If your catastrophic injury was caused by a medical mistake, you may have the right to seek compensation through a medical malpractice claim. This process can help you recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
To win your case, you must prove that your healthcare provider was negligent. A Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer can help build your case and hold them accountable.
What to Do If a Catastrophic Injury Is Caused by Medical Negligence
If you’ve been injured due to a doctor’s mistake, these steps will be important to your claim:
- Seek medical attention: Prompt evaluation by a medical professional can prevent complications.
- Request copies of your records: Obtain all hospital charts, test results, and treatment notes related to your condition.
- Document everything: Record exactly what happened and who was involved.
- Keep a symptom journal: Track changes in your condition so you have a record of how it affects your daily life.
- Photograph visible injuries: Photos will illustrate the severity of your injuries and document your healing process over time.
- Contact an attorney: Our lawyers can protect your rights and help you put together a strong claim.
Common Types of Medical Mistakes That Cause Injury
Common types of malpractice that can result in catastrophic injuries include:
- Surgical errors: Mistakes made during or after surgery can cause lasting damage or infection.
- Prescription or dosage mistakes: Incorrect medication or dosing can lead to severe complications.
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis: Failing to identify or treat a condition on time can make it worse.
- Anesthesia errors: Incorrect anesthesia administration can result in brain damage or death.
- Neglectful care: Poor monitoring or delayed intervention in hospitals or care facilities can cause harm.
- Birth injuries: Negligence during labor or delivery can permanently harm newborns.
Proving Fault in a Medical Malpractice Case
To prove medical malpractice, you must show that a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that this failure caused your injury. Specifically, you must establish a direct connection between the provider’s negligence and your injury.
Strong evidence, such as medical records and expert testimony, is essential to a winning claim. Our lawyers can help you gather this evidence and build a robust case.
The Role of Expert Testimony in Catastrophic Injury Claims
Expert witnesses play a vital role in catastrophic injury cases. Their testimony can explain whether the medical provider’s actions met the professional standard of care and how any deviation caused harm.
Persuasive and credible expert testimony can make or break your case. Our lawyers can consult experts whose testimony can strengthen your claim.
Damages You May Be Entitled to Recover
If a medical mistake caused your catastrophic injury, several types of compensation may be available, including:
- Medical expenses: You can seek damages for hospital bills, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and any future care related to the injury.
- Lost wages: You can recover compensation for income you lost while recovering from the injury.
- Reduced earning capacity: You can receive additional damages if the injury compromises your ability to work in the future.
- Pain and suffering: You can be compensated for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation may be awarded if you’re unable to participate in activities you once enjoyed.
- Disability or disfigurement: Permanent changes to your body or abilities can be factored into your damages.
Understanding Catastrophic Injuries and Medical Errors
Medical errors can have devastating, lifelong consequences. When negligence leads to catastrophic injuries—such as spinal cord damage, brain trauma, or limb loss—it can affect every aspect of your life.
Understanding how negligence leads to such harm is key to taking action. Recognizing the warning signs of medical mistakes can help you pursue compensation to secure your future.
How Florida Law Impacts Your Medical Malpractice Case
Florida law imposes strict requirements for pursuing medical malpractice claims. Before filing a lawsuit, you must send a pre-suit notice to the healthcare provider, giving them an opportunity to respond or settle. Expert testimony is also required to confirm a breach in the standard of care.
The statute of limitations is generally two years from when you discovered (or should have discovered) the malpractice. Missing this deadline can bar you from filing a claim. Our lawyers can make sure you file on time.
Why Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer Matters
After a catastrophic injury, choosing the right personal injury lawyer is crucial. Your attorney directly affects the outcome of your case and your future financial security.
Not all firms provide the same level of communication or care. You need a team that keeps you informed, offers honest guidance, and treats your case with the urgency it deserves.
At The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, clients receive personal attention and consistent updates throughout the legal process. When you work with us, you’re not just another file—you’re a priority.
Consult a Medical Malpractice Attorney
If a catastrophic injury was caused by medical negligence, and you were the victim, you deserve to be compensated. The medical malpractice lawyers at Anidjar & Levine are dedicated to guiding our clients through the legal process and fighting for the justice they deserve.
Schedule a free consultation to take the first step toward rebuilding your life.