Ocala Medical Malpractice Attorney

Ocala Medical Malpractice Lawyers Whittel & Melton
Call Today. Do Not Delay 352-369-5334
Ocala Doctor Mistake – Hospital Negligence – Physician Error

Our Ocala Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Whittel & Melton represent victims of medical malpractice by bringing claims against any and all medical professionals who have made errors or omissions during the course of providing healthcare to patients that has resulted in injury, worsening of an illness/disease, or the unfortunate death of a loved one. Medical malpractice claims can be brought against healthcare professionals, including hospitals, birthing facilities, clinics, nursing homes, dentists, nurses, and doctors. Medical mistakes and oversights result in thousands of Americans suffering severe injuries or death every single year and the sad truth is that many of these mistakes are entirely preventable. That is why our Ocala Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to help those affected by a medical mistake recover financial compensation for their losses. Call us today at 352-369-5334 or contact us online to learn more.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is when a medical practitioner, such as a nurse, OBGYN, dermatologist, orthopedic surgeon, oral surgeon, podiatrist, plastic surgeon, hospital or any medical facility, and all other medical providers, fail to meet a standard of care that results in a patient suffering an injury or death.

What is “Standard of Care?”

Standard of care is a legal term that basically refers to medical standards or customary care protocols that the average doctor or medical professional would provide in a similar or near same situation. The state of Florida requires an expert to review a medical malpractice claim to determine if the standard of care has been breached.

The majority of medical malpractice claims involve a healthcare provider who has made a mistake or just overlooked a certain condition along with the facility where they work. The most common types of healthcare practitioners named in medical malpractice suits include:

• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Anesthesiologists
• Optometrists
• Chiropractors
• Dentists
• Physical therapists
• Psychologists and Psychiatrists

Any patient who has suffered harm as a result of medical malpractice can file a malpractice suit. In cases where the patient is a minor, parents have a right to file a claim on their behalf. In cases where the patient has passed away, children, parents, spouses, and close relatives have the right to bring a wrongful death claim against the medical provider at fault.

Our Ocala Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help determine if you have a valid medical malpractice claim for financial compensation. We will review your case for free and explain all of your legal options. We may find that a medical malpractice claim is not the right avenue for you, but a different type of lawsuit would better suit your situation. Call us today at 352-369-5334 or contact us online so that you can learn more in a free consultation.

How Do I Know if My Ocala Medical Malpractice Claim Has Merit?

Our Ocala Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Whittel & Melton will go over all of the evidence in your medical malpractice claim to better understand whether you have a valid legal claim or not. What we must find is that you or a loved one suffered an injury as a direct result of a medical provider’s inappropriate or substandard care. Examples of this may include:

• An object being left inside a person during surgery
• The wrong body part being operated on
• Incorrect drug or dosage of drug being prescribed or given to the patient
• Failure to diagnose a disease
• Birth injuries
• Brain injuries
• Unnecessary surgeries
• Issues with cosmetic implants
• Administering too much anesthesia
• Nursing home abuse and/or negligence
• Negligence at a hospital or clinic

If you believe that you or your loved one was the victim of medical malpractice, then our Ocala Medical Malpractice Lawyers want to help you file a claim. We welcome you to contact us today to discuss your case in further detail at no charge.

What Are Examples of Medical Malpractice?

• Medication errors
• Failure to diagnose an illness
• Anesthesia errors
• Surgical errors
• Labor and delivery injuries
• Emergency room mistakes

What Does Not Constitute Medical Malpractice?

It can be tricky to fully understand what medical malpractice is and is not. Just because you are unhappy with how a surgery turns out does not mean you have a medical malpractice claim. For example, if you had a breast augmentation performed and are not happy with the final outcome, this does not mean you have a valid medical malpractice claim. It is also important to note that many surgeries and medications come with side effects that are known as assumed or accepted risks in the medical community, which means suffering from these types of complications does not provide you with recourse for a medical malpractice claim.

What Types of Compensation Can I Recover in a Medical Malpractice Case?

Damages in a medical malpractice claim includes compensation for what a patient has lost as there is no way to undo what has already been done. When it comes to a medical malpractice lawsuit, there are two types of damages that may be awarded. 1. Economic damages – those that can be calculated and 2. Non-economic damages – those that cannot be calculated.

These are also called special damages, and include lost wages, loss of benefits, loss of earning capacity, past and future medical bills, along with all other financial losses that were caused by the medical malpractice injury. These damages can be calculated exactly to make up for all money losses both past and expected in the future. Future medical expenses make up a bulk of these damages and these can sometimes exceed millions of dollars. This is where experts, like medical economists, are called in to calculate all future medical care costs in order to explain to the judge and jury just what these damages entail. The hope is that they can persuade the jury to reach a positive verdict.

Non-economic Damages

These are damages that cannot be calculated, like pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional grief, loss of consortium, etc. The price tag for these damages is subjective so it is up to a jury to determine what is fair. There are no specific guidelines laid out for placing a monetary value on a person’s pain and suffering.

What Do I Need to Do If I Think I Have an Ocala Medical Malpractice Claim?

If you believe that your or a loved one has suffered because of medical malpractice, then we recommend contacting our Ocala Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Whittel & Melton right away. We can sit down with you right away to discuss the details of your suffering and answer any questions you may have.

To best prepare for a consultation with us we recommend doing the following:

• Summarize your case: Jot down everything you can remember about what has happened and try to be detail oriented. What were you being treated for? Who was the provider and what facility were you at? What harm have you suffered?
• Get copies of your medical records and pertinent documents: This is not necessary but can be very helpful for us to help understand if you have a valid claim or not. Medical bills, prescriptions, etc. can also be very helpful in building a case.

How Can Whittel & Melton Help Me With My Ocala Medical Malpractice Case?

Once we meet with you, we can determine if medical malpractice occurred and move forward with a case. We may need to investigate further to identify if medical negligence resulted in your suffering. Once we have reviewed all the evidence in your case, we will consult with experts in the appropriate fields to build the best possible case on your behalf. These experts can also show how medical malpractice occurred and how any mistakes could have been avoided.

Once negligence has been determined, then we can work to obtain the maximum compensation for your losses. You can rest assured that we will work tirelessly to make sure you are appropriately compensated for your suffering. Call us today at 352-369-5334 or contact us online to get started with a completely free consultation where we can discuss your case and your legal rights with you. While we can make no guarantees on the success of your case, we can promise to do everything in our power to achieve the best possible results.

We can help you throughout Marion County with your potential medical malpractice claim, including the communities of Ocala, Belleview, Dunnellon, The Villages, Fort McCoy Summerfield, and Silver Springs Shores.