Our children are what are most precious to us. We trust pediatricians and other doctors who specialize in children with making critical choices that can affect the remainder of our kids’ lives. When a medical professional makes a mistake while dealing with a child, the effects can be traumatic and long-lasting. As a parent, you can seek recovery for your child’s negligent medical care, both on behalf of your child and for the expenses you will incur.
Fort Lauderdale Pediatric Malpractice Lawyer
Lisa Levine is a skilled Fort Lauderdale pediatric malpractice lawyer who advocates for parents and children to obtain full recovery for medical errors, including missed diagnosis. She is an attorney who understands how to take on insurance companies. You and your child deserve compensation for the damage caused by medical negligence. Call Lisa S. Levine P.A. today at 954-256-1820 to schedule a free consultation.
Injury Victim
Lisa S. Levine P.A. represents parents and children throughout Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Miramar, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Weston and Sunrise. She also represents clients in Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County.
Defining Malpractice Under Florida Law
Doctors, including pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, and other medical professionals who deal with children, owe a high duty of care to the children whose lives and health are entrusted to them. They must meet the standards of their profession, and act as a reasonable and prudent doctor or surgeon.
The failure to do so may constitute negligence if the failure to act in a reasonable and prudent way (called “breach”) caused your child damages that he or she suffered. Negligence cases involving mistakes by doctors and other medical professionals are called medical malpractice cases.
Types of Injuries Broward County Children Incur Due to Medical Malpractice
Medical mistakes can be particularly devastating for children. They often have difficulty understanding and coping with pain. Moreover, medical trauma for a young person can cause developmental difficulties that can prevent children from living the lives they should as adult. They may miss educational and career opportunities due to mistakes by doctors.
Missed diagnoses and misdiagnosis are common problems. A pediatrician may not think to look for certain health problems that typically develop in adults, like cancer, when examining children. Many of these conditions are much better addressed as early as possible. Doctors are supposed to be diligent when making a diagnosis, as the stakes are often very high.
Bringing a Lawsuit on Behalf of Your Child
If your child is injured, you may bring a lawsuit on his or her behalf as his or her guardian ad litem. A pediatric malpractice lawyer can help you with any legal issues surrounding that process and represent you and your child in the case.
Calculating damages is a critical part of a pediatric malpractice case. If your child suffers complications later in life that go beyond the award or settlement he or she receives, he or she will not be able to sue again for these unforeseen damages.
Your attorney will help you determine the possible damages you will need. In most cases, you will be dealing with a malpractice insurance company. Fort Lauderdale malpractice lawyer Lisa Levine will negotiate with them to seek the best possible settlement. If you are not satisfied with the settlements offered, she can take them to court on your child’s behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Malpractice Cases
Is There a Time Limit to File Pediatric Malpractice Cases?
Generally, a patient may file a lawsuit for medical malpractice in Florida up to two years after being diagnosed. The timeframe generally starts when the patient is injured, as soon as he or she learns about the injury, or when they should have known about it.
How Do You Prove Medical Malpractice in Florida?
In order to win a Florida medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff must show that:
• There was a relationship between the patient and the doctor;
• There was negligence on the part of the doctor;
• The patient’s injuries were caused by this negligence;
• Damages resulted from the patient’s injuries.
Can Anyone Besides the Doctor Be Held Liable in a Broward County Pediatric Malpractice Case?
In some cases, only the doctor administering care is involved in a malpractice claim. In some cases, however, other parties, such as the hospital the doctor worked in, may be held vicariously liable.
Vicarious liability refers to an employer’s responsibility for an employee’s actions in a medical malpractice case. When an employee commits negligence while acting within the scope of his or her authority, the company may be held responsible.
Finding the Best Broward County Medical Malpractice Attorney For Your Child
Your child deserves the best. If pediatricians, pediatric surgeons or other medical professionals made mistakes in the care of your child in Broward County, then your child deserves to be compensated. Contact a Fort Lauderdale pediatric malpractice lawyer to represent him or her. Call 954-256-1820 today to set up a free consultation.
