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Are you planning on hiring an attorney to help with your medical malpractice claim? Since you undoubtedly have enough to worry about without having to navigate complex legal proceedings, seeking counsel is the wise choice.

A resourceful lawyer should be able to handle virtually every aspect of your case. You can support their efforts, however, from day one. By preparing for your first meeting, for example, you can ensure your claim gets off to a strong start.

Here are some of the most important steps to take before your consultation with a medical malpractice attorney, so your case will be off and running after:

1. Compile Whatever Records You Have

Your medical records will inevitably serve as the foundation of your claim, so gather whatever documents are in your possession or are easily accessible through your provider’s portal. Your legal team will be able to obtain all the most pertinent records on your behalf, but if you happen to have any already, bring them to your first meeting for review.

2. Write Down a Timeline of Events

Write down everything you can remember about the care—or lack thereof—you received and the complications that resulted. No detail is too small to include in your retelling of events.

Try to be as accurate as possible, but keep in mind that your attorney will give you some grace if the document contains a few inaccuracies. This is especially true if the incident happened a while ago, since the memory is notoriously unreliable.

At the end of the day, your timeline will not replace the need to conduct a thorough investigation. Its primary purpose will be to give your legal team an understanding of what likely happened, so they can determine how to proceed.

3. Log All Associated Expenses

Chances are your doctor’s mistake forced you to incur a lot of expenses you wouldn’t have had to worry about otherwise. Thankfully, they should all be recoverable.

Create a simple spreadsheet, and log all the damages you remember suffering as a result of the malpractice. If you have any corresponding documentation—e.g., receipts, invoices, or statements—refer to them while you work. Otherwise, simply include an estimated dollar amount for the given expense.

Don’t worry if this document is not comprehensive; chances are it won’t be. It will, however, give your lawyer the information they need to determine whether proceeding with a claim will most likely be worthwhile.

Once your case is underway, they will take a closer look at all the recoverable damages you incurred. Along the way, they will also gather the evidence you need to demonstrate their extent.

Discuss Your Case with a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Tampa

At Capaz Law Firm, P.A., we know what happens when doctors, nurses, and pharmacists make mistakes. If you or someone you love was the victim of such a mistake, we’ll help you take the steps needed to seek justice. Call 813-551-3907 or submit the Contact Form on our website to schedule a free initial consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer in Tampa.