Jacksonville Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical Malpractice Attorney in Jacksonville, FL

You trusted your doctor with your health — arguably one of the most invaluable things you’ll ever have in this life. After all, not even all of the money in the world can buy good health.

Unfortunately, your doctor let you down.

Now, you’re left with serious health issues you may battle for the rest of your life. At Spohrer Dodd, our Jacksonville medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to obtaining maximum financial recovery for each client we represent.

Medical malpractice claims may technically fall within the purview of personal injury in Florida, but these cases are typically far more complex than many claimants realize. Bringing any civil action against a medical professional requires meeting strict procedural requirements that do not apply to personal injury claims filed against other private entities. If you believe you have grounds to file any civil claim for damages against a medical professional, you must consult a Jacksonville medical malpractice attorney about your case as quickly as possible.

Benefits of Legal Counsel in Your Medical Malpractice Case

Technically, there is no requirement to hire an attorney for your medical malpractice case but doing so adds tremendous value to your claim and significantly improves your chances of success. When the victim of any personal injury attempts to handle their case on their own without legal counsel, they face tremendous pressure to meet court filing deadlines and other applicable procedures to proceed with their case. Any mistakes can lead to delays and other problems. Additionally, handling your case alone risks the quality of your final recovery. Finally, the average person may not know the full scope of damages they can seek from the defendant in their case.

Working with experienced Jacksonville medical malpractice attorneys significantly boosts your chances of success with your claim. You will also not need to worry about managing the procedural aspects of your case; your legal team will ensure you meet all applicable deadlines so your proceedings flow uninterrupted and you can secure compensation as quickly as possible.

Many medical malpractice attorneys offer legal representation in the Jacksonville area, but few can match the level of representation you expect from Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys. Clients continually choose our firm because we have:

• Recovered over $1 billion in settlements and victories. We aim to maximize our client’s recovery in every case we accept. As a result, we have successfully guided many past clients to substantial compensation for their losses in difficult cases.
• Free initial consultations. We understand that the aftermath of an injury from medical malpractice can be difficult and stressful to navigate. Therefore, we provide potential clients with the opportunity to meet with a Jacksonville medical malpractice attorney to evaluate their grounds for legal action. Our initial case reviews are complimentary, and we can help you determine whether pursuing legal action would suit your best interests.
• 150+ years of combined experience. When you need legal representation, choosing an attorney with solid professional experience handling cases like yours is essential. Combined, the Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys team holds nearly two centuries of experience representing Florida clients in complex personal injury claims, including those pertaining to medical malpractice.

Call 904-309-6500 today to schedule a free consultation! The sooner you hire an experienced Jacksonville medical malpractice attorney to handle your case, the more likely you will be to maximize your final recovery from your damages. Medical malpractice cases are unique types of personal injury claims that draw upon very specific legal statutes, and your legal team must be prepared to meet your case’s unique challenges.

In-House Physician And Network Of Skilled Professionals

To successfully represent victims of medical malpractice, our experienced trial lawyers closely monitor the persistent legislative changes that affect the ability of patients to recover compensation from health care providers who are negligent and cause injury or death. Unfortunately, medical negligence is responsible for a startling number of injuries and deaths throughout the country each year. As a result, those affected by medical malpractice need legal counsel they can trust to help them recover their losses.

In addition to our own in-house physician, we have long-standing relationships with a network of currently practicing prominent physician and nurse experts in multiple fields of medicine. A successful medical malpractice claim in Florida demands the plaintiff produce an affidavit of merit from a medical professional with qualifications similar to the defendant’s. Therefore, we can help you secure the expert witness testimony you may need to proceed with your medical malpractice suit.

These resources are invaluable in allowing for thorough, prompt investigations of claims against health care providers, including identifying the applicable standards of care for the physicians and nurses whose care is being investigated and understanding how breaches in those standards of care can lead to serious injury and death.

Common Types of Medical Malpractice in Florida

Our attorneys are experienced at identifying potentially liable parties and aggressively litigating a wide range of medical negligence claims, including:

• Surgical negligence
• Birth injuries
• Brain and spinal cord injuries
• Delays in cancer diagnosis
• Negligent administration of anesthesia
• Misuse of medical devices
• Nursing malpractice and negligence
• Emergency room errors
• Failure to diagnose an illness or injury
• Failure to properly treat a medical condition
• Prescription errors

The determining factor as to whether you have grounds to file a medical malpractice suit in response to your experience is if the injury occurred because of a failure to meet the standard of care required in the situation. The “standard of care” refers to the level of treatment a patient requires for their condition. Medicine may be inherently uncertain, and many patients have unique medical conditions that prevent them from benefiting from standardized treatments for many ailments. However, medical professionals are required to do no harm to their patients, administer treatment competently, and use appropriate techniques, tools, and medications at all times when treating patients. Failure to meet these requirements in any way resulting in patient harm constitutes malpractice.

