English 
Spanish When looking for a dental malpractice attorney to advocate for you, you want to ensure you choose the right one. During your initial consultation, you’ll want to ask these 10 questions (and any others you think of).
What Do I Need to Pay to Get Started?
Many attorneys handle medical malpractice cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees and only pay your attorney for their time when they win your case. However, some attorneys require clients to pay certain expenses, such as filing fees.
It’s important to ask the attorney about their fee schedule and what you will be expected to pay out of pocket. If not, you may end up paying thousands of dollars just to get started.
How Many Dental Malpractice Cases Have You Handled in the Past?
You don’t want to work with someone who has never handled a medical or dental malpractice case. Medical malpractice is very complex and requires both medical and legal knowledge, so don’t trust just anyone with your case.
Do You Have Any Results for These Cases You Could Share?
You don’t just want a medical malpractice attorney who has handled these cases; you want someone who has successfully handled them. If their site doesn’t have results for these specific cases, ask them about it when you meet with them.
Do You Have Any Testimonials or References I Could See?
Some attorneys post all their testimonials on their site; some don’t. If you didn’t see testimonials on their website, you can ask them whether they can share them with you during the consultation. You might want to look elsewhere if they don’t want to share their testimonials or have none.
How Often Can I Expect to Hear From You?
Some injured people hire attorneys only to be ignored for months at a time. Make sure you ask the team how often you can expect to receive updates from your personal injury lawyer. If you get their voicemail, how long can you expect to wait for a callback? Is there someone dedicated to your case?
You should also ask how they will communicate with you (e.g., by phone, email, text, or in person).
What Compensation Can I Recover?
While no attorney should tell you exactly what you can recover or what your case is worth before investigating it, they should be able to give you an idea of what damages you may be eligible to recover in a dental malpractice claim.
Do You Have Medical Experience?
Not all attorneys have medical experience, but they should have a network of expert witnesses they can call upon. They should be able to discuss this with you.
Do You Have Experience at Trial?
Some attorneys are great at building cases and negotiating for a fair settlement but have never set foot in a courtroom. You don’t want to hire an attorney to discover they have no experience in front of a jury. You only have one shot in a courtroom, and you don’t want to jeopardize that by hiring someone who doesn’t have experience with that process.
How Long Will My Dental Malpractice Case Take?
While a lawyer should never promise to finish your case in a certain amount of time or tell you they can expedite things, they can tell you whether they expect your case to take months or years.
If a lawyer tells you they can finish your case in a certain amount of time, look elsewhere. It’s impossible to determine exactly how long a case can take. It can also indicate that they will rush your case instead of going through the process to get you the compensation you need.
What Do I Need to Establish to Prove Dental Malpractice?
To prove dental malpractice, you will need to establish the following:
- The dentist, orthodontist, periodontist, surgeon, or other medical professional had a duty to uphold the standard of care.
- The medical provider breached the standard of care.
- This breach, often called medical negligence, caused your injuries.
- You sustained damages.
The attorney should be able to explain what they need to establish to prove that a dental professional is liable for your injuries. They should also be confident in their ability to do so.
You should also ask what the statute of limitations is for a dental malpractice lawsuit to ensure you give the attorney enough time to build a robust case.
Call Today for a Free Consultation With Our Dental Malpractice Lawyers
Our team is prepared to answer any questions you may have about working with us. The initial consultation is free, and you are not obligated to use our services.
You want to do so quickly. You have a limited time to file a lawsuit for dental malpractice. Call KJT Law Group to get started today: (818) 507-8525.
