Are you a professional facing potential liability for malpractice? If so, you may not realize that you need a lawyer. Professionals work very hard at their difficult jobs, which may have required years of education and training. Unfortunately, sometimes a patient or client is dissatisfied with a professional’s work. Maybe they do not understand why the professional took a certain course of action. They may feel that the professional owes them money or an apology for a mistake. Sometimes, mistakes do happen – skilled professionals are human. But when a patient or client makes a malpractice claim, a professional’s career could be at stake.
If you have learned that a patient or client plans to sue you for malpractice, you need to get experienced legal advice. It is not a good idea to try handling a malpractice claim yourself – even if you are a lawyer. You may not have a good perspective on your case’s strengths and weaknesses, since your livelihood is in the balance. Seeking knowledgeable legal help from a Houston malpractice lawyer can help avoid loss of your license, damage to your reputation, loss of income, or expensive insurance costs.
-
Loss of Your License
Losing your professional license is one of the very real risks in a malpractice action. Do not discount the possibility that the licensing board could decide to penalize you. Often, the process for stripping someone of their license or imposing sanctions is quite different from a typical legal trial. You may not have the same opportunity to defend yourself as you would in court. Moreover, if a disgruntled patient does file a court case, you could be defending yourself before the court and the licensing board at the same time. The prospect of losing your professional license may seem daunting, which is why you need to contact Henke, Williams & Boll LLP for legal assistance.
-
Damage to Your Reputation
In addition to potentially losing your professional license, you could suffer damage to your reputation due to a malpractice accusation. Often, it does not matter whether you actually committed malpractice under the law. The mere accusation that you made a mistake can be enough to permanently mar your name. Alleged victims of malpractice often use media exposure as a bargaining chip in their demands. If you are concerned that a professional liability claim – even if unfounded – will harm your reputation, talk to a lawyer. Depending on your circumstances, there may be ways to manage the flow of information that is publicly available about the claim against you.
-
Loss of Income
Further, loss of income due to a malpractice claim could affect your business. Many professionals operate small businesses such as medical practices or professional services firms. You may be on a tight budget or need a steady income flow to cover costs. Losing income is probably not something you want or can afford. Unfortunately, a professional liability claim could affect your income. You may lose patients or clients, miss out on referrals, or have trouble signing up new patients or clients. In addition, you may need to pay a settlement to the person alleging malpractice or defend a case in court. At our firm, we understand that loss of income can hurt you and your practice. We will evaluate your individual circumstances when developing a strategy for your case.
-
Expensive Insurance Costs
As well as loss of income, you could face expensive insurance costs when someone accuses you of malpractice. Your professional liability insurer may raise your premiums or seek to change your policy terms. Insurance companies are concerned about their bottom line, not your coverage or defending a malpractice claim against you. They will seek to pay as little as possible on a claim without regard for you and your practice. You need a lawyer looking out for your interests when someone makes a professional liability claim against you.
Let Us Defend You Against Professional Liability Claims
As experienced Houston professional liability lawyers, we help our professional clients find the best solution possible when they deal with malpractice accusations. We understand that a lot is at stake for you in this kind of case. That’s why we provide advice tailored to your unique situation. To set up a consultation at Henke, Williams & Boll LLP, call (713) 936-5521 or use our convenient Contact Form.