If you’re like most people, the dentist chair isn’t a place you’d desire to be. In fact you’d rather wish you were anywhere else. There are many reasons why people are afraid to go to the dentist. One of the reasons is the slight chance that something can go wrong. Patients can sometimes think of the worse when they find out all they have is a simple cavity.
While dental accidents are rare, they do happen. These incidents are not confined to complex dental procedures either. Some serious dental malpractice accidents have happened during some of the most basic routine procedures.
The effects of these rare dental mistakes and accidents can range from mild to severe, even life-threatening. Just a simple lapse of judgment from the dentist or dental hygienist can negatively alter a patient’s life forever.
Why Hire a Dental Malpractice Lawyer
Patients who have been the victims of such avoidable dental malpractice incidents rightly deserve restitution and compensation for the resulting pain and hardship they are experiencing as a result of the mistake.
This is where a dental malpractice lawyer comes in. Similar to a medical malpractice lawyer to holds physicians and medical professionals accountable for their preventable mistakes on their patients, a dental malpractice lawyer will represent and stand by their client who has been injured by their dentist’s negligence.
Dental Malpractice Lawsuits: What to Expect
Dental patients who have a valid dental malpractice claim against their dentist will regularly meet with their lawyer to go over paperwork and what to expect throughout the legal process. Very rarely will a dental malpractice case go to court. Instead, many cases are settled out of court. These out of court settlements are often the most beneficial for both the plaintiff and the defendant by getting the case settled quickly. The lawyer will construct the most compelling case for their client with the information he or she is given through records, interviews and through other means. Dental malpractice lawyers are familiar with local and nationwide dental laws, regulations and best practices and are therefore in a place to help their client or prospective client see whether they have a valid case.
Many dental malpractice lawyers require compensation for their service. This often takes the form of retainer fees and a percentage of the plaintiff’s reward should he or she win their dental malpractice case. Each dental malpractice firm is different and offer different prices for their services. Before you select a lawyer to work with, do your research and set up meetings with various lawyers.
What to Look For in a Dental Malpractice Lawyer
There are a lot of dental and medical malpractice lawyers out there. How can one decide on the best one to represent them throughout their dental malpractice case? As mentioned before, it is best to have initial consultations with multiple lawyers to get an idea of their experience and prices. Besides being aware of your budget, here are some things to look for when shopping around for a lawyer to hire:
- Years of Experience
- References and Testimonials
- Number of Cases Won and Their Rewards
- The Level of Transparency of the Lawyer
- How Communicative The Lawyer Is
- The Lawyer’s Availability
- Their Fees and Available Payment Plans and Terms
When to Get a Dental Malpractice Lawyer
Just as medical professionals are held to high procedural and ethical standards, so are dentists. Dentists spend many years and a lot of money to go to dental school. These professionals are trusted by their patients to make the right decisions and have the required skills to safely perform various dental procedures. Each dentist must follow strict best practices guidelines for all procedures. It is when dentists deviate from these best practice guidelines that malpractice occurs.
Just as there are high standards and responsibilities for dentists, there are also strict, specific requirements needed by the plaintiff to prove a valid dental malpractice case against their dentist. If you have been injured from a dental procedure or have required additional dental work as a result of dentist negligence, the first step is to find a great dental malpractice lawyer who can help you determine whether you have a valid case.
In a nutshell, to have a valid dental malpractice case against your dentist, one will need to prove four things: that the dentist is certified and was treating one as a patient, that there was a breach in the standard of care by the dentist, that the dentist caused the patient harm and that the patient’s injuries were the direct result of the dentist’s breach in the standard of care.
If you’ve been injured by your dentist and are looking for a dental malpractice lawyer in NYC, contact us at Chianese & Reilly Attorneys at Laws. We have many years of experience and have won dental malpractice lawsuits for our clients. We’d love to help you get the just restitution you deserve.
