Being accused of malpractice can be a life-changing situation. Today’s social and political climate makes it easier than ever for hardworking, honest professionals to fall victim to erroneous charges of malpractice. If you are charged with this crime, here’s your step-by-step guide of what to do next:
Spread the News
Nobody wants to talk about being charged with a crime, regardless of his or her guilt or innocence. However, if you are charged with malpractice, your first moves should involve letting everyone who needs to know what is going on.
- The first person to tell is your legal malpractice attorney. If you do not have a malpractice attorney, you should pursue hiring one immediately.
- If you are employed with a practice or an agency where your alleged malpractice occurred, let your superiors know about the charge immediately, as well. They may request that their attorneys represent you, or that you operate under their standards of practice.
- Also, be sure to tell your malpractice insurance carrier right away. Again, if you are not covered by this kind of insurance privately, let your employer know about the charge, and their insurance may cover you.
Get It Down on Paper
Documentation will be important during your case. Immediately after you learn of your charge, your Jacksonville legal malpractice attorney will likely ask you to begin documenting what happened during the alleged time period of malpractice, as well as who else might have been involved. Because delegating tasks to other professionals is one of the most common causes of malpractice suits, it is very important to correctly document every person who you worked closely with or delegated tasks to during that time period. This may clear up some confusion and even help clear your name.
Ultimately, the most important move you will make during this time is to listen to and cooperate with your legal counsel. They will help you find the right path forward and make the right choices to get through this stressful time and on with your life.
