How to Find the Right Attorney for Your Nursing Home Medical Neglect Case?

Dealing with a medical condition in a nursing home can be stressful under the best circumstances. The last thing you need is for you or an elderly loved one to suffer a setback because of a mistake by negligent nursing home operators. When it happens, do not blame yourself for feeling angry and frustrated. You need an attorney to help you get your life back together. But act quickly because insurance defense lawyers have probably already begun working to keep you from recovering any money.

Before you wonder, "where can I find a nursing home neglect attorney near me?", let us start with a definition of medical malpractice so that you are ahead of the curve when you first contact your attorney. Remember, despite jokes to the contrary, attorneys are human too. When you contact one about your case, the first hurdle will be to convince him or her that you are not a waste of time.

So, what is medical malpractice in the context of nursing home abuse?

Put simply, it occurs when a nursing home operator makes a mistake involving the care of you or a loved one that results in some kind of harm. There are countless ways this can happen. Your attorney will give you a typically free initial consultation to determine the strength of your case.

Now that you have an idea of how your initial consultation will go, where do you turn to get an actual name of an attorney who can help? Here are several options to get you started.

If someone you know has been the victim of medical negligence at a nursing home and is pleased with the services of the law firm retained for the matter, by all means, contact that firm for a free consultation. This is a relatively rare situation, however. And some referrals should be taken with extra caution. A well-intentioned reference to a nephew or sister-in-law who happens to be an attorney may cost you if that person has no experience with nursing home abuse cases.

Believe it or not, as unappealing as many lawyer advertisements are, they are a great first glance indicator of the success a particular law firm has had with its nursing home neglect cases. Think about it. These firms have big budgets to promote themselves and the type of law they practice. That money comes from winning cases or securing large settlements.

Some great places to look for the "winners" with big advertising budgets include the phone book, billboards, and, of course, the internet. As with anything, however, common sense should prevail. It is possible for a firm to be too big such that you may feel you do not get the personal attention you deserve. You will get a sense of the kind of attention you will receive from the very first interview. Listen to your instincts. Also, when it comes to contingency fees, be sure to see how to avoid costly mistakes when hiring a medical negligence attorney, below.

• The State Bar Association.

Many state bar associations have non-profit attorney referral programs. Check out the website for your particular state for details. Sometimes there is a charge for a referral, however. But while you are at the state bar association site, take a moment to see whether your state bar association makes available information regarding disciplinary action against attorneys to make sure you do not get a bad apple.

Whichever route you take to find a nursing home lawyer in New York, the important thing is to act. The state of New York has statutes of limitation which prevent legal actions against those who may have harmed you after a certain amount of time. Also, old age memories may be faulty, so it is crucial to get the details of your case on record as soon as possible.