If you have been seriously injured at the hands of a physician or other healthcare provider, you may be considering filing an Illinois medical malpractice claim. When a doctor’s mistake leads to bodily or other types of injuries, you may qualify to recover compensation.
Proving medical negligence can be tricky and the complexity of an Illinois medical malpractice claim requires that you seek the help of a Chicago medical malpractice attorney who has experience with this area of law and these types of cases.
The decision to hire a Chicago medical malpractice attorney is an important one and shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are some important questions you should ask before you decide to hire an attorney.
5 Important Questions to Ask Your Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney
The first question you should ask before hiring a Chicago medical malpractice attorney is how many medical malpractice cases have they handled in the past. This is because experience can make a significant difference in the outcome of your Illinois medical malpractice claim.
You need the assurance that your Chicago medical malpractice attorney understands how to pursue this type of claim. Not only is it important that the attorney has knowledge of the laws regarding medical negligence but they should also have knowledge concerning the medical field. The second question you should ask your prospective attorney is how many cases they have won and lost, and how many cases have they settled. The answer to these questions will be a good indicator as to whether or not you want to hire your Chicago medical malpractice attorney.
The outcome of a medical malpractice case could hinge on the amount and type of evidence that the attorney has collected. Since proving medical negligence can be a challenge its important your attorney knows which witnesses to interview and use for testimony.
Your Chicago medical malpractice attorney should also know what type of evidence will be necessary to build a solid Illinois medical malpractice claim. A thorough collection of medical records, charts, doctor notations and other types of documents related to your injuries and your doctor’s mistake are vital in proving your case.
Before hiring a Chicago medical malpractice attorney to handle your Illinois medical malpractice claim, your third question should address whether the attorney can provide a list of past clients for you to contact. Many attorneys will acquire permission from former clients in order to use them as references.
However if your Chicago medical malpractice attorney does not have a list, don’t be quick to dismiss them. You can always check on the attorney through research on the Internet or through court records.
The fourth question to ask your Chicago medical malpractice attorney before deciding to hire them is if they are a member of the American Bar Association or any other local bar association.
Additionally, you should ask if they have ever had to face disciplinary action.
Of course, you can’t guarantee that an attorney will be entirely forthcoming so you can always check with the local bar association. It is much easier in today’s times to find out important information about an attorney before you decide to hire them for your medical malpractice case.
The last question you should ask before hiring an attorney regards attorney’s fees and charges.
Will fees be charged on an hourly or contingency fee basis? Will you still have to pay fees if your case is lost? Find out if there are other types of fees that may be necessary such as fees for filing your Illinois medical malpractice claim or for acquiring expert testimony.
Hiring the right attorney is important, which means you need to know the right questions to ask before pursuing your Illinois medical malpractice claim.
When to Hire a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney
A Chicago medical malpractice attorney at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in a medical malpractice claim in Illinois, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.
