Murphy & Landon
A bad medical outcome is not automatically malpractice.
Here is what a Delaware lawyer may need to review, what you can save, and what happens next.
When medical care has gone badly, it is normal to ask whether someone made a mistake. Not every bad outcome is malpractice, and no lawyer can tell you what a case means without reviewing the facts. What you can do now is preserve the care timeline and records, write down your questions, and ask for a straight answer about what a review may involve.
Talk with Murphy & Landon or call 302-472-8100 for a free case review.
What is the difference between a bad outcome and a malpractice claim?
Medicine can have risks even when care is appropriate. A potential claim requires more than a disappointing or serious result. Lawyers review the care provided, whether it may have contributed to the injury, and the loss caused by it. That review is fact-specific, and it does not guarantee an outcome.
What should I save?
Save what you have without delaying care: appointment dates, provider and facility names, discharge instructions, test results, bills, insurance communications, photographs when appropriate, and a simple timeline of what you remember. Family members can help keep a record of changes, questions, and conversations. You do not need a complete file before you call.
Questions to bring to a case review
- What treatment was expected, and what changed?
- Which providers and facilities were involved?
- What records, bills, or messages do I already have?
- What has the injury changed at home, at work, or in a loved one’s care?
- What questions do I need answered before deciding what to do?
What happens in a Delaware medical malpractice case review?
We start by listening and gathering the basic timeline. We may ask for records or identify information that could be useful to obtain. We then explain whether Murphy & Landon may be able to investigate further and what the next step could be. A first conversation is free and does not require you to move forward.
When a family member has died
Families often need answers while also handling immediate responsibilities. A conversation can help identify what information to preserve and whether there may be a path for further review. Legal rules and deadlines can be important and depend on the facts; they should be discussed with an attorney rather than assumed from a general guide.
Care-facility concerns and serious injuries
If the concern arose in a nursing home or other care facility, see our nursing home neglect guide. If a major injury is changing day-to-day life or future care, our serious injuries guide may help you organize what to protect.
Get a straight answer about what comes next
You do not have to decide whether it is a case before you call. Contact Murphy & Landon to explain what happened and ask the questions that matter to you.