Guide to Finding Ohio Malpractice Lawyer

Medical injuries can be devastating to you and your family. If you have been hurt by a healthcare provider, you may be wondering if you need to hire OH malpractice lawyers. An Ohio malpractice lawyer can guide you through the legal process and explain your options.

If you're not sure whether you need to hire an OH malpractice lawyer, but this guide can explain to you how Ohio malpractice lawyers may be able to help you. If you already know that you need an Ohio malpractice lawyer, this guide will explain how you can find OH malpractice lawyers near you and how to get the most out of consultations with Ohio malpractice lawyers.

Do I Need an OH Malpractice Lawyer?

Most of the time, doctors are good. But medical mistakes lead to tens of thousands of preventable deaths and up to a million injuries every single year, according to the Institute of Medicine. OH malpractice lawyers can help you to assess whether your injury is the result of a medical mistake. In order for your Ohio malpractice lawyer to successfully sue, he or she will need to prove that the mistake was caused by negligence.

It can be hard for patients to tell whether their case could be won by Ohio malpractice lawyers. If your OH malpractice lawyer wins a settlement or jury verdict for you, it could help you with medical bills or help to recoup economic losses from missing work. The best way to understand how OH malpractice lawyers may be able to help with your case is to consult with an Ohio malpractice lawyer and show any pertinent information you have.

What Can My OH Malpractice Lawyer Do?

Your Ohio malpractice lawyers can negotiate with malpractice insurance companies to reach a settlement agreement for your claim without ever going to trial. OH malpractice lawyers can explain the terms of a settlement offer to you, and your Ohio malpractice lawyer can use his or her own experience to advise you as to whether or not the settlement offer is good.

Most cases that Ohio malpractice lawyers take never go to a jury, but if your OH malpractice lawyer is offered a very low settlement offer, you may prefer to take your case to trial. OH malpractice lawyers can select jurors and expert witnesses at trial that will give you the best chance of winning your case. Your Ohio malpractice lawyer can make sure that juries and judges see the medical mistake from your perspective, including its far-reaching consequences in your life.

What Can't My OH Malpractice Lawyer Do?

While both settling and going to trial are options for you and Ohio malpractice lawyers, there are limits on the conduct of OH malpractice lawyers that you should know about. Ohio malpractice lawyers can give you legal advice, but they can never decide for you whether to settle or sue. Your decision must be respected by your Ohio malpractice lawyer according to ethical rules from the state bar association.

Your OH malpractice lawyer is also limited in what damages can be sought. OH malpractice lawyers may seek any amount of economic damages (money you lost due to hospital bills, not being able to work, etc.) that you have incurred. However, Ohio malpractice lawyers may only seek certain amounts of non-economic damages, like damages for pain and suffering. Generally, these top out at $350,000 per plaintiff, unless you have been injured in a very serious way.

Do I Need an Ohio Malpractice Lawyer Right Now?

After a medical mistake, you may be thinking of your pain and the problems your injury is causing—not about suing. However, as soon as you are able, you should start looking at OH malpractice lawyers. Ohio has a one-year statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims.

This means that if your OH malpractice lawyer initiates legal action more than a year after you discover your injury, your case will be thrown out of court. Visiting Ohio malpractice lawyers early will help you to have the best chance of winning adequate damages.

Can I Afford OH Malpractice Lawyers?

Hospital bills can pile up after a medical mistake, and you may be out of work. Bills for an Ohio malpractice lawyer added to your existing troubles might seem like too much to handle. Good news: most Ohio malpractice lawyers won't charge you anything until you have won your case.

This fee structure is called a “contingency fee,” and it means that your OH malpractice lawyer will not charge anything if you lose your case. If you win, OH malpractice lawyers will take a set percentage of your winnings (usually around one-third). The percentage your Ohio malpractice lawyer keeps may go up slightly if you go to trial instead of settling out of court.

Finding Ohio Malpractice Lawyers

If you are searching for OH malpractice lawyers in the phone book or with the web, you may be overwhelmed. One way to find a qualified OH malpractice lawyer is to use the state bar's find-a-lawyer service, which lists Ohio malpractice lawyers in your area with contact information.

If you are having a hard time narrowing down your search for an Ohio malpractice lawyer, your county bar association's lawyer referral service can help. This referral service will put you in touch with OH malpractice lawyers who are near you. These referral services are free and you will not be charged for your OH malpractice lawyer consultation—even if you choose a different lawyer later.

Your First Consultation

Before you meet with any Ohio malpractice lawyers, write down questions so you can compare each Ohio malpractice lawyer you meet. You may wish to ask about fees, previous experience with similar cases, and the amounts of previous settlements or jury awards.

You should also bring a paper and pen to write down all answers you receive from OH malpractice lawyers, so that you have an easier basis for comparison. Keep in mind that even if you choose not to hire an OH malpractice lawyer you consult with, ethics rules demand that all Ohio malpractice lawyers keep your information confidential.