If you have been injured as the result of insufficient or neglectful medical care, you may be wondering if you should file a lawsuit against your physician. The first step in this process would be to make an appointment with a Pittsburgh injury attorney so that your case can be assessed individually. A lawyer who specializes in these types of cases should be able to tell you if your case is worth pursuing in court. Be sure to speak with a lawyer who specifically specializes in malpractice lawsuits, and one who has experience with your particular type of injury if possible.
Whether or not you have a good case will depend upon several factors. The main deciding factor will be whether there is sufficient evidence that any specific action or lack of action by your doctor contributed to or directly caused your injury. Without this proof, your lawyer may advise you that it is unlikely you will win your case in court. If you have visited other physicians in order to get this evidence in writing, bring all of your records with you to your appointment. This will help your lawyer to decide if you have a case. If you don’t have this sort of evidence, you will most likely be advised to see some specialists who are knowledgeable about your type of injury in order to get supporting documents.
If your lawyer feels you have a strong case, he or she may agree to file the lawsuit and collect payment after you are awarded a settlement. This will generally be a percentage of your settlement amount. If your lawyer does not feel you have sufficient evidence to prove your case in court, you will have three options. You can either get the evidence you need, drop the case, or pursue it without adequate evidence, using only your word against the doctor’s testimony. The third option is not advisable, and a lawyer will not take on your case without upfront payment in this instance. Generally the best course of action is to make sure you have sufficient evidence before proceeding with your case, so that you don’t waste the court’s time and your own money.