The Law Offices of James G. Graver, P.A., safeguard the victims of medical malpractice in Lake Worth and across southern Florida. We protect the interests of our clients at such a vulnerable time and make sure they have what they need to recover. Contact our Lake Worth Medical Malpractice Lawyers to discuss your case in a free, confidential consultation. There’s no obligation to you or your family for this case review.
Lake Worth Medical Malpractice Dangers
Medical malpractice arises when a healthcare provider, such as a doctor or pharmacist, causes harm due to negligence or an omission of care. The harm results after a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted norm for the safe treatment of patients.
Medical malpractice is usually judged against the reasonable actions that any other skilled doctor or nurse would administer in a similar circumstance.
You may have heard of medical horror stories where a patient has had the wrong leg amputated or a surgeon has left tools inside a patient. But medical malpractice isn’t only concerned with extreme examples. Medical malpractice can arise over any incident that harms you while you are in for a routine checkup. You might be given the wrong medication at a local drugstore. These acts of negligence can lead to major medical malpractice cases.
When you aren’t sure if you have a medical malpractice case, there’s an easy way to find out. Schedule a free consultation with a Lake Worth Medical Malpractice Lawyer. It’s a no-risk meeting to discuss what your case may be worth.
Proving Your Medical Malpractice Case
Your Lake Worth personal injury attorney will be collecting medical evidence showing the level of negligence that caused you to suffer harm. Your case will likely rely on the testimony of medical experts who will demonstrate that reasonable care for your safety was neglected.
A successful medical malpractice case shows that the doctor’s conduct didn’t meet a “medical standard of care.” This standard is determined by comparing the doctor’s actions to the actions of a competent healthcare professional providing the same treatment under similar circumstances. A medical expert is usually necessary to show the error the negligent doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider made.
Then, the evidence should show the doctor’s negligence caused harm to the patient. If the doctor made a mistake but didn’t end up harming anyone, then it’s not a case of medical malpractice. A free case review with your Lake Worth Medical Malpractice Lawyer is the most effective way to learn if you are a victim of medical practice and how to proceed with your case.
Common Examples of Medical Malpractice Cases We Can Help You Win
Doctors and nurses can make mistakes in your physical care, but medical malpractice can also be proven when healthcare providers neglect to provide care that should have been offered.
Failing to diagnose and treat your illness can be just as life-threatening as when a surgeon makes a mistake during surgery. Patients can suffer immediate harm, but they can also go months without realizing a mistake was made.
Your Lake Worth Medical Malpractice Lawyer fully investigates your case to pinpoint when the harm occurred and how long the mistake was allowed to damage your health. The Law Offices of James G. Graver, P.A., can investigate these and other negligent acts:
- Failure to diagnose a medical condition
- Negligent failure to treat a medical condition
- Misdiagnosis of a medical condition
- Administering medical care that causes harm
- Surgical errors
- Childbirth injuries
- Medication mistakes
- Errors in the administering of anesthesia
- No informed consent was secured from patient
What is Florida’s Cap on Medical Malpractice Damages?
Currently, Florida does not have limits on medical malpractice awards for economic damages. Your lawyer can seek as much compensation as needed to cover your medical bills and to cover any future care necessary.
Florida does limit what you can receive for your non-economic damages after suffering injuries from medical malpractice. These hardships include the physical pain you endure from the injury. They factor in the emotional trauma you might suffer, such as anxiety and depression during a difficult recovery.
Non-economic damages can cover the loss of enjoyment of life you may experience when an injury keeps you from your hobbies or participating in family activities. “Loss of consortium,” the loss of intimacy with a partner is another non-economic damage.
A lawsuit filed against a doctor (practitioner) could only secure $500,000 for non-economic damages in the majority of cases. However, if the case involved a death or a catastrophic injury, the non-economic awards could reach $1 Million.
Compensation Available for Lake Worth Medical Malpractice Victims
Your medical malpractice attorney would be compiling a list of every hardship you and your family had been through since a hospital’s mistake. Everything on this list is eligible to earn more for you in a settlement check, but anything left off won’t be. Those damages omitted can end up as costs you and your family would have to pay.
These are some of the economic damages that could be sought in a medical malpractice lawsuit:
- Money to pay current hospital bills and those expected to arrive in the future. Support to pay for additional surgeries.
- Lifelong support for victims who suffer permanent disabilities or permanent disfigurement.
- Travel costs for doctor’s appointments during a time when victims may be unable to drive. Patients could be in a cast or using a wheelchair.
- Reimbursement for the paychecks victims lose while missing work during recovery.
- Wrongful death benefits. Families who lose a loved one to a healthcare provider’s mistake can file a wrongful death claim. This claim seeks help for the family as they face funeral costs and leftover medical expenses. They should also earn support for the weekly income the victim can no longer provide for the family.
Your medical malpractice settlement or judgment awarded in court could also include the non-economic damages mentioned in the previous section and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Florida?
In Florida, you must file a medical malpractice lawsuit within two years of the date you were injured, or from when it should have been discovered. Special circumstances may prolong this deadline.
Do I have to go to court for my medical malpractice case?
According to some estimates, only about half of medical malpractice cases make it to court. Half or more are settled before victims have to go to court. Even cases that end up in court are usually settled before judgment is passed.
What If I Can’t Afford a Medical Malpractice Attorney?
You won’t need any money to hire our medical malpractice lawyers. We work on a contingency basis. We only get paid if we win your case. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money you are awarded.
Contact a Lake Worth Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Our firm knows how difficult it can be to deal with a debilitating injury while also trying to earn justice after a medical accident. Don’t do it alone. Allow the Law Offices of James G. Graver, P.A., to fight on your behalf to earn the full amount of compensation available for your injuries and pain.
We are committed to working to make sure you have all of the resources available to fully recover from your injury or loss. Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential medical malpractice accident case consultation.
From start to finish, we will be there to represent your best interests and to ensure that you recover the maximum amount possible for your medical malpractice injury.
