What is my case worth?
There is no hard and fast way to say what a particular case is worth. A jury must recognize three things for you to be awarded damages.
- Injury: How seriously were you injured? How much pain and suffering have you endured? How much has it cost you in medical care? How has it impaired your ability to work and earn money?
- Liability: Is another party responsible for your injury? To what extent could that party have reasonably foreseen that their action or inaction would cause this injury?
- Damages: What is the dollar amount deemed sufficient to compensate the injury and detriment you have sustained?
Will I put my doctor out of business if I sue, or cause his malpractice insurance to rise?
No. A doctor’s malpractice premium are tied into insurance company profits, not to his individual performance.
How long will it take for my case to go to trial?
This depends on whether your case settles out of court or goes to trial. If it goes to trial, it can take up to two years. Settlement, however, can occur at any point in the process.
How much will it cost me to prosecute?
We work on a contingency basis, which means if we don’t recover any money for you, you pay nothing. The actual cost to Jacobs & Goodman, P.A. to investigate and litigate your claim can be significant, sometimes going into the millions of dollars. That’s because we use trained investigators, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and paralegals to review medical records, and conduct the investigation and discovery. We hire the best experts from around the country to testify on your behalf, and they get their fees whether you win or lose. And we only recover those costs if a recovery is made on your behalf.
Will my health insurance rates go up if I bring my case?
No. Insurance companies that write malpractice insurance and pay claims are not the same companies that provide you with health insurance. Your health care insurance rates will not rise because a malpractice claim is filed.