Pensacola Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Representing Injured Patients Against Negligence
Going to the doctor can be nerve-racking when you are seeking their help for a serious injury or condition; however, we all trust that the health care professionals treating us are attentive, experienced, and well-versed in their fields of medicine. Unfortunately, an alarming number of medical professionals have caused patients further injury due to their negligence and malpractice, so much so that they have faced legal trouble as a result.
Michles & Booth’s attorneys are committed to advocating against medical malpractice to protect future patients from being harmed, as well as to win justice for patients who have already been hurt by it. If you or a loved one has been victimized by medical malpractice, you may be eligible to take legal action against the offending doctor, dentist, surgeon, specialist, or other medical professional. You do not have to go at it alone; our lawyers are prepared to wield our more than 80 years of collective experience to help you maximize your compensation and seek justice.
Contact a Michles & Booth medical malpractice attorney in Pensacola at 850-438-4848 today.
What Is Considered Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is defined as when any health care professional (doctor, OB-GYN, nurse, pediatrician, oncologist, surgeon, etc.) deviates from the medical industry’s accepted standard of care and causes personal injury or death to the patient. That being said, patients cannot sue a doctor only on the grounds of bad results; the doctor must have violated industry standards for there to be a case.
From a patient’s perspective, it can be hard to discern whether malpractice was committed. Often, medical professionals will be reluctant to admit any wrongdoing on their part. If you think you have been a victim of medical malpractice, one question you should ask yourself is, “Would I be in the same situation that I am in now if I had seen a different, better health care provider?” If the answer is no, then it is advisable to seek the help of a legal professional.
Types of Medical Malpractice
The most common types of medical malpractice include the following:
- Misdiagnosis: This is when a medical professional fails to diagnose the correct illness, identify any illness at all, or wrongly diagnoses one illness as another. This allows the illness to progress, which endangers the patient’s chance of recovery.
- Delayed diagnosis: Similar to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis simply means that the attending medical professional did not properly diagnose the illness when they should have. Instead, the diagnosis is delayed, which again leaves the illness undetected and the patient without treatment.
- Failure to treat: If a doctor provides the correct diagnosis but then does not provide the patient with the correct type of treatment, they will be on the hook for any injury that results.
- Birth injuries: This encompasses any injury related to the birthing process that results from an attending health care professional’s negligence. Sadly, injuries of this nature can affect either the child or the mother, or both.
- Defective medical devices: When medical devices, such as pacemakers and cochlear implants, are defective, they put the patient at risk of serious injury. If the medical professional knew or should have reasonably known that the device was defective and implanted it anyway, it is considered malpractice.
- Errors related to surgery: This includes any errors made immediately before, during, or after surgery, such as performing the incorrect type of surgery, performing surgery improperly or badly, using contaminated surgical tools, and leaving surgical instruments in the body, among other surgical errors.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
Each state has its own statute of limitations governing how long injured individuals have to formally file claims. Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(b) mandates that medical malpractice claims must be brought forth within two years either of discovering the alleged malpractice or of when you should have reasonably discovered it. No medical malpractice claim may be filed after 4 years from the date the malpractice occurred unless fraud or a very young child was involved.
When fraud is involved, such as a cover-up attempted by the offending medical professional or their boss, the statute of limitations is extended to seven years. Any medical malpractice claim concerning a very young child can be filed after the statute of limitations expires as long as it is done before the child turns 8 years old.
Hire Acclaimed Attorneys with Extensive Experience
In truth, there are many firms that you could work with, but medical malpractice claims are no walk in the park. To give yourself the best chance of recovering compensation, work with a firm that has years of experience in handling these claims.
Michles & Booth’s medical malpractice legal team has extensive experience investigating, substantiating, arguing, and asserting malpractice claims in Pensacola and throughout the state of Florida. We utilize our in-house investigator, medical doctor, and IT department for each and every case we accept, providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art legal services at a low cost to our clients. Our proven track record of success and national recognition serve as evidence of our skill, professionalism, and readiness to advocate for your rights.
To arrange a free consultation, contact our Pensacola medical malpractice lawyers online or at 850-438-4848.
We also represent victims of medical malpractice in Alabama, including those located in Lillian, Foley, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Bay Minette, Atmore, Flomaton, Brewton, and Dothan.
Let Our Clients Do the Talking
Our Firm Values
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Care for Our Community
Our firm is extremely active in the community, and we are committed to giving back.
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Dedicated Staff
With a team of over 80 staff, you will receive the attention and care that you deserve!
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Board-Certified
Our firm has the experience and the qualifications to fight and win for you.
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No Case Is Too Big or Too Small
Our team is dedicated to our clients, and we are not afraid to take a case to trial.