Medical Malpractice
Jacksonville Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Florida
The average person trusts the health care provider, whether it is a doctor or hospital, to provide safe and effective care. Yet, the medical profession has become extremely specialized and highly technical, leaving the average person in the dark as far as knowing whether the practitioner's skills and practice of medicine have met required medical standards. All too often, it is not until severe injury or death has resulted, that we suspect the medical professional might bear some liability.
High Percentage of Medical Malpractice
U.S. statistics show that an estimated 225,000 people die due to medical malpractice - every year - yet the percentage of doctors committing medical malpractice is comparatively low. It is safe to assume that the same medical professionals are committing the greatest percentage of medical errors. They should be held accountable - before more people are put at risk. Even so, statistics reveal that medical malpractice that results in death is alarmingly high in relation to other causes of death. More people die every year as a result of medical malpractice than from cancer and heart disease.
Types of Medical Malpractice
While medical malpractice takes on various forms, here are some common examples:
- Birth injuries
- Infections resulting from treatment
- Improper operation of medical devices
- Restraint injuries
- Errors in blood transfusion
- Inaccurate x-ray readings
- Surgery performed on the wrong organ or limb
- Surgical errors
- Pressure ulcers
- Over-medication
- Improper medication
- Failure to diagnose
- Delayed diagnosis
- Wrong diagnosis
Building a Medical Malpractice Case
Not every case of an unwanted result means a doctor or hospital was negligent. Not every act of negligence means medical malpractice. Even where there is medical malpractice, there are many hurdles and procedural rules that can block a legitimate claim. Your medical malpractice lawyer is required to obtain an affidavit from a qualified medical professional that states reasons for believing medical malpractice occurred. There are strict and short time limits for submitting medical malpractice claims, called statutes of limitations. The legislature has passed caps, reducing the amount of compensation that can be recovered for medical malpractice injury.
At Fallgatter Farmand & Catlin, our injury lawyers have the necessary skills, the access to medical experts, and the experience required to handle medical malpractice cases. Our consultation is free, with no obligation, and there are no fees unless we succeed.* Discuss your malpractice situation with a personal injury lawyer at our firm, to see how you can get the relief you are entitled under the law.
Contact us online, or call our office today at (904) 353-5800.
* In some cases, clients will be asked to pay the costs associated with providing services. These costs, which will be fully explained, never include fees for a lawyer's time.
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