4 Things to Consider Before Hiring a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Hiring a NYC medical malpractice lawyer is not an easy decision, particularly if you've never hired one before. You may not know where to look, what to say or ask, or even if you truly need a lawyer at all. Here are 4 things to consider before hiring a attorney.

What do their colleagues think of them?

Look for peer-ratings review systems like the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry, which has peer reviews and brief biographies of lawyers across the country. Knowing what their colleagues (and competitors) think of their qualifications and skills goes a long way toward knowing if they're a good lawyer.

Did they send you a solicitation letter?

Did you receive an unexpected letter from a medical malpractice attorney New York, offering their services after your accident? While this may look convenient and seem to make things easier for you, the fact is, these are not the lawyers you want to work with. They work on a high volume, quick turnover basis, and usually aren't able to get quality referrals from other lawyers. So they resort to solicitation letters, and trying to resolve cases as quickly as they can, whether that's to your benefit or not.

Does the lawyer have the resources required to handle my case?

Because you pay for the lawyer's services, this may seem like an odd thing to think about. But the lawyer may take your case on a contingency basis, meaning that he only gets paid if you win, or he may take payments from you and still need to pay for things before you've paid him enough to cover it. You need to know that he has the finances, and the staff, to be able to pursue your case fully, without holding anything back.

Does this lawyer actually try cases in court?

A common assumption is that all lawyers try cases in court, but this is not actually the case. There are lawyers who try cases in court, and lawyers who settle cases out of court. If the insurance company, or the lawyer, for the other side believes that your lawyer will settle and never go to court, they're likely to offer you much less than you deserve. They must believe your NYC medical malpractice lawyer will go to court to try your case, and that means hiring a lawyer that has a proven track record of going to court.

Hiring a medical malpractice attorney New York is an important step toward getting the justice you deserve. Hiring the right attorney is critical. Don't hesitate to ask these, and many other questions, before hiring someone.