Seeking medical treatment is an act of trust. When healthcare providers in Coral Springs fail to meet the required standard of care, the results can be devastating. Jeffrey S. Altman and the Altman Law Firm are dedicated to helping victims of medical negligence navigate the complexities of Florida's legal system to seek the accountability they deserve. We understand the physical and emotional challenges that follow a medical error and provide compassionate support to families throughout Broward County.
Whether you were treated at a major medical center near University Drive or a private clinic along Sample Road, medical negligence can occur in any healthcare setting. In Florida, medical malpractice is defined as a breach of the prevailing professional standard of care. This means a physician, nurse, or hospital failed to act as a reasonably prudent healthcare provider would have under similar circumstances. Proving these cases requires a detailed analysis of medical records and a thorough understanding of the local healthcare landscape in Coral Springs.
Our firm assists individuals who have suffered from a wide range of medical errors. These often include surgical mistakes, where a surgeon operates on the wrong site or leaves a foreign object inside a patient. We also handle cases involving misdiagnosis or the failure to diagnose serious conditions like cancer or heart disease, which can lead to a significant decline in a patient's health. Other common issues involve medication errors, anesthesia complications, and birth injuries that occur during labor and delivery at local Broward County hospitals.
Florida law imposes several strict requirements on those seeking to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Under Florida Statute 95.11, there is generally a two-year statute of limitations from the date the injury was discovered or should have been discovered. Additionally, the state requires a mandatory pre-suit investigation period. This process involves serving a notice of intent to initiate litigation and obtaining an affidavit from a qualified medical professional who can attest that negligence occurred. These procedural hurdles make it essential to have legal guidance when pursuing a claim in Coral Springs.
In Florida, you generally have two years from the time you discovered, or should have discovered, the injury to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. However, there is also a four-year statute of repose, which serves as an absolute deadline regardless of when the injury was found, except in cases involving fraud or concealment.
The prevailing professional standard of care is the level of care, skill, and treatment which, in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances, is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similar healthcare providers. This is often established through the testimony of other medical professionals in the same field.
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that if you are found to be partially responsible for your own harm, your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you may be barred from recovering any damages under current state law.
Victims of medical negligence may seek compensatory damages, which include economic losses such as medical bills and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving a fatality, family members may pursue a wrongful death claim under Florida's Wrongful Death Act.
Speak with a dedicated legal professional about your Coral Springs medical negligence concerns by reaching out to Altman Law Firm. Call (305) 373-3730.