Orlando Medical Malpractice Attorneys
We place our trust in doctors and other medical professionals when we are sick or injured. We count on these healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat us so that we heal. Sometimes, however, a medical error committed by a healthcare professional causes injury or even death. For a victim, or his surviving family members, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of a medical error are often devastating.
If you are the victim of a medical error, or you lost a family member because of one, you may be entitled to hold the healthcare professional(s) accountable in an Orlando medical malpractice lawsuit. Not only may you be entitled to compensation for your injuries or loss, but you may also be able to help prevent future errors.
Medical malpractice is among the most complex areas of the law, procedurally, legally, and factually. The key to navigating a medical malpractice claim is having an experienced attorney on your side. The Orlando medical malpractice attorneys at Bailey Fisher have chosen to focus exclusively on advocating for injured victims and family members of victims who suffered a fatal injury. That means that we are committed to dedicating our vast resources and extensive experience to victims and family members who have suffered because of medical malpractice. Let us help ensure that the responsible healthcare providers are held responsible and that you are compensated for all your injuries or losses.
How Common Are Medical Errors?
Despite being renowned for having some of the best healthcare professionals in the world, medical mistakes occur at an alarming rate in the United States. According to an article published in the National Library of Medicine, estimates place the number of lives lost annually in the U.S. because of a medical error at over 250,000. In fact, medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Moreover, while less than 10 percent of all errors are believed to be reported, the U.S. still has error rates that are significantly higher than other developed countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
What Are Some Common Examples of Medical Errors?
The ways in which a medical error can occur are endless; however, there are some mistakes that are commonly made, including:
- Diagnosis errors. This includes failing to diagnose, misdiagnosing, and delayed diagnosis of an injury or illness.
- Surgical errors. Surgical errors can run the gamut from leaving a foreign object inside a patient to internal bleeding or infection to operating on the wrong person or body part.
- Anesthesia errors. Anesthesia errors can be serious, even fatal, and include things such as giving too much or not enough anesthesia, failing to properly monitor a patient and failing to recognize dangerous drug interactions or allergies.
- Supervision errors. When healthcare professionals at hospitals or care facilities fail to properly supervise or monitor a patient, the patient can suffer additional injuries, including serious injuries from falls.
- Medication errors. Medical errors can occur when prescribing or dispensing medication. These errors can lead to dangerous, even fatal, overdoses, drug interactions, and allergic reactions.
When Is a Medical Error Medical Malpractice?
It can be traumatizing to realize that a healthcare professional’s mistake caused you or a family member additional injury and pain. Legally, however, not all medical errors rise to the level of an actionable medical malpractice claim. For a medical mistake made by a healthcare professional to be considered medical malpractice, the healthcare professional must have violated the applicable “standard of care.” That standard of care is set forth in Florida Statute 766.102(1), defined as “that level of care, skill, and treatment which, in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances, is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similar health care providers.” In practice, the standard of care usually requires the Plaintiff (the person filing a medical malpractice lawsuit) to locate a similarly educated and experienced healthcare professional who is willing to testify that he/she would not have made the same mistake under the circumstances. This is one of the many reasons why you should have an experienced Florida medical malpractice attorney on your side when pursuing an Orlando medical malpractice lawsuit.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for My Florida Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
Along with physical complications or additional injuries, a medical error often leaves a victim financially ruined and battling lifelong emotional trauma. When a medical mistake results in the death of a family member, survivors are left to pick up the financial and emotional pieces. The only way to hold the responsible party (or parties) responsible and recover compensation for your injuries or losses is to pursue an Orlando medical malpractice lawsuit.
The Orlando medical malpractice attorneys at Bailey Fisher are committed to pursuing compensation for victims injured because of medical malpractice, including compensation for things such as:
- Medical expenses. Past, ongoing, and projected future medical expenses including doctor bills, hospital bills, surgical expenses, medications, and mental health counseling.
- Lost wages. Income lost to date because of the medical error as well as anticipated future lost income may be compensable.
- Rehabilitation. If your recovery requires time spent in a rehabilitation facility and/or outpatient therapy or in-home assistance, those costs may be reimbursed.
- Physical and emotional trauma; pain and suffering. Compensation may be available for non-economic damages, including things such as physical pain, emotional trauma, disfigurement, disability, and scarring.
If you are a surviving family member of someone who died because of medical malpractice, you may also be entitled to compensation for the financial and emotional impact of your loved one’s death.
How Can Orlando Medical Malpractice Attorneys Help Me?
If medical malpractice caused or contributed to an injury you suffered or to the death of a family member, the negligent healthcare party (or parties) should be held accountable. Furthermore, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries or losses. Let the experienced Orlando medical malpractice attorneys at Bailey Fisher review the facts and circumstances of your case and explain the legal options available to you.
At Bailey Fisher, we have the dedication, experience, and resources necessary to successfully represent you and your interests in a Florida medical malpractice lawsuit. We understand the devastating impact a healthcare provider’s error has had on your life and we are committed to fighting for you to recover the maximum compensation possible.
Call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Orlando medical malpractice attorneys will evaluate your case for free and advise you on the next steps.