Question 1

What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Federal Way, Washington?

Accepted Answer

The phone line of the Federal Way Police Department for non-emergency is 253-835-6700.

Question 2

Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Federal Way, Washington?

Accepted Answer

To receive copies of public records from the Federal Way Police Department, you must deliver your request in person or by mailing to the Civilian Operations Manager, Attn: Public Records Request, 33325 8th Ave. S., Federal Way, WA 98003. Requests can also be made online via https://federalwaywa.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/SupportHome.aspx or by calling 253-835-6700.

Question 3

What can you possibly get back in Federal Way if you file a medical malpractice claim?

Accepted Answer

In Federal Way, there are two categories of damages in medical malpractice cases: direct and indirect. Direct damages can be quantified and verified, such as lost wages, additional medical expenses brought on by negligence, and the financial repercussions of temporary or permanent physical impairments. Indirect losses, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium or companionship, loss of parental supervision, or punitive penalties, are less palpable but real.

Question 4

What are the requirements for claims involving medical malpractice in Federal Way?

Accepted Answer

Obtaining a Certificate of Merit supporting your claim from a licensed medical professional is one of the prerequisites for submitting a medical malpractice claim in the Federal Way. You may also be mandated to go through mediation or another informal dispute resolution process beforehand. Many jurisdictions try to filter out claims that have little prospect of success or may be settled with some help since they can be time and resource-intensive for the courts and the parties in medical malpractice cases that go to trial.

Question 5

Who could be held accountable for damage caused by medical misconduct in Federal Way?

Accepted Answer

If medical professionals stray from the agreed standard of care and hurt patients, they may be charged with medical malpractice in Federal Way. Healthcare facilities may be responsible if there is poor training, insufficient staffing, or a lack of environmental safety. A defective instrument or drug may also be the fault of the manufacturer of the tool or medical device.

Question 6

What supporting documentation must you give your Federal Way medical malpractice attorney to strengthen your case?

Accepted Answer

You should give your attorney a complete medical record, a summary of your injuries, and a breakdown of the losses brought on by the negligence if you want to strengthen your medical malpractice claim in Federal Way. You also need to pile all your relevant medical records, such as doctor and hospital records from before the plausible misconduct, and documents from any subsequent corrective measures or diagnoses.

Question 7

Why should you employ a Federal Way medical malpractice attorney?

Accepted Answer

Attorneys in Federal Way who focus on medical malpractice cases collaborate closely with an extensive network of medical professionals to review medical records, determine the appropriate standard of care, spot deviations from the norm, and present medical evidence in court. They have experience representing people in medical malpractice claims and will have the financial resources to present your case successfully in court.

Question 8

What does a medical malpractice lawyer do?

Accepted Answer

Medical malpractice lawyers represent patients who have been injured during or as a result of medical treatment, when those injuries are caused by the negligence of health care providers, including physicians, dentists, anesthesiologists, clinics, and hospitals. A medical malpractice attorney will meet with a patient, determine if a malpractice case is warranted, gather information from the patient and from medical experts, depose defendants under oath, and negotiate a settlement on behalf of the patient. If an out-of-court settlement cannot be reached, a medical malpractice attorney will litigate the case in court on behalf of the patient.

Question 9

Do I have a medical malpractice case?

Accepted Answer

To have a medical malpractice case, a patient must have been injured when a health care provider, who had a duty of care to the patient, breached the accepted standard of care. An attorney looks for certain signs that medical malpractice has taken place, including:

A lack of informed consent, in which a person didn’t agree to a treatment or procedure, or the provider failed to fully explain the risks before proceeding
A highly unusual outcome results from a procedure or treatment, which may indicate that the provider made a mistake
A patient is informed by their health care provider or hospital that a mistake was made

Question 10

What are the chances of winning a medical malpractice lawsuit?

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s 20-year study of medical malpractice case outcomes, winning a suit largely depends on the strength of the evidence. Patients won just 10% to 20% of jury trial cases with weak evidence, compared to 30% of lawsuits with midrange evidence. Patients succeeded in 50% of cases with strong evidence. In addition to evidence, factors such as an attorney’s familiarity with the practice of medicine, and the attorney’s specialized background in medical malpractice law, may contribute to the success of the lawsuit.

Question 11

Is a misdiagnosis suitable for medical malpractice?

Accepted Answer

Misdiagnosis can constitute malpractice if it's proven that a doctor has failed to meet the usual standard of care. These types of cases usually involve mishandling of testing or delayed diagnoses. They may also involve a doctor's failure to interpret test results, screen for a specific condition, provide a specialist referral, discuss symptoms a patient is experiencing, or investigate possible causes of reported symptoms.

Question 12

As a patient, how do I choose a good medical malpractice lawyer?

Accepted Answer

Start by creating a short list of local medical malpractice lawyers specializing in plaintiff representation, then narrow it down by taking these steps:

Look at the lawyer’s website for details about their malpractice experience and knowledge.
Check whether an attorney is a member in good standing of local, state, and national trial lawyers' associations and the state bar association.
Ask what percentage of each lawyer’s caseload is devoted to medical malpractice, what portion of the cases go to trial versus settling, and how much of the case work is delegated to support staff.
Verify that an attorney works on a contingency fee basis and absorbs up-front expenses.

Question 13

What percentage of a settlement do medical malpractice lawyers get?

Accepted Answer

Medical malpractice lawyers typically represent clients on a contingency basis, receiving payment only if the plaintiff receives a settlement. The standard fee is 33% of the amount awarded. Attorneys may also pay litigation expenses up front, such as filing fees and other case-related costs, before receiving reimbursement from the settlement. Contingency fee percentages, other litigation costs, and payment structures may be negotiable.

