You expect better treatment and care when you go to the hospital. However, the medical practitioner can sometimes be negligent, leading to more injuries due to poor treatment. Medical malpractice can lead to incurable conditions and can affect your overall lifestyle. When trying to reverse the process, you are forced to spend a lot of time and money, which you might strain to get. You need to seek compensation by filing a medical malpractice claim. However, proving the negligence of any medical professional and that the treatment caused your injuries can be complicated, especially if you live in South Carolina. You need to contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in South Carolina to help you file a claim. This article will explore what you should do in case of medical malpractice in South Carolina.
- Check the Statute of Limitation
When filling a medical malpractice claim, it’s essential to ensure you file it within the set time. Most often, medical malpractice has a limited amount of time that you can file the claim, known as the statute of limitation. It’s essential to check the statute of limitations to avoid losing the compensation. In South Carolina, the statute of limitation is three years from the procedure that caused the injury or from the date the injury was discovered. It’s essential to consult with your malpractice lawyer regarding the statute of limitation.
- Ensure You Hire Medical Malpractice Lawyer
There are a lot of lawyers who have specialized in a different type of cases. Choosing a general lawyer will disadvantage you since they may lack better experience in medical malpractice. Medical malpractice cases are complicated, and to get compensation, you must follow the right procedure and prove the medical practitioner’s negligence. And since you might not be well familiar with the law, you must engage an experienced malpractice attorney to help you file the claims. Additionally, the lawyer will help complete the necessary paperwork and represent you in court. Ensure you research and get reviews and testimonials from the lawyer you want to choose.
- Notify The Medical Professional Involved
You must confront the medical professional involved before filing a claim. Some a statute will require you to send a notice to the medical professional days before filing a lawsuit. This helps to give room to try to solve the matter outside court. You can do this through your malpractice lawyer, who can make the negotiation. Most times, the doctors will be willing to provide additional services free of charge.
- Get The Medical Records
You have a right to access your medical record, which will be used as the primary evidence to prove medical malpractice case. To obtain the copies, you can ask them yourself or sign a release form which gives your lawyer a right to ask them, and this is because of the privacy regulation that is put in place. Ensure you write documentation of every medical [professional involved in treating you, such as the nurse notes, doctors’ notes, medication prescriptions, and anything else necessary. This will help as evidence and give your lawyer precise details of what happened and the approach they will use.
Wrapping Up:
The above are common steps that you need to take in case you want to file for a medical malpractice. Having a record of all the receipts you use and the prescriptions given is crucial since you use them as evidence in court.