What types of cases does a malpractice lawyer typically handle?

A malpractice lawyer handles cases involving negligence or wrongdoing by a professional in their field of practice, such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, and other professionals who owe a duty of care to their clients or patients. These cases can include medical malpractice, legal malpractice, accounting malpractice, and similar claims of professional negligence.

Medical malpractice cases typically involve a healthcare provider's failure to provide appropriate medical care to a patient, resulting in harm or injury. This can include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, or failure to diagnose a condition. A malpractice lawyer may represent the patient in filing a lawsuit against the healthcare provider, seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Legal malpractice cases involve an attorney's failure to provide competent legal representation to their client, resulting in harm or injury. This can include missed deadlines, failure to properly file court documents, or providing incorrect legal advice. A malpractice lawyer may represent the client in filing a lawsuit against their attorney, seeking compensation for damages such as lost income, legal expenses, and emotional distress.

Accounting malpractice cases involve an accountant's failure to provide competent financial advice or services to a client, resulting in harm or injury. This can include negligent tax preparation, failure to detect fraud, or providing incorrect financial advice. A malpractice lawyer may represent the client in filing a lawsuit against their accountant, seeking compensation for damages such as financial losses or damages to their reputation.

It is important to note that not every instance of professional negligence constitutes malpractice. In order to establish a malpractice claim, the plaintiff must prove that the professional owed a duty of care to them, that they breached that duty of care, that the breach caused the plaintiff harm, and that the harm resulted in damages. Additionally, malpractice claims are subject to statutes of limitations, which limit the amount of time in which a plaintiff can file a lawsuit.

If you believe you have a potential malpractice claim, it is important to consult with an experienced malpractice lawyer to evaluate your case and determine your legal options.