Question 14

What’s the statute of limitations on medical malpractice?

Accepted Answer

Statutes of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits differ in each state. The limitations in three of the most populous states show how these laws can vary:

California plaintiffs have one year from discovering an injury or three years maximum from the injury date. Cases of foreign objects left in a person's body during surgery have no three-year deadline.
New York claims must be filed within 30 months of an injury-causing event. The time limit for left-behind foreign objects is one year from discovery.
Texas plaintiffs have two years to file suit, post injury. There are several exceptions, including continuing treatment situations, discovery after the limit expiration, and a 10-year maximum limit.

Question 15

How do you file a medical malpractice lawsuit?

Accepted Answer

Taking these steps may get a medical malpractice issue resolved quickly or help when filing a lawsuit becomes necessary:

Contact the doctor or health care provider to discuss the injury and a solution to the situation.
File a complaint with the local medical licensing board.
Check the state’s statute of limitations for filing a malpractice claim.
Consult with an impartial medical expert to get a written opinion on whether accepted standards of care were followed.
Arrange a free initial consultation with a local medical malpractice lawyer to determine if filing a lawsuit is worthwhile.
Consider settling with the health care provider or their insurance company to avoid a lengthy court case.

Question 16

How does a medical malpractice lawsuit work?

Accepted Answer

A consultation with an attorney is the first step in initiating a medical malpractice lawsuit. During the consultation, the patient will explain their case, including their injuries and the impact of those injuries on their life and well-being. The patient will identify the person or organization they believe breached the standard of care, and indicate how they believe that breach led to their injuries. The attorney will determine if the patient has a viable malpractice claim, and if so, will enter into an agreement to represent the patient. Next, the attorney will begin an investigation, reviewing medical records and consulting with medical experts. Following the investigation, the discovery process will allow the plaintiff and defendant to share information with each other about the case under oath. In the vast majority of malpractice cases, the settlement phase follows. During this phase, the doctor or facility will agree to pay the plaintiff a mutually agreed upon amount of money. If a settlement cannot be reached during this phase, the medical malpractice lawsuit will proceed to trial.

Question 17

As a healthcare provider, how do I avoid medical malpractice?

Accepted Answer

With the goal of enhancing the quality of care provided, while also limiting the risk of harm to patients, doctors can reduce the likelihood of medical malpractice lawsuits by adopting best practices, such as the following:

Establish trusting relationships through open and honest communication, and disclose poor outcomes and errors if they occur.
Stay up to date on disease management methods, technological advancements, and current standards of care in their area of specialty.
Obtain informed consent by fully explaining the risks and possible outcomes of procedures and treatments.
Improve follow-up care after any missed appointments and scheduled tests and procedures to help prevent delayed or overlooked diagnoses.
Maintain accurate, detailed records of patient exams, treatments, and counseling provided.

Question 18

What can a medical malpractice defense attorney do for a doctor who has been sued by a patient?

Accepted Answer

While it can be upsetting and stressful to be sued by a patient, medical malpractice lawsuits are actually fairly common. In fact, a recent American Medical Association benchmark survey found that more than one third of physicians in the U.S. have been sued for malpractice at some point during their career. In the event of a patient lawsuit, the doctor’s malpractice insurance provider will supply the doctor with a malpractice defense attorney to handle the case. If the doctor is not confident with the insurer-provided attorney—for instance, if they sense that their case is being passed along to less experienced associates, or if they feel like they are being forced into a settlement by their insurer—they can hire, and pay for, private counsel. In these cases, the private malpractice defense attorney can explain legal procedures, weigh in on case strategy and settlement possibilities, and suggest stronger defense action if warranted.

Attorney Names	Bar Status	Experience
Betsylew Miale-gix - Associate	Active	39 yrs
Joshua Campbell - Associate	Active	11 yrs
Matthew Dubin - Founding Attorney	Active	28 yrs
Joshua Campbell - Associate Attorney	Active	11 yrs
Matthew Dubin - Founding Attorney	Active	28 yrs
Joshua Joerres - Senior Attorney	Active	21 yrs
Matthew Dubin - Founding Attorney	Active	28 yrs
Matthew Dubin - Founding Attorney	Active	28 yrs
Rebecca Laliberte - Associate	Active	12 yrs

Attorney Names	Bar Status	Experience
Thomas Klusmeyer - Senior Associate	Active	41 yrs
Joshua Anderson - Founding Attorney	Active	15 yrs

Attorney Names	Bar Status	Experience
James Mccormick - Associate	Active	21 yrs
Jeremy Johnston - Partner	Active	20 yrs
Stephen Bulzomi - Shareholder	Active	38 yrs
John Christensen - Partner	Active	34 yrs

Attorney Names	Bar Status	Experience
Brad Moore - Partner	Active	31 yrs
Karen Koehler - Senior Managing Partner	Active	38 yrs

Attorney Names	Bar Status	Experience
Norman Short - Partner	Active	30 yrs
John Groseclose - Partner	Active	24 yrs

Attorney Names	Bar Status	Experience
John Ladenburg - Partner	Active	27 yrs
Erik Ladenburg - Partner	Active	24 yrs
Erik Ladenburg - Partner - Partner	Active	24 yrs

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Federal Way, Washington?

Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Federal Way, Washington?

What can you possibly get back in Federal Way if you file a medical malpractice claim?

What are the requirements for claims involving medical malpractice in Federal Way?

Who could be held accountable for damage caused by medical misconduct in Federal Way?

What supporting documentation must you give your Federal Way medical malpractice attorney to strengthen your case?

Why should you employ a Federal Way medical malpractice attorney?