In Massachusetts, medical malpractice cases are among the most difficult of all civil cases. If you believe that your doctor or other healthcare provider was negligent in his or her care of you, and that his or her negligence caused you to be injured, physically or emotionally, you need strong evidence to support your belief, including the opinion of an expert doctor. Your injuries must be very serious, and are likely to include lost wages and the need for future medical treatment. Medical malpractice cases are very expensive and juries are reluctant to return verdicts for plaintiffs.
Unlike other civil cases, a person claiming medical malpractice who files a medical malpractice lawsuit must get past a medical malpractice tribunal before proceeding further. The tribunal is composed of a judge, a lawyer, and a healthcare provider, usually practicing within the same field of medicine as the defendant doctor. Prior to filing suit, a law passed in 2012 requires that your lawyer provide notice to the doctor and exchange information concerning the factual and legal basis of your claim, as well as your medical records. There are also laws limiting the amount of damages and attorney’s fees that may be awarded in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Evaluation of your medical malpractice case
I have handled numerous malpractice cases. If you believe that you have a serious malpractice claim, I will consider reviewing it with you to determine if you have a viable claim and to determine the extent of your damages. You will find that law firms specializing in medical malpractice will only consider the largest cases and will not review your case. In the event that I review your case and determine that it is worth pursuing, we will discuss your options about either retaining me, retaining me along with another law firm, or seeking my assistance in finding a firm that will accept your case.