Fort Myers Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Terry S. Nelson, P.A., provides comprehensive medical malpractice representation to clients throughout Southwest Florida. We secure financial compensation for clients suffering from serious and catastrophic injuries and illnesses due to the negligence of others.
If you have become a victim of medical malpractice, contact our firm today. We will work to help you recover the compensation you need to move forward.
Helping You Seek The Medical Injury Compensation You Deserve
Health care professionals such as doctors, nurses or nursing home practitioners are held to a high standard of care. When that high standard is violated, we can help you.
Our Fort Myers medical malpractice attorney will help you hold the health care professionals responsible for their negligence or wrongdoing so that you can receive proper compensation for your injuries. We have successfully represented clients in medical malpractice matters involving:
- Hospital negligence
- Failure to diagnose
- Surgical errors
- Medication errors
- Failure to monitor
- Brain injuries
- Birth injuries
Unfortunately, some medical errors are made to such an extent that they cause a wrongful death. If you have lost a loved one to the negligence of a doctor or other hospital worker, speak to us. We understand this is a difficult time for you and promise to dedicate ourselves to helping you through the legal processes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice In Florida
Medical malpractice concerns deserve clear, straightforward answers. Below, we address the questions we hear most often from people across Southwest Florida.
How long do you have to file a medical malpractice claim in Florida?
In Florida, you generally have two years to file a medical malpractice claim. This deadline typically runs from the date you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the injury.
Florida law also sets a four-year statute of repose. This rule bars most claims filed more than four years after the alleged malpractice occurred, regardless of when you discovered the harm. Limited exceptions exist, such as when a provider concealed information. Speaking with an attorney early helps protect your ability to pursue a claim.
Does a bad medical outcome automatically mean medical malpractice?
No, a bad medical outcome does not automatically mean malpractice occurred. Medicine carries inherent risks, and not every unsuccessful treatment or unexpected result signals a failure on the provider’s part.
To establish a medical malpractice claim, you must prove the provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care. This standard refers to the level of care a reasonably competent provider would have delivered in similar circumstances. You must also prove this failure directly caused your injury and resulting damages. An unfortunate outcome alone does not support a valid malpractice claim without proof of both a breach and a direct link to your harm.
How hard is it to sue for medical malpractice in Florida?
Medical malpractice cases rank among the most complex personal injury claims in Florida. Pursuing a claim requires clearing several significant legal and factual hurdles, including:
- Completing Florida’s mandatory pre-suit investigation, including expert medical opinion and formal notice to providers
- Establishing that the provider breached the standard of care
- Proving the breach directly caused your injury
- Collecting and organizing extensive medical records and evidence
- Securing testimony from a qualified medical expert
- Overcoming well-funded defense teams and insurers
These combined challenges make thorough preparation and sound legal knowledge critical from the very start of your claim.
What is the hardest element to prove in a medical malpractice case?
Causation stands as the hardest element to prove in most medical malpractice cases. You must show that the provider’s specific act of negligence, and not your underlying medical condition or other contributing factors, directly caused your injury or worsened your outcome.
Medical cases often involve multiple contributing factors. Defense teams routinely argue that your harm resulted from an underlying condition rather than from any error in care. Establishing this direct connection requires detailed medical evidence and input from a qualified expert witness.
Contact A Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer To Help You Today
If you or your loved one is suffering from an injury as a result of medical malpractice, do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 239-334-1789. We will meet with you for a free consultation to discuss your case.