There are many different types of licensed professionals who provide important services for their clients. People hire lawyers or accountants to handle their personal or business affairs. They rely on architects and other skilled, educated professionals for matters that they cannot realistically address on their own.
Those in licensed professions typically have years of education or professional experience. They are subject to state oversight and industry standards. It is reasonable for clients to expect their professional service providers to provide them with competent and reliable assistance.
Unfortunately, people sometimes end up disappointed or even harmed by incompetence or misconduct on the part of a licensed professional. What options do those clients have for seeking justice afterward?
1. Filing a formal complaint
When a professional works in an industry regulated by a licensing agency, they must adhere to the standards maintained by the licensing authority. If they fail to do so, clients, patients or even members of the general public could file a complaint.
A formal complaint can lead to an investigation. Professional licensing boards have the authority to discipline individuals or even strip them of their right to work in a particular field by eliminating their professional licensing.
2. Seeking insurance compensation
A variety of different professionals carry specialized insurance in case they make mistakes or commit acts of negligence on the job. Their policies can cover costs incurred by others due to their professional failings.
Errors and omissions insurance coverage can protect professionals such as engineers or real estate agents in case they make mistakes that have negative consequences for their clients. Provided that there is documentation affirming the nature of a professional’s failure and the impact it had on the client, people may be able to recoup their losses by filing an insurance claim.
3. Pursuing a malpractice lawsuit
Many people are familiar with the concept of medical malpractice. People can sue their doctors when they don’t provide a professional standard of medical care.
Malpractice lawsuits are also an option for those harmed by other professionals. People can take legal action against accountants, lawyers and other licensed professionals who fail to fulfill their duty to their clients and cause them harm because of their unprofessional conduct or negligence.
Reviewing the situation in which a licensed professional may have committed malpractice can help people determine which options for recourse are best given their circumstances. Those harmed by licensed professionals often have the option of taking legal action or seeking financial compensation.
