The Life of a Medical Malpractice Case at Watson & Carroll

Your journey with us begins when you reach out via phone or email. During this initial contact, we’ll gather basic information about your situation and set the stage for further evaluation. Our Intake Coordinator, Sara Ditsworth, will be your first point of contact.

Sara will have a detailed conversation with you to collect the essential facts of your case. She’ll ask about:

• The nature of the injury or loss.
• The timeline of medical treatment.
• Any medical records or documentation you have available.

Sara’s role is to determine whether your case aligns with our areas of practice and merits further investigation. If it does, she will pass the information to our legal team for a deeper evaluation.

Once your case is accepted for further review, we begin the investigative phase, which includes:

• Obtaining and reviewing medical records.
• Consulting with medical professionals to identify potential breaches in the standard of care.
• Gathering evidence to support your claim.

This phase is critical to building a strong foundation for your case.

Medical malpractice cases require testimony from qualified medical experts. During this phase, we:

• Identify and retain experts in relevant medical fields.
• Work with these experts to analyze your case and confirm that negligence occurred.
• Prepare detailed reports and opinions from experts to support your claim.

The insights of these professionals are essential to proving liability and damages in medical malpractice cases.

If your case moves forward, we file the necessary documents to initiate a lawsuit. During the discovery phase, both sides exchange evidence and information, including:

• Requests for medical records and other documentation.
• Interrogatories (written questions) for the parties involved.
• Depositions of witnesses, medical providers, and other relevant individuals.

Discovery ensures that both sides have the information needed to prepare their cases effectively.

Depositions are formal interviews conducted under oath. This phase involves:

• Preparing you for your deposition so you feel confident answering questions.
• Deposing witnesses, medical providers, and other parties to gather critical testimony.
• Using this testimony to strengthen your case and identify areas for further development.

Depositions often play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the case.

As discovery progresses, we may return to our experts to:

• Refine their opinions based on new evidence.
• Prepare them for depositions or trial testimony.
• Develop compelling presentations to explain complex medical issues to a judge or jury.

Experts remain integral throughout the litigation process.

Before trial, we often explore alternative dispute resolution through mediation. During this phase:

• Both sides meet with a neutral mediator to attempt to reach a settlement.
• We present a strong case to negotiate a fair outcome for you.
• If an agreement is reached, this can save time and reduce the stress of a trial.

Mediation is often a valuable opportunity to resolve the case without going to court.

If mediation doesn’t result in a settlement, we proceed to trial. At this stage:

• We present your case to a judge and jury, including expert testimony and supporting evidence.
• Cross-examine opposing witnesses to challenge their credibility and arguments.
• Advocate passionately for justice and full compensation on your behalf.

Trials are the final phase in the life of a case, and we are committed to delivering a compelling and persuasive presentation in court.