Top Westfield, NY Meningitis Outbreak Lawyers Near You

2012 Meningitis Outbreak Legal Recourse

In 2102 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to tainted steroid injections. Several hundred cases have been reported and many people have died. If you have contracted fungal meningitis, contact a Westfield attorney today. You may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.

Meningitis Outbreak Linked to Steroid Used to Treat Back Pain

The 2012 meningitis outbreak is linked to injections of methylprednisolone acetate, used to treat back and joint pain. The disease is diagnosed through a spinal tap. The fluid drawn from the spine is examined for signs of the disease, which can be treated with intravenous antifungal medications. The tainted steroids were recalled, but new cases of the disease may still be reported.

Top Questions to Ask When Hiring an Attorney

• How many years have you been practicing law? How long have you practiced law in the local area?
• How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
• What is the likely outcome for my case?

In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.

Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer

• What is the usual process to resolve my case? How long will it take to resolve this?
• What are likely outcomes of a case like mine? What should I expect?

An experienced lawyer should be able to communicate a basic “road map” on how to proceed. The lawyer should be able to walk you through the anticipated process, key considerations, and potential pitfalls to avoid. Once you’ve laid out the facts of your situation to the lawyer, he/she should be able to frame expectations and likely scenarios to help you understand your legal issue.

How will an attorney charge me?

A reputable attorney will be very upfront about how he/she will charge you. The three most common fee structures that attorneys use to charge for their services are:

• Bill by the hour
• Contingent fee agreement
• Flat fee agreement

Depending on your specific legal situation, it’s possible that only one type of fee structure is available. For instance, criminal defense attorneys almost always bill by the hour. In a flat fee arrangement, an attorney accepts a one-time payment to help you resolve your issue. With a contingent fee agreement, the client pays little to nothing upfront and the attorney receives a percentage of the money recovered if you win your case.

Common legal terms explained

Affidavit – A sworn written statement made under oath. An affidavit is meant to be a supporting document to the court assisting in the verification of certain facts. An affidavit may or may not require notarization.