When a healthcare provider's negligence causes injury, you need a medical malpractice attorney who understands both medicine and the law.
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional — a doctor, surgeon, nurse, anesthesiologist, or other provider — deviates from the accepted standard of care, and that deviation directly causes injury or death to a patient. The standard of care is defined as the level of treatment that a reasonably competent provider in the same specialty would deliver under similar circumstances.
Not every bad medical outcome is malpractice. Our medical malpractice lawyers work with board-certified physicians to determine whether the standard of care was violated and whether that violation caused your injuries. This expert analysis is the foundation of every case we pursue.
Florida law imposes unique pre-suit requirements on medical malpractice claims that do not exist in other personal injury cases. Before filing a lawsuit, your attorney must conduct a thorough investigation, obtain a verified written medical expert opinion confirming the standard of care was breached, and serve a formal notice of intent on all prospective defendants. This triggers a mandatory 90-day investigation period during which settlement discussions may occur.
These pre-suit requirements make it essential to hire an experienced medical malpractice lawyer early. A qualified attorney ensures deadlines are met, expert opinions are properly obtained, and your rights are protected throughout the process.
Our Tampa medical malpractice attorneys handle the full range of provider negligence claims, including diagnostic errors and delayed diagnoses of cancer, heart disease, and infections; surgical errors including wrong-site surgery, retained instruments, and anesthesia complications; medication prescribing errors and dangerous drug interactions; failure to obtain informed consent before procedures; emergency room mismanagement and premature discharge; and failure to follow up on abnormal test results.
Florida law allows medical malpractice victims to recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability and disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
Florida's statute of limitations for medical malpractice is generally two years from the date you discovered or should have discovered the injury, with an absolute outer limit of four years from the date of the incident. Exceptions exist for fraud, concealment, and cases involving minors. Contact a medical malpractice attorney immediately to ensure your claim is filed within the applicable deadline.