How do you even begin to find a medical malpractice lawyer after you suffered an injury in a Baltimore hospital? If you try to search online, you may be overwhelmed with ads for lawyers that you know nothing about. Instead of blindly searching in the dark, take some time to look at the law firm’s practice areas and contact the law firm to decide if they are the right law firm for you.
A medical malpractice lawsuit is not something to be taken lightly. A lawsuit can take months or years to come to an end and you need a law firm that will stick with you through the end. There may be a lot at stake, including expensive medical bills, disability, and chronic pain. Make sure your attorney understands your case and will work tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact our office today online or by phone at 800-529-6162.
What to Look For in a Maryland Medical Malpractice Lawyer
The process of finding a medical malpractice lawyer in Maryland can seem complicated. If you think you may have been a victim of a medical error, how do you find the right law firm to help you through the claim process? Here is a list of things to consider when trying to find the right attorney for your medical malpractice case.
- How much medical malpractice experience does the lawyer have?
- Does the law firm have the resources to take the case to trial?
- Can the attorneys deal with the insurance company?
- Does the attorney understand my health concerns and injuries?
- Will the law firm be available to answer my questions, day or night?
- What are the costs of representation?
- What is the law firm’s legal reputation?
- Can I get a free consultation?
Medical Malpractice Experience
Medical malpractice is a unique area of the law. Other types of law practice do not involve such a deep overlap between the law and medicine. This is one reason that the top medical malpractice attorneys focus on just these cases. You may not want a real estate attorney or tax lawyer to take on your medical negligence case.
Medical malpractice cases can involve multiple types of medical errors. This can occur anytime during patient care, from an initial medical consultation, during surgery, or during medical discharge from the hospital. Common types of medical malpractice cases include:
- Birth Injury Malpractice
- Defective Medicine or Equipment
- Negligent Intubation
- Anesthesia Errors
- Plastic Surgery Malpractice
- Prenatal Care Malpractice
- Surgical Errors
- Emergency Room Errors
- Diagnostic Errors
- Prescription Errors
- Hospital Injuries
For example, to properly initiate a medical malpractice claim in the state of Maryland, your attorney needs to file a certificate of merit from a medical expert. Within 90 days from the date of filing a complaint, you must file a certificate of a qualified expert which attests that there was a departure from the standard of care, and that this departure was the proximate cause of the alleged injury. Other types of legal cases generally don’t have this specific requirement.
Experience matters in medical malpractice. Experience means more than just years of legal practice. Experience counts when it involves handling cases like yours, representing clients like you in trial, and dealing with the insurance companies. When you are trying to find a medical malpractice attorney in Maryland, ask your prospective lawyer about their experience with medical malpractice cases in Maryland.
At Gilman & Bedigian, our firm focuses on injury claims and medical malpractice. Our team consists of senior and associate attorneys with extensive experience taking medical malpractice cases to trial and negotiating with the hospitals and insurance companies. Our experience extends to our paralegals and administrative staff. If you have any questions about the legal process involved in a medical malpractice case, we have answers.
Resources to Take Your Case All the Way
As we said before, medical malpractice cases are not like other types of civil litigation. Medical malpractice cases can take a long time to go to trial and take up a lot of resources. Not all law firms have what it takes to go all the way. A medical malpractice lawsuit may require multiple medical experts, financial expert reports, medical examinations, and dozens of depositions from doctors, nurses, and other health care workers.
When looking for the right medical malpractice lawyer in Maryland, make sure your attorney has the time and resources necessary to build a strong case for you and fight to get you the results you deserve. At Gilman & Bedigian, we have the resources to pursue your case thoroughly and with integrity.
Dealing With the Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurance companies is a necessary part of a medical malpractice claim. Most doctors and hospitals have medical malpractice insurance and the insurance company steps in anytime an injured patient makes a claim. The insurance industry is in the business of making money and they try to pay out as little as possible.
When a patient makes a claim against a doctor, the insurance company and their lawyers will try and get the case dismissed or make the smallest settlement offer possible. Your Maryland medical malpractice lawyer can deal with the insurance company to make sure you get what you are owed. This may include negotiating for the best settlement offer and if the insurance company isn’t willing to pay, then building a strong case and taking the matter before a jury.
Experienced medical malpractice law firms like Gilman & Bedigian are well aware of the tricks that insurance companies use to try and reduce their liability. They can use their trial experience to advocate for you and make sure you don’t get taken advantage of by the insurance company.
Health Concerns After a Medical Injury
Your physical and mental health after a medical injury are extremely important. After a medical malpractice error, you or your loved ones may be suffering pain and emotional distress. It is important to have a lawyer on your side who understands what you are going through. At Gilman & Bedigian, we treat our medical malpractice clients with compassion, empathy, and great respect. We understand how difficult a medical error can be on you and your family and we do what we can to help you through the process.
