When a competent Texas medical malpractice lawyer decides to investigate your medical care, it means that, based on the information available, he or she thinks that you may have a viable case for medical negligence.
In many types of cases, attorneys are able to file a lawsuit quickly and conduct most of the investigation while the matter is pending in court. In Texas, medical malpractice cases aren’t that way. Texas tort reform laws require medical malpractice plaintiffs and their lawyers to conduct a significant investigation upfront.
If you come prepared to your initial meeting with your Texas medical malpractice attorney or law firm, it will get your case and investigation off to a faster start. If you have any of the following documents, materials, and information available, I suggest that you bring it to the first meeting:
· All relevant medical records.
· All relevant radiology images on CDs or DVDs.
· The patient’s health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid card.
· Any bills that you received for any healthcare necessary because of the incident.
· Any letters, brochures, or other documents provided to the patient by the potential defendant healthcare providers.
· A list of the names and addresses of all healthcare providers that the patient saw in the five years prior to the incident at issue. This list should include hospitals and clinics, as well as any physician or other treater seen outside the hospital or clinic. This information is necessary for the mandatory pre-suit notice letter.
· A list of the names and addresses of all healthcare providers who treated the patient for injuries sustained in the incident at issue. This list should include hospitals and clinics, as well as any physician or other treater seen outside the hospital or clinic. This information is also necessary for the mandatory pre-suit notice letter.
· A list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any friends or family members who visited the patient in the hospital.
· Any photos, videos, or audio recordings related to the care at issue.
· If there’s a claim for lost wages or earning capacity, the patient’s tax return for the year prior to the care and injuries at issue.
· The Social Security and Texas driver’s license numbers for the patient and all potential plaintiffs. This information will be needed for the lawsuit petition.
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Robert Painter is an award-winning medical malpractice attorney at Painter Law Firm PLLC, in Houston, Texas. He is a former hospital administrator who represents patients and family members in medical negligence and wrongful death lawsuits all over Texas.
