When you need medical help, whether it’s because you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident or for any other reason, you don’t expect anyone involved in your care to make a mistake that winds up making things even worse. Unfortunately, medical malpractice occurs far more often than you might think in Florida and across the US.

If you’ve suffered harm, or you’ve tragically lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, talk to an attorney with Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh as soon as you can. We have years of experience in these kinds of cases, and we get results on behalf of our clients.

Medical Malpractice Statistics in the US

It’s not at all uncommon for someone to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. In fact, there are about 85,000 such lawsuits in the U.S. every year. About 20% of adults in our country say they’ve been affected personally by a medical mistake, while about 30% say someone close to them suffered harm due to medical negligence.

Between 2010-2019, medical malpractice victims received more than $40 billion in payouts. Florida was among the top five states, accounting for $2.4 billion.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Whenever someone suffers an injury, or has a medical condition, and the negligence of a medical professional causes them further harm, that’s referred to as medical malpractice.

But it’s important to know that this area of the law can be extremely complex. If you underwent a medical procedure, had surgery, or had any other type of treatment, you can’t sue for medical malpractice just because you didn’t like the outcome. The only way you can take action will be if negligence took place.

All medical professionals have the duty to deliver care at a standard that other healthcare providers would reasonably be able to provide. When they fail to meet this duty, that can put their patients at a high risk of severe health problems.

There are several instances where a patient may have grounds for a medical malpractice case. For example, when a doctor fails to order a test that could have revealed a serious disease, or professionals didn’t follow the proper precautions. Other examples include the following:

  • The failure of critically important medical equipment.
  • Causing a birth injury due to improper delivery procedures.
  • Giving the wrong dose of medication, or administering the wrong medication.
  • Failing to diagnose a potentially severe condition, one that could result in long-term debilitation or death.

How Can Medical Malpractice Cause Severe or Life-Threatening Issues?

There are lots of ways that medical malpractice can lead to a tragic outcome. But one of the most common is making a mistake during a surgical procedure. Suppose someone needs emergency surgery after being seriously hurt in a car accident. If any of the following mistakes occur, that patient may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

  • Operating on the wrong body part during surgery, or leaving an object inside of the patient.
  • Performing the wrong kind of surgery.
  • Causing internal bleeding by nicking an organ, a blood vessel or other internal structure by mistake.
  • Leaving any tools or other objects inside the patient’s body.
  • Not having blood ready should an emergency transfusion be necessary.

These kinds of errors typically lead to severe health complications that would not have occurred had the negligence not happened. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit can ensure that whoever is responsible for that negligence is held accountable.

Types of Damages in a Florida Medical Malpractice Case

An attorney can help determine how to best calculate the damages, or monetary losses, that you have – and will continue – to incur due to the harm you’ve suffered. These damages include additional medical bills, lost wages, and several others.

There are other types of damages as well, however, ones that aren’t tangible. These are known as non-economic damages, and include mental anguish, loss of quality of life, pain and suffering and others.

A skilled attorney with Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh will fight to help you receive every penny you deserve, not only for any economic damages you’ve suffered, but also all of your non-economic damages.

Why Do I Need to Hire a Florida Medical Malpractice Lawyer?

You will definitely need the help of an attorney in order to have any realistic chance of obtaining full and fair compensation. The health care professional, as well as any other parties you’re suing, will be defended by very high-priced, and very effective attorneys. You’ll need legal representation on your side that is just as powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice in Florida

We receive a great many questions regarding medical malpractice. Here are the answers to just a few of the ones we get on a regular basis.

How will I know if I’m the victim of medical malpractice?

It might actually not be apparent at first. There’s basically zero chance that a medical professional is going to admit that a mistake has been made, and you’re going to get worse as a result. Those medical professionals might not even know they’ve committed an error.

How can I know if a doctor’s mistake caused a loved one’s death?

You’re going to need to obtain your loved one’s medical records. An attorney, with the help of a medical expert, can analyze those records and determine where a mistake may have taken place.

Can a Florida hospital be sued for medical malpractice?

Definitely. However, this is another area where you’ll need the assistance of a legal representative. They can perform an investigation into the malpractice to uncover the truth, and to find out who was responsible.

Contact KMW to Hire Experienced Florida Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Talk to a medical malpractice attorney with Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh as soon as possible if you have any reason to believe that you or a loved one was severely harmed due to medical negligence. You can give us a call, or you can use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.