When Legal Malpractice Occurs in a Medical Malpractice Case
Becoming the victim of medical malpractice can be a devastating experience. It is only made worse when your medical malpractice lawsuit is handled negligently by an attorney. At the Law Offices of Raymond J. Slomski, P.C., our Phoenix law firm handles legal malpractice claims that arise out of medical malpractice or other legal claims. We handle cases throughout Arizona.
Legal malpractice occurs when legal services are negligently performed in an underlying claim or other legal matter, like a medical malpractice lawsuit. There are several ways a lawyer can commit malpractice:
- Taking money that the attorney has held in trust for you
- Failing to file a complaint before the statute of limitations has expired
- Settling your case without your knowledge
- Concealing important case information from you
- Representing another client who has a conflict of interest with you
- Other gross errors of judgment
Bringing a Successful Legal Malpractice Case
Pursuing a legal malpractice claim is challenging. It involves proving your lawyer's negligence, but it also requires that your current attorney prove damages — that you would have won if it were not for your lawyer's error.
Handling a legal malpractice case that arises out of a medical malpractice claim therefore requires a firm understanding of the underlying medical negligence issues. At the Law Offices of Raymond J. Slomski, P.C., we conduct a through review of all the related records. Because we have handled numerous medical malpractice claims over decades of practice, we know exactly what to look for.
When a municipality is involved: When a municipality — like a city, a public school or a county hospital — is responsible for your personal injury, the case can become somewhat more complicated. Attorneys who handle medical malpractice cases against municipalities must pay close attention to the statutes of limitation involved. These statutes of limitation are usually shorter than others. Missing such deadlines is often clear evidence of legal malpractice.
You may not know why a lawyer did not take action on your case. If you believe that legal malpractice may be involved, it is a good idea to speak with another attorney about the matter. Contact the Law Offices of Raymond J. Slomski, P.C., by calling 602-635-7603 or by completing our online contact form.
