Medical malpractice claims in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, can result from many different types of negligence by a doctor, dentist or other medical staff. Among the types of medical malpractice claims are hospital fall injuries, wrongful death from malpractice claims, and dental malpractice injuries.
If you’ve been injured due to medical negligence, it’s important to discuss what happened to you with an experienced Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer to understand your legal rights. Lisa Levine has been victims of all types of medical malpractice claims for more than 35 years. She has the knowledge and experience to help you get the compensation you may be entitled to.
Hospital Falls
Hospitals are required to provide a certain standard of care for patients, including the assurance that no further injuries are sustained during treatment. If a patient is injured as the result of a fall in the hospital, he or she may be entitled to compensation through a Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice claim.
Fall prevention protocols should be in place at hospitals and in clinics to prevent injuries to patients, particularly those who are at a higher fall risk, including those on certain medications and sedatives.
Failures in these protocols that can result in injury include:
- Patient left unattended during transfer
- Poor lighting
- No side rails
- Clutter in walkways
- Patient left unattended in treatment rooms, such as X-ray rooms.
While patients may be eligible for a medical malpractice claim from a fall in a hospital, if one of their visitors suffers a fall it would fall under the category of a premises liability claim.
Injury Victim
Wrongful Death From Medical Malpractice
More than 225,000 patients die every year as the result of medical malpractice, according to the Journal of American Medical Association.
In Florida, when a person dies as the result of medical malpractice, surviving family members may be entitled to compensation through a Fort Lauderdale wrongful death claim. Those who can file a claim on behalf of their deceased loved one and the type of damages they can recover include:
- Spouses and living children younger than 25 may recover for pain and suffering, value of lost services and economic support, and funeral expenses.
- Other blood relatives who were wholly or partially dependent on the wrongful death victim for support or services may be able to recover the value of those lost services.
- The estate of the deceased may be able to recover damages for funeral expenses, medical bills caused by the negligence, and lost future accumulations of the estate.
Dental Malpractice Injuries
Injuries during dental procedures can result in medical malpractice claims. One of the most common injuries is damage to the lingual nerves, which can result in numbness of the tongue, gums and face, as well as loss of taste or other altered sensations in the mouth.
Lingual nerve injuries can occur during dental procedures including:
- Wisdom teeth removal
- Molar removal
- Tumor removal
- Placing implants
- Dental block injections
- Anesthesia
If the lingual nerve is damaged, surgery may be necessary to reverse the effects. This can be an expensive procedure, in addition to other financial damages that the patient suffers as the result of the injury. Follow-up visits, medication, lost time at work — these can quickly cause deplete the patient’s resources, but may be recovered through a Florida dental malpractice claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice in Florida
What is the impact of informed consent on medical negligence cases?
Informed consent is a process by which a patient provides authorization for a healthcare professional to provide treatment. If a healthcare professional fails to obtain proper informed consent from a patient, and the patient suffers harm, that professional may be liable for medical malpractice. However, informed consent may not always be required.
Read more about informed consent in medical malpractice cases
In a Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice case, who can be held liable?
The medical practitioner who is directly responsible for the medical negligence, such as a doctor who performed the surgery, may be held liable. In some cases, other parties may be held liable, such as the hospital where the surgery was performed, the medical device manufacturer, or the pharmacist who provided the prescriptions.
Read more about vicarious liability in medical malpractice claims
How much is my Florida hospital negligence worth?
The amount of damages that may be awarded in a hospital negligence lawsuit depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the case. Generally, damages may include compensatory damages for economic losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.
Get Help with All Types of Medical Malpractice Claims Today
The statute of limitations for all types of medical malpractice claims in Florida is two years. That means injury victims have just two years to bring legal action against the negligent party; the clock starts ticking from either the date of the medical act that led to the injuries or the date of discovery of the injuries.
If you have suffered financial, physical, or emotional trauma or a loved one was killed because of negligence by a healthcare provider, contact dedicated Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer Lisa S. Levine, P.A.