Our team of medical malpractice attorneys and staff in Jacksonville work cohesively to represent the best interests of our clients by understanding and responding to the complex challenges inherent in these cases. We have secured significant monetary recoveries for our clients across the spectrum of medical malpractice matters.

Compensation for Medical Malpractice in Florida

While the damages available in a medical malpractice claim may mirror those found in other personal injury claims, Florida enforces one unique law that might influence your case award from a successful medical malpractice claim. You have the right to seek full compensation for any economic losses you sustained because of the defendant’s actions. However, your non-economic damages, or your compensation for your pain and suffering, will be limited to $500,000 under state law.

While some believe this to be an unfair restriction for plaintiffs who suffer catastrophic and life-changing injuries, plaintiffs do not face any restrictions regarding the economic damages they can include in their claims. In addition, if you succeed in proving you were injured by medical negligence, you can hold the defendant accountable for:

• The cost of corrective and restorative medical treatments you require to fix their error. This includes immediate treatment costs and projected future medical expenses resulting from the defendant’s actions.
• Lost income if your injury prevented you from working for an extended time. You can also hold a defendant accountable for the value of any accrued paid time off work you were forced to use after your injury.
• Lost earning capacity. If the defendant’s actions caused a permanent disability that interferes with your ability to earn income, they are liable for the future income you would have reasonably expected to earn if they had not injured you.

Your Jacksonville medical malpractice attorney will be a crucial asset in calculating the full scope of your immediate and future losses resulting from your medical injury. As far as your pain and suffering is concerned, you are limited to no more than $500,000. While this may seem limited if you have sustained any permanent harm from your experience, it can make a difficult situation easier to face and provide valuable financial flexibility for you and your family in recovery. In addition, a good legal team can help you maximize this portion of your recovery to enhance your final case award as much as possible.

FAQs About Jacksonville, FL Medical Malpractice Laws

What Is Medical Malpractice?

When a doctor, nurse or another health care professional fails to provide a reasonable standard of care or acts negligently, the results can be devastating. As a victim of medical negligence, you may not know where to turn to receive help during this difficult time.

Who Can Be Held Liable In A Medical Malpractice Claim?

Any medical professional or organization that owes you a standard of care and fails to provide that care can be held liable for medical malpractice.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Hospitals
• Outpatient surgical centers
• Nurses
• Doctors
• Physician assistants
• Anesthesiologists
• Home health care agency staff

Related claims can be brought against the manufacturers of health care products including orthopedic implants, wound vacs and others. Our Jacksonville medical malpractice attorneys have decades of experience handling these difficult and demanding claims.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations For A Medical Malpractice Claim?

Medical malpractice claims are governed by a complex set of laws or statutes which dictate when a claim can be filed and what steps must be taken prior to filing a claim.

Generally, a medical malpractice claim must be filed within two years of when the malpractice occurred or within two years of when an injury is discovered that is related to the malpractice. Once the statute of limitations expires, your ability to bring a claim is barred forever.

There are exceptions, however, which means it is very important to contact an attorney familiar with malpractice claims and the laws which govern them to determine the date by which your claim must be filed.

Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys Is Recognized Throughout The State As A Leading Medical Malpractice Firm

Our team works closely to pinpoint how, when, and why a patient’s injury or death occurred and who is responsible. Locally and throughout the state, individuals, as well as attorneys who do not specialize in this unique area of practice, seek out our firm’s attorneys to maximize the recovery to victims of medical negligence.

One example of this is McGarry v. Memorial Hospital, where our legal team prevailed in complex and contentious litigation involving incapacitating injury caused by medical mistakes. At trial, a jury awarded our client $7,165,000 to compensate him for his losses and degraded quality of life. Do not let medical malpractice go unnoticed and unpunished. Call Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys at 904-309-6500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Contact Our Jacksonville Medical Malpractice Lawyers To Schedule A Free Consultation

Time is critical in every civil case, but medical malpractice claims are especially demanding for plaintiffs. Instead of struggling in the aftermath of your injury and attempting to handle your recovery efforts on your own, an experienced Jacksonville medical malpractice attorney can offer the compassionate and responsive legal counsel you need to approach your case confidently.

To meet with one of our attorneys and discuss your case, please call 904-309-6500 or send us an email. We are here to answer your medical malpractice questions and get you justice.