After determining what type of medical treatment to seek after learning that you have a delayed cancer diagnosis, the next question you need to ask is, “Who should I hire as my cancer misdiagnosis lawyer?” With a delayed or failed diagnosis, you have enough on your plate without having to worry about the legal nuances of filing a medical malpractice claim. Your cancer misdiagnosis lawyer in Rochester can handle the legal legwork for you, allowing you to focus on your health.
The legal team at Powers & Santola, LLP has prepared this guide to help you find the right Rochester cancer misdiagnosis lawyer, what to look for in the right lawyer, and what to ask during a free consultation. We can discuss more about your legal rights and options during a free consultation.
Characteristics to Look for in a Rochester Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer
Not all attorneys are equally equipped to handle a cancer misdiagnosis case. Look for the following characteristics to find the right cancer misdiagnosis attorney for you:
Experience with Cancer Misdiagnosis Cases
Cancer misdiagnosis cases are complex, involving a unique intersection of medicine and law. You should look for an attorney who has a documented history of handling cancer misdiagnosis cases. Your lawyer will know what you must prove, be able to accurately estimate your damages, and be able to answer your questions about the legal path ahead.
Specific Skillsets
The medical malpractice attorneys at Powers & Santola have specific skill sets that have allowed them to secure significant results for their clients. They build strong cases with thorough investigations that consider the healthcare provider’s mistakes and the victim’s long-term losses incurred due to it.
We also have strong negotiating skills. We can often convince insurance companies to resolve cases for values similar to what we would be able to obtain after an arduous trial.
Knowledge
Proving a cancer misdiagnosis, failed diagnosis, or delayed diagnosis requires having an in-depth understanding of New York’s medical malpractice laws and filing deadlines. To prove your case, your lawyer will need to demonstrate that your healthcare provider had a duty of care to accurately diagnose your medical condition, deviated from the standard of care, and caused you injury as a result of the deviation from the standard of care. The legal team at Powers & Santola, LLP has developed this in-depth knowledge over the last three decades.
Strong Success Rates
In addition to handling cancer misdiagnosis cases, you want to ensure the medical malpractice attorney you hire has a solid rate of success in similar cases. Insurance companies know which law firms settle all their cases and which are prepared to take their cases to trial. Powers & Santola, LLP’s history of record-breaking verdicts, including several multi-million dollar awards,
Familiarity with Local Courts
Choosing a local attorney over one from a national firm may be preferable because they will be used to local courts and rules.
Positive Client Reviews
Look for positive testimonials from former clients. It’s not enough just to get results. You want to be able to work with the lawyer you hire. You might be dealing with them for the next several months or even longer, and you want the experience to be pleasant. At Powers & Santola, LLP, we pride ourselves on creating a positive experience for clients.
Reputation
For more than three decades, Powers & Santola LLP has fought for maximum compensation for clients. We have successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation. This reputation serves us well at the negotiating table and in the courtroom.
Legal organizations have taken notice of our success, as recognized by our being named:
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Top 10 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Best Law Firms
- Members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Avvo Rating of 10.0 Superb
Resources
Medical malpractice cases can require extensive resources. You need an expert witness who will complete a certificate of merit to substantiate your medical claims when you file your lawsuit. You will also need a legal team that has adequate staff to handle the document-intensive nature of these cases.
Powers & Santola, LLP has eight attorneys and five paralegals, so you can trust that we have the resources necessary to take your case all the way. We also have nationally prominent expert consultants available to further bolster your case or explain complex concepts to the judge or jury.
Dedication
Medical malpractice cases can be long and challenging, so you want a lawyer who can stay the course. The attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP are dedicated to permanently changing our clients’ lives.
Questions to Ask During a Free, No-Obligation Consultation
Many personal injury attorneys offer free case reviews to potential clients. This gives them the chance to know them and determine what it might be like working with them. You can prepare for your free consultation by creating a list of questions to ask the lawyer, such as:
- What is your experience in medical malpractice law? Look for a lawyer with ample experience.
- Do you have experience handling cancer misdiagnosis cases? This is an important subset of medical malpractice cases.
- What is your success rate? A good attorney should be able to share their win/loss rate with you, as well as their settlement rate.
- How long will my case take? You’re likely worried about dealing with a legal case and strenuous medical treatment at the same time. The lawyer can explain the potential timeline you’re looking at.
- What do I have to prove to win my case? The attorney should be able to explain the accepted standard of care, how it’s established, expert witnesses that may be called to explain it, and how it applies to your case.
- Do I have a solid case in your opinion? The lawyer should be able to provide you with an objective opinion on the viability of your legal claim.
- What is your fee structure? Many medical malpractice attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, so you don’t pay attorney fees up front. Instead of receiving an upfront payment, they receive a percentage of the financial recovery they achieve on your behalf. However, not all attorneys work with this fee structure, so make sure you know what you’re getting into before you hire them.
- How do you handle legal costs? In addition to attorney fees, your case may involve additional legal costs, such as deposition fees, expert witness fees, and postage. Ask how these costs are handled.
- Will I have to go to trial? You may be concerned about having to testify or disclose your private medical information in court. Most personal injury cases end in a settlement, but your lawyer should be able to prepare you for trial in the event your case goes there. Some doctors don’t want medical malpractice cases on their record, so they may be more likely to deny the claim than the average personal injury case defendant.
Why Choose Powers & Santola, LLP for Your Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer
We believe Powers & Santola, LLP is the right medical malpractice law firm to handle your cancer misdiagnosis case because of our:
- Experience: Our law firm was founded in 1987. Over the past nearly 40 years, we have been driven by a commitment to excellence and exceptional client service. We have handled countless medical malpractice and cancer misdiagnosis claims. Nothing is as important when selecting an attorney as having relevant legal experience in a case similar to yours.
- Results: With hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation recovered for our clients, our results are simply unparalleled. These significant results precede us at the negotiating table, often allowing us to recover maximum compensation via settlements because insurance companies and defendants are worried we will obtain another record-breaking verdict.
- Local connections: Powers & Santola, LLP is a local law firm. We have offices throughout Upstate New York, including in Rochester, Albany, and Rochester. We are familiar with the local court system, judges, and attorneys.
- Network of experts: Our locally based law firm has a nationwide network of economists and medical experts we can call upon for additional support for our clients.
- Trial preparation: Powers & Santola, LLP thoroughly prepares every case for trial. Our trial-tested attorneys have obtained significant results in the courtroom, but even if your case doesn’t ultimately go to trial, this preparation means we will be more familiar with the case and able to leverage our knowledge to fight for a fair settlement.
- Strong reputation in the legal community: The attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP are regularly recognized as Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, based on peer reviews and client recommendations. U.S. News & World Report has often considered us one of the Best Law Firms in the country for medical malpractice law. Our attorneys are so sought after that we are commonly requested to speak on important legal topics. We have even written books on various aspects of the law.
More importantly than all of the essential characteristics emphasized above is our dedication to our clients. We intentionally keep a low caseload so that we can provide the personalized attention each client deserves. Any time you call, you will be connected with someone who is personally working on your case and can answer any questions you have.
When we are retained for a case, insurance companies and defendants know that the case has merit and that we have thoroughly prepared it for trial. We do not settle cases for less than their full value.
Contact Powers & Santola, LLP for a Free Consultation
You don’t have to take our word for it that we are the right cancer misdiagnosis lawyer for you. You can learn more about our legal services, our credentials, and how we can help when you contact us for a free consultation.
During your free, no-obligation consultation, you can answer any questions you have. We can explain our specific background and experience handling cancer misdiagnosis cases. We welcome your calls and questions. Get started with your free case review.
