MEDICAL MALPRACTICE IN NEW YORK: 3 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF BEING INVITED INTO AN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

1. Be clear and concise when telling your lawyer what your legal problem is. 

There is nothing worse than having a potential client call and literally ramble endlessly without a defined purpose. I understand that when you make that big leap and call an attorney, you want to explain every detail that caused you to call an attorney. 

However, the purpose of talking to you on the phone is only to get a brief summary. I personally use the call as a screening tool to determine if your case is one that I’d be interested in looking into. I also use our call to find out what you think was done wrong that caused you permanent harm.

2. Be able to tell your lawyer what permanent injuries or disability you or your family member suffered as a result of wrongdoing.

Any attorney who handles medical malpractice cases in New York needs to know what injury or permanent disability you suffered. If you have no injury, or your injury is minor then most experienced attorneys in New York (myself included) would not accept such a case.

3. Have specific documents in one central place.

It helps greatly if you can locate and put into a folder documents such as health insurance explanation of benefits; marriage certificate; income tax records (if you are claiming lost earnings or lost future earnings); medicare or medicaid card, health insurance card; any medical records you may have; as well as a list of all doctors you have seen over the last 3 years.

CONCLUSION: 

By having this information when you call an attorney’s office you stand a much better chance of not only impressing the attorney with your knowledge, but being invited to meet with the attorney in person to evaluate your case.