If you’ve suffered harm due to medical malpractice, you may feel overwhelmed, facing substantial financial losses along with your injuries. When considering filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, you may have plenty of questions and concerns. Patients often wonder, What is the average settlement for medical malpractice in Florida?
For these and many other medical malpractice questions, rely on Grossman Attorneys at Law for answers.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional or other entity is negligent, leading to a patient’s injury or death. Patients seek medical care for injury or illness, but when malpractice occurs, they are often left in a worse condition.
It is worth noting that just because a patient’s condition worsens or is untreatable, this does not immediately mean someone has committed medical malpractice. This is why it is imperative to have a medical malpractice attorney review your case to determine whether your circumstances do indeed involve medical malpractice.
If your case did arise from medical malpractice, you may be eligible to seek financial recovery for your injuries. A Florida medical malpractice attorney can help you get the settlement you deserve.
Common Examples of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice can occur for a variety of different reasons. Some of the most common occurrences of malpractice include:
- Surgical error,
- Failure to accurately take a patient’s medical history,
- Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis,
- Failure to warn a patient of risks,
- Failure to accurately interpret test results,
- Improper treatment, or
- Inaccurate dosages.
While many look at doctors and healthcare providers as individuals that can do no wrong, unfortunately, they can commit errors while engaging in patient care. Still, doctors and other medical professionals must adhere to a high standard of care. When this standard of care is breached, this is when medical malpractice occurs.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Medical Malpractice?
It is a common misconception that doctors alone can be held responsible for medical malpractice. In reality, many different healthcare providers and entities can be held liable for medical malpractice. They can include:
- Nurses,
- Anesthesiologists,
- Pharmacists,
- Hospitals,
- Clinics,
- Rehabilitation centers, and
- Pharmaceutical companies.
In many cases, more than one individual or entity may be liable for a patient’s injuries. Your top rated injury lawyer in Boca Raton will investigate to determine who is responsible, so they can seek the maximum amount of recovery for you.
Damages Available for Florida Medical Malpractice
Depending on the type and severity of your injuries, you may be eligible to receive damages. Damages can be economic or non-economic.
Economic damages are those directly related to your injuries, including monetary losses. They include:
- Past and future medical expenses,
- Lost wages, and
- Lost earning capacity.
Non-economic damages also stem from your injuries but are more challenging to quantify. They can include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Mental and emotional anguish, and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
In rare cases, you may be able to receive punitive damages. Punitive damages are damages imposed to punish and deter after the defendant’s intentional, reckless, or malicious actions caused you harm.
Damages can be difficult to calculate. Fortunately, your Florida medical malpractice attorney is able to weigh important factors to determine how much you are truly owed.
Is There an Average Medical Malpractice Settlement in Florida?
In short: no, there is no average settlement for medical malpractice in Florida. This is because every case is different, and each case comes with its own specific circumstances. Typically, certain factors are taken into consideration, including:
- The extent and severity of your injuries;
- The age of the patient;
- Medical expenses incurred;
- Whether there is a permanent disability; and
- Whether there will be future medical expenses.
These and many other factors are evaluated when determining how much a medical malpractice case is worth. Because no two cases are the same, it is impossible to have a set average medical malpractice payout in Florida.
Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations in Florida
The minute you discover medical malpractice, time starts running.
A statute of limitations is a law imposed to restrict the amount of time a plaintiff has to file their claim. In Florida, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is two years from the date you discovered or should have discovered the medical malpractice.
The statute of limitations is crucial to know and understand. While you may want to seek compensation for your injuries resulting from malpractice, you only have this specific amount of time. If the time runs out, you will be ineligible to collect any type of financial recovery.
Forfeiting your right to compensation can be devastating. To help ensure your case is handled in a timely manner, discuss your case with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.
Consult with a Qualified Florida Medical Malpractice Attorney
At Grossman Attorneys at Law, we set ourselves apart with our attention to detail and high level of customer service. Every client and case is different, and we tailor our approach to each individual that walks through our doors.
Our lawyers are experienced litigators, meaning we are not easily intimidated and are always willing to take your case to court if needed. Trust us to help you during a trying time. Contact us today and let’s discuss your case.
