If a medical professional or business did you wrong, my strong advice is to start early if you want the best chance at getting a good result.
It is tougher to win a medical malpractice case in Alabama than most any other state in the nation. In fact, it is often stated that 90% of all Alabamians that sue will lose.
I had a friend the other day say he explains it like this, “Doctors start on third base and you start in the locker room.”
There are a lot of reasons for this. Each state makes its own rules and Alabama tends to protect the medical establishment.
There are two major things you can control – file within the 2-year statute of limitations and select a lawyer you trust who can weave through the complicated rules and regulations covering med mal cases.
Starting early is also important because med mal case can often take a long time. It is not uncommon for a case to take years. There are a lot of hoops to jump through and the doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, nursing homes etc. will strongly defend themselves. They are often people with a lot of money, and, in many cases, they only need to find one fault to throw the whole thing out.
Now, it doesn’t cost anything to talk to an attorney so don’t give up too soon. An estimated 1 in 10 people do find that the court system will work for them and give them justice.
If you are hurt in a traffic accident or suffer a personal injury, you can talk to us at the Law Firm of Eiland and Ritchie for free. We want to help you get back on your feet.
Also join us on NBC 15 LawCall here in Mobile every Sunday night at 10:30 right after the news. We do a short show on tape during the football season but will take your calls live again after the first of the year.
Allen Ritchie
Alabama personal injury lawyer