Why Hire A Legal Nurse Consultant?
The president of a major law firm that represented roadway construction companies in the Southeastern United States once said: "I don't need to know the nuts and bolts of paving a road as long as I have an expert who does." And thank goodness he did have such an expert because, as I informed him, you don't pave a road with nuts and bolts.
What he meant by his comment was it is better for an experienced expert witness to explain complicated issues to a jury than for an attorney to stumble his way through them. That is certainly the case when it comes to explaining complicated medical issues at trial.
What is a Legal Nurse Consultant? Many attorneys who practice personal injury law have no firsthand experience with the healthcare system and don't even know how to read simple medical records. I will refrain from naming the dozen or so friends of mine who practice personal injury law as medical record illiterates. So how do they have any idea whether they have a valid medical malpractice, slip and fall, whiplash or other personal injury case? They rely heavily on Legal Nurse Consultants.
A Legal Nurse Consultant is someone with a nursing degree who reviews, analyzes and summarizes medical records for an attorney. As a Legal Nurse Consultant you may choose to work for plaintiff or defense attorneys, governmental agencies, insurance companies or private corporations. You may choose to work in the geographic area where you are currently located or to move around the country. Many agencies will pay for your move should you choose to do so.
What does a Legal Nurse Consultant Do? A Legal Nurse Consultant advises attorneys both prior to, during and after trial (usually on appeal) on medical issues. If you are a person who does not like to give live testimony at trial you do not have to. There are a number of consulting opportunities that do not require trial testimony. If you are (like many attorneys) a frustrated actor, then expert trial witness testimony may be right up your alley.
Most Legal Nurse Consultants deal with cases involving medical and nursing malpractice, personal injuries, products liability, toxic and environmental cases, worker's compensation, workplace injury, criminal and family law issues. You can find more information on becoming a Legal Nurse Consultant on this website.
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Source: www.articlesbase.com
