Hi Toe
I'm really sorry to hear about what happened. You definitely want a very good attorney for a medical malpractice case. I think a good place to start is your State's Bar Association. Most have a referral type service and will get some basic information about your situation and then suggest some names in your area. The Bar Association does not get anything from this. You should also ask for a Board Certified attorney. Certification requires an attorney to have practiced in a specific field for a certain number of years and to have trial experience, references, and to pass a specialized exam given by a Certification Committee. Generally speaking, just because a firm has money to spend on ads, it does not mean that they are great lawyers. You can also try Martindale Hubbell's website. They gather information on attorneys and their area of specialty and they also rate them. If you do obtain a consult with an attorney, make sure there is no initial charge and make sure you ask questions about experience, certification,etc. I would get several opinions as well. If you were in South Florida, I could help, but you really need someone licensed to practice in your state. I'd be happy to answer any questions if you'd like to send a PM.
Good Luck - R