James Frazier | | Medical Malpractice
The Tampa medical malpractice attorneys at Paul | Knopf | Bigger are committed to holding negligent healthcare professionals accountable for the harm they cause. Our experienced legal team will guide you through the complexities of medical malpractice law and help you seek justice for any harm caused by medical negligence.

Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorneys | Seeking Justice for Medical Errors

The Tampa medical malpractice attorneys at Paul | Knopf | Bigger are committed to holding negligent healthcare professionals accountable for the harm they cause. Our experienced legal team will guide you through the complexities of medical malpractice law and help you seek justice for any harm caused by medical negligence. If you have questions or need immediate assistance, call us at (800) 434-4327.

Medical errors can have devastating effects on both individuals and families. In the United States, medical errors are the third leading cause of death, responsible for about 10% of all fatalities, according to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In Tampa, healthcare providers may fail to meet the required standards of care, leading to severe injuries and wrongful deaths.

Florida law defines medical malpractice as a healthcare provider’s failure to deliver the expected standard of care, which results in harm to a patient. The law, as outlined in Section 766.102 of the Florida Statutes, specifies that this failure must deviate from the accepted practices of medical professionals in their specific field.

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider—whether a doctor, nurse, or hospital—fails to provide the expected standard of care. This breach of duty can result in severe injury or death. In Tampa, victims of medical malpractice may pursue legal action against negligent healthcare providers to seek compensation for their damages.

Understanding Medical Malpractice in Tampa

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider—whether a doctor, nurse, or hospital—fails to provide the expected standard of care. This breach of duty can result in severe injury or death. In Tampa, victims of medical malpractice may pursue legal action against negligent healthcare providers to seek compensation for their damages.

Common Examples of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice can occur in various healthcare settings, from hospitals to private practices. Some of the most common forms of medical negligence include:

Diagnostic Errors:

Failure to diagnose, delayed diagnosis, or misdiagnosis can have life-altering consequences. Conditions like cancer, infections, and heart attacks require prompt medical attention, and failure to diagnose them can lead to worsened health outcomes or death.
Example: A radiologist fails to detect a tumor on an X-ray, leading to delayed treatment that decreases a patient’s chances of survival.

Surgical Errors:

Surgical mistakes can include performing surgery on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside a patient, or failing to follow sterile procedures. These errors can lead to infections, nerve damage, and other serious health complications.
Example: A surgeon does not follow sterile procedures during surgery, leading to a severe infection.

Emergency Room Errors:

Emergency rooms are often chaotic environments where miscommunication or rushed decisions can lead to catastrophic mistakes. Critical symptoms may be overlooked, and patients with life-threatening conditions, such as heart attacks or strokes, might be misdiagnosed or improperly treated.
Example: A patient experiencing heart attack symptoms is discharged without proper diagnosis, resulting in fatal consequences later.

Medication Errors:

Medication mistakes occur when a patient is given the wrong drug or dosage, or when healthcare providers fail to account for drug interactions or allergies. These errors can cause serious harm, including death.
Example: A nurse administers the incorrect dosage of a medication, causing severe side effects.

Proving medical malpractice in Tampa requires showing that a healthcare provider’s actions fell below the standard of care and directly caused harm to the patient. These cases are complex, often requiring expert medical testimony and a deep understanding of medical and legal principles.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Tampa

Proving medical malpractice in Tampa requires showing that a healthcare provider’s actions fell below the standard of care and directly caused harm to the patient. These cases are complex, often requiring expert medical testimony and a deep understanding of medical and legal principles.

Legal Process for Medical Malpractice Claims

Investigation and Evidence Gathering:

The first step in pursuing a medical malpractice claim is gathering evidence. This includes obtaining medical records, securing expert testimonies, and collecting relevant documents that demonstrate the healthcare provider’s negligence.

Proving Negligence:

To win a malpractice case, you must prove that the healthcare provider breached the standard of care and that this breach caused your injury.
Example: A doctor failed to diagnose a patient with appendicitis despite obvious symptoms, and expert testimony shows that a competent doctor would have ordered the necessary tests.

Possible Outcomes in Medical Malpractice Cases:

Successful medical malpractice cases often result in compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. While some cases settle out of court, others may go to trial.
Example: Tampa medical malpractice attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger have achieved significant settlements for clients, including multi-million-dollar awards for cases involving surgical errors and diagnostic mistakes.

Surgical Errors: A Preventable Tragedy

Although all surgeries carry risks, some mistakes are entirely preventable. Common surgical errors include operating on the wrong body part, damaging nerves or organs, or leaving instruments inside the body. These mistakes are often the result of negligence, poor planning, or miscommunication among medical staff.

In Tampa, surgical malpractice cases focus on whether the error went beyond the inherent risks of surgery. To establish a successful claim, it must be demonstrated that the healthcare provider’s care fell below the standard expected in similar circumstances.

Emergency rooms are fast-paced environments where errors can easily occur. Misdiagnoses, failure to triage patients correctly, and miscommunication between healthcare providers can have life-threatening consequences. Tampa medical malpractice attorneys frequently handle cases in which patients were improperly diagnosed or discharged, only to suffer severe harm or death later.

Emergency Room Malpractice in Tampa

Emergency rooms are fast-paced environments where errors can easily occur. Misdiagnoses, failure to triage patients correctly, and miscommunication between healthcare providers can have life-threatening consequences. Tampa medical malpractice attorneys frequently handle cases in which patients were improperly diagnosed or discharged, only to suffer severe harm or death later.

In an emergency room malpractice case, it is crucial to prove that a competent healthcare provider would have acted differently under the same circumstances, and that the error caused direct harm to the patient.

Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice in Tampa

In Florida, you have two years from the date of the malpractice incident or its discovery to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. In some situations, the statute of limitations can be extended to four years. It’s critical to consult with a Tampa medical malpractice attorney promptly to ensure that your case is filed within the required timeframe.

The Pre-Suit Process in Tampa Medical Malpractice Cases

Before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, Florida law requires a thorough pre-suit investigation. This involves submitting a notice of intent to the healthcare provider, along with a written expert opinion supporting the claim. Failure to complete this step can result in the dismissal of the case.

Why You Need Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Medical malpractice cases require specialized legal and medical expertise. At Paul | Knopf | Bigger, our attorneys have a long history of success in representing clients who have suffered due to medical negligence. With extensive experience in litigating and settling complex malpractice cases in Tampa, we are well-equipped to help you achieve justice.

David Paul | Andrew Knopf | Brent Bigger of Paul | Knopf | Bigger - Offices in Orlando and Tampa, Florida

Trust Paul | Knopf | Bigger for Your Medical Malpractice Case

The attorneys at Paul | Knopf | Bigger have secured significant settlements and verdicts for clients, including multi-million-dollar awards for serious medical malpractice cases. If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, contact an experienced Tampa medical malpractice attorney today for a free case evaluation.

Don’t wait. If you believe you are a victim of medical negligence in Tampa, call Paul | Knopf | Bigger at (800) 434-4327 or fill out the “Free Case Evaluation” form on our website for expert legal guidance.

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