Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex types of personal injury lawsuits. The prospect of filing a lawsuit can seem daunting to individuals who have suffered an injury during a medical procedure. As a result, it is important that injured patients are aware of what goes into a medical malpractice lawsuit. The following is our firm’s process for handling medical malpractice lawsuits: Before Filing The Lawsuit: After initially being retained, our medical malpractice lawyers in NYC will obtain the client's medical records. We then send the records to be reviewed by a field-specific expert; all of our experts are board-certified physicians. Having records reviewed by an expert is necessary to file suit in New York State. After an expert completes a certificate of merit – an affidavit stating that there is reason to believe that malpractice may have occurred – our medical malpractice lawyers file the lawsuit. Discovery: Discovery begins for both sides once the lawsuit is filed. During discovery, the attorneys for both sides provide each other with information they do not already have. Depositions are also taken during discovery. A deposition, also known as an examination before trial, is testimony given by witnesses under oath. During a deposition, attorneys from both sides question each other's witnesses. While a deposition may seem daunting for injured patients, we fully prepare our clients for their questioning in advance. Following discovery, our medical malpractice lawyers file a notice of issue and the case is placed on the trial calendar. Trial: After a case is placed on the trial calendar, pretrial conferences begin. The amount of time before the actual trial begins can vary greatly depending on the venue. The trial is the final step in the process. Following jury selection, the actual trial begins. During the trial, both sides present evidence and question each other's witnesses and experts. While the trial is the final step of a medical malpractice case, not every case reaches trial. A case can be settled at any time (although settlements typically occur after the notice of issue has been filed). While a medical malpractice lawsuit can seem intimidating for victims, it is the only way for them to obtain the compensation they may be entitled to receive. Our clients can rest easy knowing that we will handle every stage of the lawsuit. Furthermore, our NYC medical malpractice lawyers pursue maximum compensation for all of our clients.