Individuals seeking compensation for the expenses and psychological impacts they incurred as a result of a medical error can do so by filing a medical malpractice claim. Bringing a claim often involves filing with an insurer and possibly also filing a lawsuit in civil court. In either case, the claimant seeks to show that the defendant medical care provider violated their duty of care, thus that the victim should be compensated for the expenses and impacts they are claiming. To file a medical malpractice claim in Syracuse, you must first obtain a certificate of merit. What this means is that, before you can file your claim in court, you must have a medical professional review your claim and attest that it merits the filing of a lawsuit. The professional must be licensed to practice medicine and have experience in the type of medical care that was involved in your malpractice claim. If the claimant fails to obtain this certificate of merit before filing the lawsuit, they have 90 days to do so or to file a declaration that they have made a good-faith effort to get the certificate but have been unable to get a medical professional’s consultation.