Medical Malpractice Attorney in St. Petersburg

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals owe patients a duty to provide medical care that adheres to the accepted standards of the healthcare community. If this duty is breached, resulting in injury to the patient, medical malpractice may have occurred.

For example, if a dermatologist sees a patient with observable symptoms of skin cancer and the doctor fails to correctly diagnose the patient’s condition, the doctor may have committed malpractice. The patient, in this case, may be able to sue the doctor for any injuries caused by the delay in receiving a proper diagnosis and medical treatment for cancer.

Gather Evidence: Your medical malpractice lawyer will analyze your medical records to demonstrate that the care you received did not satisfy the accepted standards of the medical profession. In addition, your medical malpractice lawyer will review the facts of your case to determine if any third parties are at fault, such as pharmaceutical companies whose dangerous drugs contributed to your injuries or manufacturers of defective medical devices.

Work with Medical Experts: Our St. Petersburg attorneys work with some of the leading medical experts in Florida. The credibility of an expert witness is an important factor in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The expert may be used to review the medical evidence in a lawsuit and render an opinion as to how medical malpractice occurred.

Negotiate with Insurance Companies: The insurance company for the doctor or healthcare professional accused of medical malpractice may offer the victim a quick cash settlement in exchange for the patient’s agreement not to file a lawsuit. If a settlement offer is received at any stage of the lawsuit, your medical malpractice attorney will help you determine if it provides adequate compensation for the injuries you have suffered. Your attorney may negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf for a higher settlement offer. As part of the negotiation process, your medical malpractice attorney may present evidence to the insurance company detailing the severity of your injuries and the treatments that you may need in the future.

Prepare Your Case for Trial: If the settlement negotiations do not produce an acceptable offer, your medical malpractice attorney will prepare your case for trial. Our medical malpractice attorneys are experienced trial lawyers who will argue your case before a judge and jury, question witnesses, and cross-examine any witnesses put forth by the defendants.

Our St. Petersburg office handles the following types of cases, among others:

Hospital Malpractice: Hospitals in Florida have a duty to provide medical care that complies with the established standards of the healthcare community. If a hospital breaches this duty, a patient may have a viable claim for malpractice. Our attorneys have experience handling hospital malpractice cases involving surgical errors, failure to perform or properly interpret diagnostic tests, birth injuries, and emergency room malpractice.

Dental Malpractice: Dental malpractice occurs when a dentist acts negligently in treating a patient. Common examples of dental malpractice include failing to diagnose or treat gum disease or oral cancer, failing to refer a patient to a specialist, and performing unnecessary dental procedures.

Psychiatric Malpractice: Psychiatric malpractice occurs when a psychiatrist or psychologist fails to provide medical care in a safe and proper fashion. Our attorneys handle lawsuits involving psychiatrists who negligently monitor patients who have been prescribed strong antipsychotic or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (“SSRI”) medications. Psychiatric malpractice may also occur when a psychiatrist prescribes multiple medications that should not be prescribed together, causing harm to the patient. Your attorney will use the evidence in your case to establish a link between the injury you suffered and the actions of your psychiatrist or psychologist.

Medical malpractice can occur in a number of circumstances. Other types of medical malpractice include:

• Failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis of a medical condition
• Ordering an improper or unnecessary test
• Chiropractic malpractice
• Surgical errors
• Improper use of anesthesia
• Failure to examine the patient’s medical history
• OBGYN malpractice
• Childbirth injuries
• Transferring a patient to a hospital or rehabilitation facility without receiving the patient’s consent
• Defective medical devices
• Hospital and emergency room malpractice
• Plastic surgery malpractice
• Failure to accurately interpret tests
• Postoperative negligence
• Misread x-rays and ultrasounds
• Anesthesia errors
• Pharmacy malpractice, including medication errors
• Emergency room malpractice

Through a medical malpractice lawsuit, our St. Petersburg attorneys may be able to help you receive compensation for the following:

Medical Expenses: You may be able to recover compensation for all the past and future medical expenses you incurred as a result of the malpractice, including the costs of rehabilitation services.

Lost Wages: If you miss work due to injuries caused by medical malpractice, you may be able to recover compensation for your lost wages or earnings. Furthermore, if you are no longer able to perform the essential functions of your job, you may be able to recover compensation for the diminished value of your earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering: Florida law allows people who have been injured by medical malpractice to receive compensation for physical pain and emotional suffering.

Punitive Damages: In cases involving wanton disregard for the safety of others, a patient may be able to recover punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and discourage other doctors or healthcare professionals from engaging in similar misconduct.

If your spouse or family member died as a result of medical malpractice, our attorneys may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf. Through a wrongful death lawsuit, the surviving spouse and certain family members can recover compensation for medical and funeral expenses, loss of support, and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved has been the victim of medical malpractice, please complete our no-risk, no-obligation case review form for a free evaluation of your potential claim.