Florida Hospital Negligence Lawyer
Can a Patient Sue a Hospital for Negligence?
According to a Johns Hopkins University study released in 2016, medical errors are the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer, claiming at least 251,454 lives annually. The numbers are even higher for injuries, many of which are potentially life-altering. If you are injured while receiving medical treatment in a hospital, you may be able to sue the hospital for negligence.
At Freidin Brown, P.A., our Florida hospital negligence lawyers are skilled, experienced advocates for patients and their families. If you or your loved one suffered harm due to hospital negligence, we are more than ready to help. Call us now or send us a message directly online to set up a free, no obligation initial consultation with an experienced hospital negligence lawyer.
Hospitals Owe Patients a Duty of Care
In a time of medical emergency, hospitals can provide critically important care. Unfortunately, hospitals do not always live up to their responsibility to look out for the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable patients. With law offices in Miami and Fort Myers, we are well-positioned to bring claims against negligent hospitals throughout all of South Florida. Some of the region’s most prominent hospitals include:
- Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital
- Aventura Hospital
- Baptist Hospital of Florida
- Boca Raton Regional Hospital
- Kendall Regional Medical Center
- Mease Countryside Hospital
- Mercy Hospital
- Miami Hospital
- Mount Sinai Medical Center
- Naples Community Hospital
- Orlando Regional Medical Center
- St. Joseph’s Hospital
- Tampa General Hospital
- Westside Regional Hospital
What is Hospital Negligence?
Hospital negligence is a form of medical malpractice. It occurs when a hospital (or one of its employees) fails to take proper care and a patient suffers an injury, illness, or other medical complication. Some notable examples of hospital negligence include:
- Failure to diagnose/doctor misdiagnosis;
- Errors by nurses or hospital support staff;
- Failure to provide adequate follow-up care;
- Premature discharge of a patient;
- Negligent securities; and
- Dangerous conditions on the premises, including fall accidents.
These types of medical malpractice cases are complicated as hospital negligence can come in a wide range of different forms. Suspected hospital negligence should always be investigated by an experienced Florida medical malpractice attorney.
Hospital Employees
If your injury was caused by a healthcare professional employed by the hospital you are admitted to, the hospital is usually liable for the actions of that employee and any injuries you sustain due to their negligence. For example, if a registered nurse employed by the hospital administers the wrong medication, resulting in harm to the patient, the hospital can be held liable for that mistake.
If the hospital employee acts negligently while under the supervision of a doctor, you may be able to sue the doctor. However, this could mean that the hospital bears no responsibility. If, for example, a surgeon leaves a medical instrument or sponge in a patient due to a nurse’s miscount, the surgeon is liable for this error.
Non-Employee Doctors
Doctors who are not employed by a hospital are known as independent contractors, which usually means that the hospital cannot be held liable for their actions, even if the medical malpractice occurred in their facility. However, there are some exceptions to this.
If the hospital fails to clarify that the doctor is not their employee, you can sue the hospital for the doctor’s malpractice. If the malpractice occurred in the emergency room, the hospital generally does not have a chance to inform the patient of a doctor’s status and, therefore, cannot be sued for the negligence of an independent contractor.
Hospital Negligence Victims Need Full Financial Compensation
If you or your family member was harmed due to hospital negligence, you need the full available financial compensation to pay bills and support your family. In Florida, plaintiffs can recover compensation for economic and non-economic losses. Sadly, the big insurance carriers that defend hospitals do not make the claims easy on people. Even if you can prove liability, insurance adjusters will still try to limit your compensation. At Freidin Brown, P.A., our Miami hospital negligence lawyers are committed to getting clients justice and the maximum settlement or verdict. You may be able to pursue the following types of compensation in a hospital negligence claim:
- Medical bills and related expenses;
- Physical therapy and rehabilitative care;
- Loss of current and future wages and earning potential;
- Pain and suffering;
- Scarring/disfigurement;
- Loss term physical or mental impairment; and
- Wrongful death of a family member.
You Can Rely On the Hospital Malpractice Attorneys at Freidin Brown
Hospital negligence claims are complicated. The big medical facilities are often represented by large insurance companies. At Freidin Brown, P.A., we have 100 years of combined experience and have tried over 300 cases in front of a jury. Our Florida hospital negligence lawyers have a proven track record of success with over 20 verdicts resulting in excess of $1 million worth of compensation on behalf of our clients. Further, we have experience handling a wide range of medical malpractice cases, such as anesthesia errors, nursing errors, misdiagnosis, birth injuries, prescription errors, and more. Health care providers are obligated to treat patients according to a standard of care and, when they fail to do so, you have a right to hold them responsible for their actions. You can trust our law firm to handle your case the right way.
Contact An Experienced Florida Hospital Negligence Lawyer Today
At Freidin Brown, P.A., we have 100 years of combined experience and have tried over 300 cases in front of a jury. Our Florida hospital negligence lawyers have a proven track record of success with over 20 verdicts resulting in excess of $1 million worth of compensation on behalf of our clients. We handle a wide range of medical malpractice cases, such as anesthesia errors, nursing errors, misdiagnosis, birth injuries, prescription errors, and more. Health care providers are obligated to treat patients according to a standard of care and, when they fail to do so, you have a right to hold them responsible for their actions. Call us today for a free consultation at 888-677-7764.
