Suffering complications after a doctor has made a mistake is one of those scenarios you hear about but assume will never happen to you—until it does. A leading cause of death in this country, medical malpractice occurs far more often than most people realize.

If you think you were the unfortunate victim of a physician’s negligence, you deserve justice. In order to hold the provider accountable, though, you’re going to have to put together a strong personal injury claim.

Medical Malpractice

Here are some of the most important steps for getting started:

1. Visit Another Doctor

If you think your physician made a mistake, seek care from someone else. Following medical malpractice, your first priority should be your health, and that starts with seeing another reputable provider who’s equipped to treat you. In addition to ensuring a better prognosis, this will demonstrate a commitment to mitigating damages during the subsequent proceedings.

2. Preserve Your Medical Records

Without detailed medical records, you won’t be able to prove liability or damages. As such, it’s imperative to preserve all documentation regarding the care you received from the negligent doctor.

You should also save the records logging the treatments you receive from all subsequent physicians whom you visit. Make copies to ensure redundancy, and then store the originals in a safe place until you can give them to your medical malpractice attorney.

3. Record Recoverable Damages

Personal injury claimants may only seek funds for the damages they can prove they actually incurred. That means in order to pursue the maximum payout possible, you’re going to have to track all recoverable losses. In Florida, such losses include:

  • Lost wages;
  • Loss of future earnings;
  • Medical expenses;
  • Replacement services;
  • Domestic help;
  • Home and vehicle modifications;
  • Emotional distress;
  • Loss of enjoyment in life; and
  • Pain and suffering.

You can use receipts, bills, and paystubs to demonstrate your economic damages. As for proving the extent of your non-economic damages, journal entries are usually acceptable, as are psychological evaluations and statements from friends, loved ones, and colleagues.

4. Seek Legal Counsel

Medical malpractice claims are inherently complex because medicine is not an exact science. Not only does proving negligence on the part of your doctor pose a challenge, but getting the insurance adjuster to agree with your initial valuation is virtually impossible. Thankfully, a resourceful attorney can help.

By hiring a lawyer who’s well-versed in medical malpractice, you’ll gain a strategic ally who can protect your rights at every stage of the proceedings. Together with the rest of your legal team, your attorney will investigate the incident in question, compile the evidence needed to prove fault, log damages, and negotiate for a fair payout. And if the carrier still ends up being uncooperative, your lawyer will prepare your case for court.

Call 813-551-3907 for a Free Consultation with a Tampa Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you think you were the victim of medical malpractice, turn to Capaz Law Firm, P.A. Our resourceful team will conduct a thorough investigation to gather the evidence needed to hold your physician accountable for any damages you incur. Call 813-551-3907 or complete our Online Contact Form to schedule a free case review with a medical malpractice attorney.