It can be shocking to learn that a trusted healthcare professional made an error that has consequences for your health. We trust our providers to use their knowledge and skill to support our well-being and help us overcome health challenges.
If you believe that your healthcare provider’s substandard care has negatively impacted your health, contact a DeLand medical malpractice lawyer for help. Our personal injury attorneys have a well-deserved reputation for excellence in this field of law. In fact, other lawyers and doctors engage our firm when they or their family members intend to pursue a medical malpractice case.
Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
A healthcare professional commits malpractice when they do not provide care to the degree of knowledge and skill that would be expected of their training and credentials. When such negligence occurs, you have the right to bring a malpractice lawsuit if you have suffered harm. If the provider’s treatment only puts you at greater risk of developing a health problem later, you do not have a malpractice claim yet.
There are numerous ways that healthcare professionals may commit malpractice and harm patients. Some of the more common types of medical misconduct cases our DeLand attorneys handle include:
- Birth injuries
- Surgical errors
- Administration of the wrong drugs or incorrect dosages
- Misdiagnoses
- Failing to diagnose or delayed diagnoses of serious diseases or conditions
- Anesthesia injuries
You could bring a claim against any licensed healthcare provider whose conduct contributed to your injury, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and institutions such as hospitals and urgent care centers.
When initiating legal proceedings, you must demonstrate that the healthcare provider did not meet a reasonable standard of care. The law imposes several procedural safeguards to ensure that dissatisfied patients do not bring lawsuits when they are not warranted.
The Legal Process for Bringing a Medical Malpractice Claim
Under Florida Statutes § 766.203, anyone pursuing a medical malpractice claim is subject to a pre-suit investigation. This involves the review of your medical records by an expert who specializes in the same field as the healthcare provider you are suing. The expert must provide their written opinion explaining why the care you received did not meet a reasonable standard.
At Colling Gilbert Wright, we have a network of professionals that our team of medical negligence attorneys in DeLand may call on for an objective expert opinion. If the expert finds evidence of misconduct, we send a notification to the medical professional informing them of the claim. They usually consult their own experts, then either acknowledge the substandard care or deny it.
Even if the medical professional denies that they acted irresponsibly, they may still be willing to discuss a settlement. If not, our attorneys could file a lawsuit while continuing to negotiate. Most medical malpractice lawsuits settle before a trial, but our lawyers have impressive courtroom skills and may try your case before a jury if necessary.
What Types of Compensation Are Available in Medical Malpractice Cases?
When you sue for losses you have suffered due to medical malpractice, you are entitled to compensation, or damages. These damages are divided into three categories.
Economic damages pay your past and future out-of-pocket expenses, such as medical treatments and lost wages. Non-economic damages compensate you for your intangible losses, for example, emotional suffering, physical pain, and disability. In rare cases, when you can prove gross negligence or an intent to harm, a court may award punitive damages, which are usually capped at $500,000.
Our lawyers have a record of obtaining generous verdicts and settlements in medical malpractice cases in DeLand and throughout the state of Florida. Many of our clients have received more than $1 million for surgical or anesthesia errors, birth injuries, and cancer misdiagnoses.
Contact a DeLand Medical Malpractice Attorney To Pursue Compensation for Medical Errors
Medical negligence cases are challenging to both file and win. However, an experienced DeLand medical malpractice lawyer could help. At The Florida Firm, we have developed a stellar reputation for compassionate, effective advocacy that brings excellent results.
We offer free consultations to discuss your situation, and if you decide to proceed, there is no charge to you unless we win your case. Schedule a meeting today to learn more about your legal rights and options.