dice and going to trial against an inexperienced lawyer.
Third, medical malpractice cases almost always require an expert medical witness or a team of medical experts in order to prove liability. Because many doctors will not agree to testify against a colleague, a good medical malpractice lawyer must have access to a network of health care professionals and academics who are willing to testify as experts in medical malpractice cases.
Fourth, medical malpractice cases are expensive (in part because of the cost of these medical experts). Good medical malpractice lawyers accept this and are prepared to pay these costs, which could reach tens of thousands of dollars. Inexperienced medical malpractice lawyers may not want to front these costs and/or may not be able to afford the costs, and you can lose your case if you're unable to pay the necessary experts.
In many states, the plaintiff's lawyer must submit what is called an "offer of proof" or a "certificate of merit" when (or soon after) filing the lawsuit, and before any pretrial investigation occurs.
Depending on the state's laws, this filing can require a qualified physician to review the plaintiff's medical records and write a sworn opinion declaring that the defendant physician was negligent in providing care to the plaintiff, and that the physician's negligence caused the plaintiff's subsequent injuries.
Other states have different pre-lawsuit requirements, including giving notice to any health care provider a medical malpractice plaintiff plans to sue, and submission of the case to a pre-lawsuit panel who will decide whether the claim has merit and should proceed to court. Most of these procedural hoops are intended to weed out the filing of frivolous lawsuits against health care providers, but in practice they make for a lot more work up front when compared to other kinds of civil lawsuits.
For information that's tailored to your potential medical malpractice case, and details on what's required to file this kind of lawsuit in your state, talk to a medical malpractice lawyer.