When you contact us regarding medical malpractice, there are certain steps that we take to determine whether it is in your best interests to file a lawsuit and how to proceed with the case. At Pacific Medical Law, we have years of medical malpractice experience and are selective in the cases that we will take. Given the expense and difficulty with these cases, it is important to thoroughly determine the likelihood of success before starting a lawsuit.
From the Beginning of a Case to a Judgment or Settlement
We take into account the severity of the injury caused by the alleged malpractice and when that malpractice happened. British Columbia law limits the length of time a person has in which to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Sorting out these limitation periods can be complex and there is a lot of work that must be done before a lawsuit can be started. Contact our office as soon as possible to discuss the limitation dates that apply to your situation.
Our lawyers will review the relevant medical records and seek a preliminary opinion from an appropriate medical expert. In some instances, we may be able to identify the issues ourselves from our extensive experience and legal and medical knowledge. Methodical evaluation of the evidence contained in medical records is critical for success in any medical malpractice case.
If the case appears to have merit and fulfills certain criteria, we will generally enter into a contingency fee agreement, which means that our fee will be a percentage of the amount eventually recovered. In addition to our legal fees, there are out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees charged by the court and, most significantly, the fees charged by expert witnesses. A lawyer at Pacific Medical Law discusses with each client the arrangements for the fees and out-of-pocket expenses.
Learn the Anatomy of a Malpractice Case in British Columbia
For a more detailed description of the anatomy of a malpractice case in British Columbia, download our brochure.
If you believe that medical malpractice is responsible for an injury to you or someone you love, contact our firm and learn more about filing a malpractice case. Contact Pacific Medical Law by calling our Vancouver office toll free at 604-685-2361.