Medical malpractice has become a major issue across America. Manhattan is no exception, as in recent years we’ve seen an increase in the number of cases filed against doctors and hospitals. It is difficult to prove medical malpractice, but if you have a case it is critical to have a Manhattan attorney that can represent you and your interests. Generally, four things must be proven for a medical malpractice case to be successful in Manhattan. First, it must be shown that a healthcare provider or a doctor owed a duty to a patient. As soon as a doctor-patient relationship is formed; that doctor owes a duty to the patient and is subject to medical malpractice if the care is substandard or negligent. Another facet to a medical malpractice case is the existence of a breach of duty. This is the hardest part to prove. Doctors can disagree on how to best treat a patient.

To prove medical malpractice Manhattan a patient must prove that the care the doctor provided breached the doctor-patient relationship. This requires having an experienced Manhattan attorney that has taken on the medical establishment, and their insurance companies, before it becomes an issue. Once something has gone wrong in the doctor’s office or on the operating table; there is a lot of pressure to replace that missed income and pay for those additional medical bills. Having a good medical malpractice lawyer can be critical. It has been estimated that nearly 100,000 people die per year due to medical malpractice within hospitals alone. There are nearly 250,000 injuries per year due to medical malpractice. When one considers how expensive medical care in Manhattan is; having a good attorney before a case arises is incredibly important.

A good medical malpractice attorney has a staff of physicians that can independently assess your case and determine if your doctor has been negligent. Choosing a good law firm involves a lot more than picking the attorney that sounds best in the courtroom. Besides having the experience necessary to battle the complex issues that the insurance companies and medical industry will raise, it’s important to find a law firm that has doctors and nurses on staff that will analyze your condition and help present a much stronger case in court.

In medical malpractice cases, it’s also important to have an attorney that isn’t quick to take the first settlement offered by the insurance companies. Doctors, especially those in Manhattan, don’t want bad publicity, so insurance companies are often quick to offer a settlement. These initial settlements are often a fraction of what you deserve, yet some attorneys will insist that patients take them. And some people do because they are faced with mounting financial pressure and are grateful to have something to feed their families and pay their bills with. A good Manhattan medical malpractice attorney will not allow this to happen. They are well-versed in the tactics of insurance companies and will not allow someone to take less than they are entitled to.