Jacksonville Medical Malpractice Lawyers

What Constitutes Medical Malpractice in Florida? 

In Florida, medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider or facility fails to meet the standard of care, resulting in preventable harm or injury to the patient. This extends to various parties, such as nurses, technicians, psychiatrists, physicians, and hospitals.

There are many kinds of medical malpractice claims, as the term is more of an umbrella that covers many different topics. 

Common types of medical malpractice claims we handle include:  

• Misdiagnosis 
• Delayed diagnosis
• Errors during surgery or treatment
• Prescription and medication errors
• Failure to prevent or treat a condition
• Failure to monitor a patient's condition properly
• Failure to recognize post-operative complications
• Failure to obtain legally effective informed consent

Our medical malpractice attorneys in Jacksonville, FL are experienced in navigating the complex legal system and can help you determine if you have a valid claim.

Reliable Representation for Medical Malpractice Claims

Our board-certified lawyers prepare every case for trial to ensure you’re compensated fairly, regardless of deceitful tactics by insurers and other involved parties. Unlike other firms that treat clients like case numbers, our compassionate advocates go above and beyond to truly understand your unique needs. 

Our attorneys can work closely with you to recover the full damages you’re entitled to while making your personal goals our own. We have extensive experience representing injured Floridians in a wide range of medical malpractice lawsuits. 

Common types of medical malpractice cases we handle include:  

• Birth Injuries: When healthcare providers fail to adhere to the appropriate standard of care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, infants can sustain permanent injuries.
• Diagnostic Errors: When doctors fail to diagnose or misdiagnose a condition, patients can suffer significant harm from untreated or improperly treated illnesses.
• Heart Attacks: Since heart attacks are often fatal, doctors must make quick and accurate diagnoses. Misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose a heart attack can result in severe consequences for patients.
• Strokes: When a stroke is misdiagnosed or not treated promptly, the patient can suffer permanent brain damage or death.
• Hospital Negligence: Hospitals have a duty to provide safe and competent care. When they fail to do so, patients can suffer from preventable infections, falls, or other types of harm.
• Pharmaceutical Negligence: Pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists have a duty to provide safe and effective medications. When they fail to do so, patients can suffer severe side effects or adverse reactions.
• Stevens- Johnson Syndrome: This is a severe and potentially fatal skin reaction that can result from taking certain medications. When doctors fail to recognize the signs of this condition, patients can suffer permanent injuries or death.
• Surgical Errors: These are preventable medical mistakes that occur in operating rooms. Patients who suffer harm due to surgical errors may require additional surgeries and endure lifelong disabilities.
• Weight-Loss Drugs: Certain weight-loss drugs have been found to cause serious health complications. When healthcare providers fail to warn patients about these risks, they can be held liable for any resulting harm.

Florida Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice

After sustaining a wrongful injury due to medical malpractice, seeking swift counsel is crucial to ensure your claim is filed within appropriate deadlines. Under Florida Statutes §95.11(4)(b), the statute of limitations to file a medical malpractice lawsuit is two years after the injury was discovered or should have been discovered through “due diligence.” 

However, like any area of the law, the statute of limitations isn’t always cut and dry. In certain cases, qualifying exceptions can extend the standard two-year statute of limitations. 

These exceptions include: 

Medical Malpractice Involving Minors

In rare circumstances, the filing deadline may be extended if certain exceptions apply. For example, medical malpractice claims on behalf of pediatric patients under the age of eight may be filed within four years of discovery, so long as this occurs before the child's eighth birthday. 

Medical Malpractice Involving Fraud/Concealment

Similarly, in medical malpractice cases involving fraud or concealment, the statute of limitations may be extended to four years instead of the standard two-year deadline. Keep in mind that medical malpractice claims cannot be filed if the injury occurred more than seven years prior.