Hiring a healthcare lawyer is a significant decision and one you don’t have to make often in life. You would generally consider this hiring when you want to pursue legal action against a healthcare facility or organization for occurrences of medical malpractice or negligence in inpatient care. These cases are complex due to the complicated nature of medical procedures and healthcare practitioners’ and facilities’ reluctance to admit faults. Consequently, lawyers are sought when you or someone you love gets mistreated during their patient care resulting in either temporary or lifelong handicap. The nature of this mistreatment could be both physical and mental. 

Considering the severe circumstances under which you decide to hire a healthcare lawyer, you should invest due time and resources to ensure you have the right lawyer for your case. Do the due diligence in identifying healthcare law firms or independent healthcare lawyers before approaching one. Once you have done proper research and are ready to meet prospective lawyers for your case, you should be prepared to ask them these four critical questions. These questions will enable you to assess the lawyer’s suitability for you and manage your case. So, let’s have a look at them:

Question 1: Will the lawyer personally oversee your case?

Often, attorneys who take the case aren’t the ones who continue with it till the end. They pass it on to their associates or another law firm. And this is particularly common amongst lawyers who take many pro bono cases. Nonetheless, this factor is also contingent on your case. For instance, individuals who have developed mesothelioma due to the negligence of a third party often have relevant lawyers manage their cases. Alongside providing legal assistance, they guide their clients on the mesothelioma trust fund for financial support. That’s why you must ensure that your selected attorney will pursue the case since they can help you benefit from such useful resources. 

All in all, whether your lawyer will personally go through with your case is dependent on various factors. So, asking them this question is crucial. Suppose the lawyer does not provide a straight answer to this question. In that case, your lawsuit will likely be passed on, and you should consider hiring a different lawyer.

Question 2:  Will the lawyer bring the case to court if needed?

Nearly every lawyer is comfortable filing petitions and lawsuits; however, it’s a whole different ballgame when taking the case to trial. Most lawyers are quite comfortable bringing cases to the court’s attention to win the case. On the other hand, some are not pleased with court-setting and avoid trial at all costs. In the cases that they have to, they would go with the hope of preventing the worst possible outcome from the point. 

Hence, this is an issue that you should raise through this question. As a victim, you need this reassurance from your lawyer that they will stick with your case until you receive justice. If the lawyer does not answer affirmatively, you should consider approaching someone else. 

Question 3:  Has the lawyer dealt with cases like yours in the past? 

Since healthcare cases have a vast spectrum, you need to ensure whether your lawyer has experience with cases like yours. Ask them to relay their patients’ experiences and their results. Suppose the lawyer has dealt with similar issues and yielded positive results. In that scenario, you should feel confident about your chances of winning your case. 

Answers to this question will help you identify the lawyer most suited to file your lawsuit and attain the compensation you rightfully deserve for your hardships.

Question 4: Can you contact the lawyer if you have queries?

Some lawyers are infamous for not maintaining good relationships with their clients. In healthcare lawsuits, where you or a loved one is a victim, you are entrusting the lawyer to understand the case and all of its facets thoroughly. Therefore, it would be natural for you to have queries and concerns regarding your lawsuit as it unfolds. 

Generally, one has sporadic interactions with their lawyers at critical junctures of the case. For this reason, you need to know whether your lawyer will be available to you via email or call to address any concerns that may arise.

Final Thoughts

This article sheds light on four critical questions that you must ask before hiring a lawyer to pursue your healthcare lawsuit. The first question identifies whether the lawyer you are meeting with initially will be the one managing your case as well. The second question ascertains whether the lawyer will be comfortable taking your case all the way to trial if the need arises. Then, ensure the lawyer’s work history aligns with your case requirements. Likewise, see whether the lawyer is willing to coordinate with you and resolve your queries from time to time. The answers to these four critical questions will help you find the right lawyer suitable for you and your case management.