PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE

Professionals such as accountants, lawyers, and financial advisors must meet certain minimum standards of care. When their negligence causes a client to suffer financial harm, the professional is accountable to the injured person.

There are short time periods in which to make claims against professionals. It is important to act quickly to secure important papers and evidence.

Professional negligence cases are challenging. In legal malpractice cases, you often need to prove the "case within the case." You must show that, but for the negligence of the lawyer, the injured party would have won the underlying case. Similarly with accountants and financial advisors, it is important that your attorney fully understand the underlying financial issues and how you were harmed by the professional negligence.

Questions You Should Ask An Attorney

What to Do Following an Incident of Professional Malpractice

Case Examples

Most lawyers have little experience with these types of cases. At Clark Perdue, we represent victims with legitimate claims for professional malpractice. We have extensive experience handling professional negligence claims, and significant expertise trying these cases in front of a jury.

• We had a client who called to complain that his lawyer had still not filed his personal injury case, although it had been several years since his accident. After investigating the matter, we discovered the client was correct. Our case involved not only proving that the attorney was negligent, but that, had the case been properly filed, the client would have won the personal injury case as well. We were able to successfully prove our client's damages and won a settlement on his behalf.
• Ron was paralyzed from the neck down after he suffered a seizure and fell in the skilled nursing unit of a hospital. The medical staff failed to provide Ron with medication necessary to prevent seizures. Ron lived as a quadriplegic for 15 months prior to his death. We sued the corporation that owned and operated the facility and obtained a substantial settlement for Ron's surviving family members.

Questions To Ask

Before hiring a lawyer to represent you in a professional malpractice claim, you should ask the lawyer how many professional negligence cases the lawyer has handled in the past two years. Ask how many cases the attorney has tried to verdict rather than settled. For a list of other questions you should ask before hiring a lawyer, click here.

Clark Perdue

Clark Perdue has extensive experience handling professional negligence claims. If requested, we will meet you--in your home or at the hospital, if necessary--to explain your legal rights and make suggestions for immediate action on your claim.

For more information about protecting your legal rights, or for a free consultation about your situation, please call or e-mail Clark Perdue. We promise to respond promptly.