You should talk to a malpractice attorney as soon as possible after the injury occurs. First, the law requires that any claims be filed within a certain time period (statute of limitations). If you fail to file a claim by the deadline, you forfeit your right to sue. Perhaps more important, the longer you wait, records disappear or get altered, evidence disappears or gets contaminated, and the memories of eyewitnesses’ fade. So, talk to an attorney sooner, rather than later. There is absolutely no obligation and you have nothing to lose by learning about your legal options.