What to Expect After You Contact a Lawyer for a Foot Injury Case in NY?
Today, we’re answering a common question: What happens after you contact a lawyer about a possible podiatry malpractice case—and how long does it take to get answers?
If you’ve reached the point where you’re considering legal action after a foot surgery or treatment gone wrong, it usually means you’re in pain, frustrated, and looking for answers. At our firm, we understand what you’re going through. But while it’s natural to want quick results, building a strong medical malpractice case—especially in New York—takes time and careful preparation.
Why the Review Process Takes Time?
In New York State, you can’t file a podiatry malpractice lawsuit unless your attorney has consulted a qualified medical expert. That expert must review your medical records and confirm that the podiatrist deviated from accepted medical standards, causing harm. The lawyer must then sign a certificate of merit—a legal document that certifies this expert review has taken place.
Without this step, your case cannot move forward.
The Lawyer’s Process for Reviewing a Podiatry Malpractice Case
Here’s how the process usually works:
- Initial Consultation: We talk with you to understand what happened—details about the surgery or treatment, your symptoms, how you’ve recovered (or not), and your medical history.
- Medical Records Collection: We obtain your records from the podiatrist and any other providers who treated you afterward.
- Expert Review: We send your records to a licensed medical expert for an independent review. This step is required by New York law.
- Evaluation: Based on the expert’s opinion, we determine whether the podiatrist likely committed malpractice and whether your case is legally strong enough to pursue.
This process can take several weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly we receive your records and how long the expert review takes. We know waiting is hard—but thorough case evaluation protects your interests and gives us the best chance of getting you the compensation you deserve.
What Happens Next?
Once we’ve confirmed that you have a valid malpractice claim, we move forward—filing the lawsuit and beginning the legal process. At that point, things tend to move more quickly, and we’ll keep you updated every step of the way.