Around the Clock Answers
Some law firms might give you a good sales pitch but never return your calls or keep you updated after the initial meeting. Your case is important and you want someone to be available when you have questions or concerns. Sometimes you may have an important question at night or on the weekends. You may want a law firm that has someone available to answer your questions when you want answers.
Some people who have a bad experience with other law firms are frustrated because they can never get a hold of their attorneys. Responsive guidance is part of our law firm’s mission. For medical malpractice victims, trusted guidance relies on a timely and thoughtful answer to your questions. This includes medical malpractice advice, regular updates, and responding to your questions.
At Gilman & Bedigian, our phones are answered 24/7. Yes, you can call or send a message 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Make sure you find the right Maryland medical malpractice lawyer who will be available when you need help.
What Are the Costs of Representation?
After a medical injury, you may be left with expensive medical bills and lost income. It can be a difficult time to think about your finances. Most medical malpractice cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fees mean that the client does not have to pay anything upfront. In general, the lawyer will only get paid after they win your case or recover a financial settlement for you. The fee for the case is generally based on a percentage of the award received. Talk to the law firm about their fee structure and make sure you understand the fee arrangement before hiring a lawyer.
Reputation in the Medical Malpractice Legal Community
The legal community in Maryland is smaller than you may expect. Attorneys who work in specific areas of the law often end up in court before the same group of judges, working with regular medical experts, and taking their cases against similar defendants. In medical malpractice, experienced trial attorneys like Charles Gilman and H. Briggs Bedigian have a strong reputation as seasoned trial attorneys with a track record of successfully fighting for their clients.
Founding attorney Charles Gilman was selected as a Super Lawyer Magazine Rising Star from 2009-2014. This is a select group of attorneys, with no more than 2.5% of the lawyers in Maryland named to the Rising Stars list. Charles Gilman was also named a Super Lawyer from 2015-2019. This honor is limited to no more than 5% of lawyers in the state of Maryland selected as Super Lawyers.
Other awards and honors include inclusion in The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 and Member of the President’s Club of the Maryland Association of Justice. Charles Gilman has been chosen by legal peers to give lectures to other lawyers on the use of expert witnesses at trial, something that is generally required in medical malpractice cases.
Founding attorney Briggs Bedigian has won three jury verdicts over $20 million, and has seventeen jury verdicts of over one million dollars. This is in addition to the numerous multi-million dollar pretrial settlements, several in excess of $10 million dollars. He has won over $100,000,000.00) in jury verdicts for his clients, and continues to increase that amount. Other awards and honors include:
- Maryland Trial Lawyer of the Year (2013)
- Inner Circle of Advocates (2015) of the top 100 plaintiffs’ lawyers in the country
- Recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the top 100 Lawyers across all disciplines
- Invitee of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Invitee of the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Briggs Bedigian has tried and won more serious medical malpractice cases than any other lawyer in the Washington/Baltimore Metro Area in the last ten years. If you are looking for a medical malpractice law firm in Maryland, Gilman & Bedigian have the kind of legal reputation that you can rely on.
Can I Get a Free Consultation?
A free initial consultation can help you get the answers you are looking for without having to worry about paying anything out of pocket. A free legal consultation with a Maryland law firm will give you the chance to ask important questions about your case and make sure the law firm is the right fit for you. Take advantage of this opportunity to contact your Maryland medical malpractice attorney and get on track to recovering damages.
Ask About Your Doctor and Your Hospital
When you talk to your lawyer, talk to them about what happened in your case. If you found an experienced medical malpractice law firm, like Gilman & Bedigian, the attorneys will likely be familiar with the Baltimore hospital or Maryland medical practice where your injury occurred. They may also know about the doctor’s reputation and history of malpractice allegations.
Most patients never find out about a doctor’s history of malpractice claims. Many of the claims are settled before getting to trial, with the doctor not admitting any wrongdoing. However, your attorneys have insight into how the insurance companies, doctors, and medical industry works after a doctor is accused of malpractice. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to deal with a law firm that focuses on just these types of cases.
Dealing with the aftermath of a medical error can be difficult. However, an experienced law firm can help you through the process and give you confidence that you are in good hands. Make sure your medical malpractice attorneys can answer all your questions and provide experienced guidance. Talk to Maryland med mal trial attorneys who can review your case, get an expert review, and help you understand your legal options to file a claim after a medical negligence injury. Contact Gilman & Bedigian online or at 800-529-6162 for a free consultation.