A medical malpractice lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in representing injured patients who claim that their health care provider committed a breach of the standard of care and that injury resulted. Attorneys who practice this type of law have extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations that govern medical practice and malpractice claims and access to experts to help them investigate cases and build a strong case for redress.

In the United States, Portland medical malpractice lawyer generally carry medical malpractice insurance to protect themselves in case of alleged negligence. Physicians who do not have this type of insurance are not permitted to work in hospitals or with certain medical groups. Expert witness testimony, patient testimonies and visual evidence such as photos and videos are critical to establishing the extent of a victim’s injury, and supporting their demand for compensation.

To win a monetary award, an aggrieved patient must prove that substandard medical care caused injury. The legal standard of proof is called “preponderance of the evidence,” and it is less demanding than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard that is used to convict criminal defendants.

Legal Support from an Injury Attorney: Maximizing Compensation for Victims

Depositions are a significant part of the pretrial discovery process in all types of civil lawsuits. During a deposition, the person who is being sued under oath is questioned by attorneys for both sides. The attorney for the patient asks questions first, referred to as direct examination; then, the attorney for the doctor may question the patient in turn, a process called cross-examination.