In Florida, medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or other medical professional negligently injures a patient while treating them. The injured person is often entitled to recover damages from the healthcare professional responsible for their injuries.
Several People Can be Responsible for Injuries Caused by Medical Errors
In some medical malpractice cases, more than one party is responsible for the victim’s injuries. That’s because, in many medical treatments and procedures, the work is performed by a team of physicians and supporting personnel, such as nurses and medical technicians. When a medical malpractice error occurs, all the health care professionals who contributed to the negligent care can be held accountable for the mistake.
The injured patient has a right to file a lawsuit to seek damages from everyone involved. This includes not just the healthcare professionals but also the hospital or clinic and third parties, such as drug and equipment manufacturers.
Multi-defendant medical malpractice cases are becoming more common in Florida.
How Settlements Work in Multi-Defendant Medical Malpractice Cases in Fort Lauderdale
Claims involving multiple defendants are often a challenge to litigate, especially when there are disagreements among the defendants due to the court’s apportionment of fault. It’s important to have the assistance of an expert Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice attorney, who will have the experience and skills necessary to handle the complexities of multiple defendant lawsuits.
In civil lawsuits, settlement is a popular alternative to going to trial. Settlement occurs when the defendant agrees to pay the plaintiff a specified amount of money to end the litigation against them. The two parties can reach a settlement at any point in the litigation process, even before a lawsuit is filed. Avoiding the high cost of litigation is one of the reasons defendants often choose the option of settling their cases out of court.
The Pressure to settle is on the Defendants
In multi-defendant medical malpractice cases in Fort Lauderdale, the plaintiff is allowed to negotiate a settlement with the defendants on an individual basis. It’s easy to understand that this can cause problems among the defendants when determining how to proceed with their cases.
How does settling with one doctor affect the other defendants in a case with multiple negligent medical professionals? When one defendant reaches a settlement agreement, it puts great pressure on the other defendant to settle as well. As the number of defendants in a case decreases, the costs associated with continued litigation, increase for the remaining defendants.
In multi-defendant lawsuits, not all defendants share the same amount of liability. Some of the defendants, especially those that are only vicariously liable for the patient’s injuries, may wish to reach a quick settlement with the plaintiff. Those with the most at stake may hold out in hopes that they can prevail in the case.
Get Help from Fort Lauderdale Medical Malpractice Lawyer Lisa Levine Today
Lisa Levine is a Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer with an impressive track record when it comes to securing big settlements for clients involved in single and multi-defendant litigation. A nationally renowned personal injury lawyer, Lisa has been helping clients in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Miami and other South Florida communities for over 35 years.
If you were injured due to a medical error, you have a right to hold the responsible parties liable for their negligence. The first step to take in securing the compensation you are due for your injuries is to call the law offices of Lisa Levine at 954-256-1820. We will schedule a free initial meeting to discuss the details surrounding your injuries and provide professional advice on how to best proceed with your case.
The law offices of Lisa Levine handle almost all medical malpractice cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no up-front costs for our services and we only collect our fee after we’ve won your case.
