| Read Time: 4 minutes | Medical Malpractice
new mexico medical malpractice lawyers

If you suffered an injury or a worsening medical condition due to the actions of a doctor or another type of medical practitioner, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages.

Having an experienced attorney on your side can be invaluable as you fight through this challenging time.

You won’t find any shortage of personal injury lawyers in our state, but how do you know if you’re getting the best lawyer for medical malpractice?

To help you find the best medical malpractice lawyer in New Mexico, Poulos & Coates, LLP, has assembled these top tips and questions to ask as you work through the selection process.

If you have any questions, please contact our experienced team of New Mexico medical malpractice attorneys today.

Look for a Malpractice Lawyer with Extensive Experience

In Las Cruces, the best medical malpractice lawyer for you will be one who has extensive experience in New Mexico medical malpractice law.

Certainly, newly-minted attorneys know the law and understand the process. However, having direct experience—especially litigation experience—is critical to the outcome of your case.

Don’t be shy about asking whether an medical malpractice attorney will be handing off some aspects of your casework to junior associates, paralegals, etc.

If others will be active participants in developing your legal strategies or building your case, you deserve to know how much experience they have.

Ask Attorneys What Types of Personal Injury Cases They Typically Handle

To find the best medical malpractice lawyer in New Mexico for your case, make sure you choose an attorney who focuses on this complex area of the law.

Most personal injury attorneys handle a variety of different types of cases, such as car accidents and slip and fall cases, but our firm only handles medical malpractice cases in New Mexico.

Even if an attorney lists this as one of their areas of focus, ask what percentage of their cases are medical malpractice claims. The answer will provide critical insight into their level of direct experience in this area of specialization.

Furthermore, ask them what experiences or results they have gotten with medical malpractice-related cases in New Mexico.

Call us about your case so one of our medical malpractice attorneys at Poulos & Coates can get to work. Call now at 575-523-4444

Consider Whether Your Case Will Have to Go to Court

In most cases that have merit, attorneys can successfully negotiate a settlement with the doctor’s malpractice insurance carrier. This is good news for you because it gets money into your hand as quickly as possible.

You will also avoid the time, trouble, and cost of a trial. However, in some cases, the insurance company won’t make a reasonable settlement offer.

In that case, your case will proceed to trial, in order to get fair compensation for your claim.

Not every attorney has malpractice litigation experience. If your case is more complex—or if your injuries and other damages are extensive—you need someone on your side who welcomes the opportunity to fight for you at trial.

Explore this possibility with any attorney you consult and ask what strategies they use to ensure that they’re ready to make the strongest possible case in court if necessary.

Delve into the Qualifications of Potential Medical Malpractice Attorneys

It never hurts to check with the local bar association to verify that an attorney is authorized to practice law in New Mexico. It’s also a good idea to ask what associations an attorney belongs to.

Some examples include the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys (NAOPIA) and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC). These organizations promote exceptional standards for attorneys, each admitting fewer than 1% of the nation’s licensed attorneys.

If you find an attorney who is a member of the American Society of Legal Advocates (ASLA), it’s another indication that you’re looking in the right direction. Membership in this national organization is by invitation only, and only the top 1.5% of attorneys make the cut due to ASLA’s stringent requirements.

Verify Medical Malpractice Lawyers’ Fee Structures

Few personal injury victims can afford to invest in legal retainers or have the ability to pursue a malpractice case that requires paying hourly attorney fees. Those personal injury firms that have the resources you need on your side typically accept cases on contingency.

This means that unless they recover compensation for you, they don’t earn any legal fees. Once your case is resolved, the firm will simply deduct their fees and case expenses from your settlement or award and issue you a check.

Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney in New Mexico Now for Help

Whether you’re looking for the best lawyer for medical malpractice in Las Cruces or anywhere else in New Mexico, reach out to Poulos & Coates for help.

Our firm handles only medical malpractice cases, and we have more than 70 years of combined experience. To date, we have recovered in excess of $300 million for our clients.

We are members of NADC, NAOPIA, and ASLA, and we have received numerous honors and awards for exceptional service. We accept cases on contingency, so you won’t owe any legal fees until we recover compensation on your behalf.

Call the compassionate and experienced attorneys of Poulos & Coates now at (575) 523-4444 (toll-free: 1-888-478-5424) or contact us online today to schedule your complimentary case analysis with one of our New Mexico medical malpractice lawyers.

Author Photo

Greig Coates, M.D., J.D.

Over the last thirty years, Dr. Coates has successfully represented plaintiffs in every conceivable type of medical malpractice lawsuit–from single-physician cases to complex litigation involving over a dozen doctors and several hospitals. Dr. Coates has taken several thousand physician depositions in his career involving every known physician specialty and sub-specialty, and almost as many depositions involving hospital personnel such as nurses, techs, and administrators. He has tried several dozen cases to successful verdicts.