Baldwin Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Baldwin Medical Malpractice Attorney

Many residents of North Florida in the Baldwin area and surrounding communities trust their medical care providers to treat their injuries and illnesses safely and competently. Unfortunately, while most of the medical professionals in Baldwin, FL uphold their professional responsibilities to their patients, some do not, and they can cause tremendous harm when they fail to treat their patients’ conditions appropriately.

Experienced Legal Representation for Baldwin Medical Malpractice Cases

Spohrer Dodd has years of professional experience in medical malpractice law. While these cases are technically within the purview of personal injury, a medical malpractice case imposes stricter procedural requirements on plaintiffs than most other medical malpractice cases. Therefore, if you anticipate needing to file this type of claim in the near future, you need legal representation you can trust to guide you through your case.

Understanding Medical Malpractice Claims

Every medical malpractice case filed in North Florida revolves around the standard of care. Medical malpractice occurs whenever a medical practitioner fails to meet their patient’s standard of care, which defines the type and scope of medical care a patient requires for their condition. A medical practitioner must adhere to the medical community’s accepted standards of care for every patient they treat, and they must only use approved methods and materials for treating their patients.

A medical practitioner may have grounds to act outside the standard of care if a patient’s unique physiology renders the standard method of treatment unacceptable, such as a preexisting medical condition or medication allergy. However, they may only do this in good faith and while seeking to limit patient harm as much as possible. If a doctor or other medical professional harms a patient through failure to adhere to the standard of care, gross negligence, or any type of criminal misconduct, this qualifies as malpractice and grounds for a civil suit from the victim.

Before a plaintiff can proceed with their medical malpractice claim in Baldwin, they must first consult a medical practitioner who holds similar credentials to the defendant who injured them and obtain a signed statement testifying that the defendant violated the plaintiff’s duty of care. This affidavit of merit must be signed and sent with a Notice of Intent to File Suit at least 90 days prior to the actual filing of the case.

Types of Medical Malpractice Claims We Accept

If you need legal representation for any type of medical malpractice claim, it’s vital to connect with a Baldwin medical malpractice attorney who has experience handling cases like yours. The team at Spohrer Dodd can offer the comprehensive legal representation you need in many types of medical malpractice claims, including:

• Diagnostic error claims. If the physician responsible for diagnosing you failed to do so or failed to do so correctly and you suffered harm as a result, you have the right to file a malpractice claim for their diagnostic error.
• Medication errors. If a prescribing physician prescribed the wrong medication and/or the wrong dosage, or if the pharmacist who filled the prescription did not do so correctly, you likely have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim if you suffered harm from the medication error.
• Surgical injuries. Surgeons must perform all operations with the utmost care. If you were injured in any way due to a surgeon’s incompetence or negligence, you can hold them accountable for any and all resulting damages.
• Birth injuries. Any injury that occurs during childbirth can be incredibly traumatic for a family. An injured infant could develop lifelong medical complications and/or disabilities that permanently diminish their quality of life.
• Anesthesia errors. Any misapplication of anesthesia can potentially cause catastrophic brain damage or even fatal injury. If you or a loved one suffered harm from misuse of anesthesia or any form of negligence during the course of administration of anesthesia, an experienced Baldwin medical malpractice attorney is the best resource to consult.

These are just a few examples of the types of medical malpractice claims that Spohrer Dodd accepts. We know that no two clients have had the exact same experience, so we ensure we take time to listen to each client’s unique story. Then, when you choose our firm to represent your medical malpractice case, we will help you gather the evidence needed to prove liability, assist you in completing the preliminary requirements of your case, and prepare you for the difficult proceedings ahead of you.

Recovering From Medical Malpractice

Florida’s medical malpractice laws allow a plaintiff to recover substantial compensation for their losses. When a medical practitioner is responsible for your injury, you have the right to seek full repayment of all the damages you suffered because of their actions. Your claimable damages could include the following:

• Medical expenses. The defendant who injured you is responsible for the cost of any corrective medical treatment you need to fully recover from the injury they inflicted. This includes immediate health care costs and any costs associated with necessary ongoing care.
• Lost income. If your injury prevented you from working for any period of time, the defendant is liable for the income you could not earn during this recovery period. Additionally, if they caused you to develop a permanent disability that directly diminishes your earning power, they are liable for the future income you are no longer able to earn.
• Pain and suffering. The state formerly enforced a $500,000 cap on non-economic damages for most medical malpractice claims. However, a 2017 state Supreme Court ruling struck down these limitations as unconstitutional. Your Baldwin medical malpractice attorney can help you secure the maximum amount of pain and suffering compensation possible to accurately reflect the severity of your condition after your injury.

Once you calculate the full spectrum of damages you can include in your medical malpractice claim, you may be surprised to discover your case is more valuable than you initially expected. When you have the right Baldwin medical malpractice attorney assisting you, it’s more likely for you to maximize your recovery to the fullest extent possible under state law.

FAQs About Baldwin, FL Malpractice Law

How Do You Prove Medical Malpractice in Florida?

Before you can secure compensation for your damages in a medical malpractice case, you must demonstrate that you had a doctor-patient relationship with the defendant. You must also prove the defendant did not meet the standard of care you required for your diagnosis and directly caused your injury. State law requires the plaintiff in a medical malpractice case to secure an affidavit of merit signed by a medical practitioner who can testify as to how the defendant breached their duty to treat the patient correctly.

What Is the Average Payout for Medical Negligence Personal Injury in Florida?

It is difficult to determine an average case award for medical malpractice claims due to the fact that every case is entirely unique, and every plaintiff has a vastly different experience from medical malpractice. Therefore, for an accurate estimation of the total damages you could potentially recover from your case, it’s vital to consult an experienced Baldwin medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible after recognizing your injury.

What Is the Most Commonly Reported Form of Medical Malpractice in North Florida?

Medical malpractice can take many forms and cause a wide range of effects, but the most commonly reported form of medical negligence in Baldwin and throughout the state is diagnostic errors. Misdiagnosis could mean a patient does not receive treatment for their condition and/or undergoes inappropriate procedures that do nothing to improve their symptoms. Delayed diagnosis could allow a patient’s condition to worsen while left untreated, and failure to diagnose can have similar effects.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Baldwin, FL Medical Malpractice Attorney?

If you are already struggling with the expensive economic impact of your medical injury, you are probably worrying about the potential cost of legal representation. However, most Baldwin medical malpractice attorneys accept clients on a contingency fee basis. This means they do not charge any upfront legal fees, nor do they charge ongoing legal fees throughout a client’s case. Instead, the client only pays a fee once their attorney wins their case, and the amount paid is a percentage of the client’s total case award.

Is It Worth Filing a Medical Malpractice Suit in North Florida?

It is always worth pursuing legal recourse if you have suffered harm from a negligent medical professional. Medical malpractice is unfortunately a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths throughout the country each year, and the average victim may not know how to fully recover their damages without legal counsel they can trust advising them. If you are unsure whether you have grounds to file a claim, consult an experienced Baldwin medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

Spohrer Dodd offers client-focused and compassionate legal counsel for medical malpractice cases in Northeast Florida, including Baldwin and surrounding communities. Our firm will take time to listen to your side of the story, help you understand the legal mechanisms in play in your case, and assist you in preparing for the difficult proceedings ahead of you. To learn how an experienced Baldwin medical malpractice attorney can empower your recovery efforts, contact us today and schedule your free consultation with our firm.