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Malpractice Center

Best HIE Lawyers in Tampa, FL (2026)

To rank Tampa HIE lawyers, this evidence-based 2026 list weighs their practice focus and published results, along with client reviews and professional recognition.

Sources checked

5 lawyers and firms

Downtown Tampa, Florida skyline
Photo: Clément Bardot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

The list starts with Percy Martinez. While the firm focuses on medical malpractice, its site also covers HIE claims. Before calling, check the firm's birth injury results and find out who would handle your child's file. Have the firm explain fees and case costs, too. Our Florida malpractice guide offers a starting point, but ask about the filing deadline early.

At a glance

  1. 1Percy MartinezFree consultation4.9 out of 5
  2. 2Valenzuela Law Firm, P.A.Free consultation4.4 out of 5
  3. 3Darrigo & DiazFree consultation4.9 out of 5
  4. 4Morgan & MorganFree consultation4.7 out of 5
  5. 5Paul Trial GroupFree consultation4.4 out of 5

Best HIE Lawyers in Tampa

  1. Open spot. Feature your firm in TampaFor lawyers
  2. Percy Martinez logo1

    Percy Martinez

    4.939 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 39 reviews

    Best for: Families seeking a malpractice-focused practice

    With medical malpractice as its practice focus, Percy Martinez's firm lists HIE and birth injury on its site. That's why it ranks here. In a published $8.4 million settlement, an operating room technician photographed the wrong-site marking involved in the case.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for how much of its work is medical malpractice and the recognition it has earned.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  3. Valenzuela Law Firm, P.A. logo2

    Valenzuela Law Firm, P.A.

    4.414 Google reviewsRated 4.4 out of 5 on Google from 14 reviews

    Best for: Delayed C-section injury claims

    Valenzuela Law Firm, P.A. publishes a $6.8 million result in a delayed Caesarean section malpractice case, making its work especially relevant to families worried about delivery care. It also reports a $7.5 million settlement involving negligent monitoring in a hospital pediatric intensive care unit. The firm's site covers HIE.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and the results it publishes.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  4. Darrigo & Diaz logo3

    Darrigo & Diaz

    4.9532 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 532 reviews

    Best for: Families who speak Spanish

    Darrigo & Diaz's clients repeatedly describe kind treatment and responsive communication. They also say the firm explains the process clearly. Its 4.9 Google rating across 532 reviews gives those comments a substantial review base, though the reviews aren't identified as HIE cases.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and what its clients say.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  5. Not sure who to call first?

    Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Tampa can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.

  6. 4

    Morgan & Morgan

    4.77,849 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 7849 reviews

    Best for: Families assessing delayed-delivery trial experience

    After doctors delayed a needed C-section, Morgan & Morgan reports that a Hillsborough County jury awarded $37.8 million in 2007. With severe brain injury, Brendan Dixon faced lifelong disabilities. Representing the Coleman family were attorneys Armando Lauritano and Keith Carter.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for what its clients say and how much of its work is medical malpractice.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  7. Paul Trial Group logo5

    Paul Trial Group

    4.47 Google reviewsRated 4.4 out of 5 on Google from 7 reviews

    Best for: Birth injury and wrongful death claims

    Birth injuries are part of Paul Trial Group's practice, along with wrongful death. HIE also appears on its site. On its attorney roster, the firm lists David Paul and Scott Mcmillen and identifies them as 2025 Lawyers of the Year.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for how much of its work is medical malpractice.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

Where they are in Tampa

A few minutes that might help

Questions about your own case?
How a malpractice claim usually moves in Florida

  1. 1.Something went wrong

    Write down dates and names while they're fresh.

  2. 2.Get your records

    Ask for your full chart and test results.

  3. 3.Free case review

    A lawyer looks at what happened, free.

  4. 4.Medical opinion

    A doctor checks whether the care fell short.

  5. 5.Notice before suing

    Some places need a notice before a claim.

  6. 6.File before the deadline

    Your lawyer starts the claim before the deadline.

  7. 7.Settlement or trial

    Many claims settle. Some go to a judge or jury.

Your deadline: 2 years from when you found outRead the Florida law guide

Each step in more detail

  1. Check the filing dates

    To begin, the lawyer checks when the incident happened and was discovered. With a 4-year outer limit, Florida generally requires filing within 2 years. For a child's claim, find out how the exception tied to birthdays applies. The usual limits won't necessarily answer that question.

  2. Review the medical care

    When explaining what happened in order, bring along any records you have. Before you sue, Florida requires a reasonable investigation. To assess the suspected failure in care, find out what medical review is necessary and which additional hospital records the lawyer needs.

  3. Prepare the notice of intent

    Before you sue, a qualified medical expert must provide a verified written opinion supporting the notice of intent for your claim. An informal assessment won't do; the medical opinion has to be formally verified. Find out who pays for that review and who will arrange it.

  4. File the lawsuit

    The lawyer files the complaint within the applicable deadline if the claim moves forward. Filing that document begins the lawsuit. Because a child's claim needs its own deadline analysis, ask how the pre-suit requirements affect the dates in your case.

  5. Discuss resolution

    If there's a settlement offer or a trial, how would the lawyer evaluate the offer or prepare? Published results from the listed firms include settlements and a jury award. You can't use those results to determine how long your case may take or what it may recover.

Malpractice claims in Tampa: the rules that matter

The filing deadline in Florida
  1. The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
  2. Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
  3. At the very most4 yearsafter the treatment, with a few exceptions
  • Expert paperworkBefore suing, the claimant must make a reasonable investigation, and the notice of intent must be corroborated by a verified written opinion of a qualified medical expert.

Read the Florida law guideWork out your own deadline

Local hospitals

Star ratings from CMS Care Compare. Look up a hospital

Filing deadline for most malpractice claims in Florida
2 years
Source
Outer limit (statute of repose)
4 years
Source
Hospitals near Tampa with a CMS star rating
6
Source

What a malpractice lawyer costs in Tampa

  1. The first callOften free. Ask before you book.
  2. A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
  3. If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
  4. If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
If a claim succeeds, four listed firms say their contingency fee is a share of the recovery; if it fails, they charge no lawyer's fee. The listing doesn't state Paul Trial Group's contingency arrangement. A free consultation is available from each. Separate from the lawyer's fee, case costs can cover records and medical opinions, as well as court fees. Because the firms' stated terms don't say who advances those expenses, find out who pays them as the case proceeds and who owes them if there's no recovery. Request a written explanation before signing that shows how the firm calculates fees and deducts costs.

According to their stated terms, you can get a free consultation from all five listed firms. Contingency work is also stated by four.

What to bring to your first call

  • The dates of the care you're concerned about, along with your child's birth date
  • Whatever delivery notes or other hospital records you already have
  • The hospital's name and the names of involved clinicians
  • Records documenting the HIE diagnosis and the care that followed
  • Medical expense bills and receipts connected to the injury
  • Letters or messages you've received from the hospital or insurer
  • A timeline you've written, including when you first learned about the injury
  • Photos for the lawyer to look over

Questions to ask a lawyer

  1. 1In your practice, how many HIE or delayed delivery claims have you handled?
  2. 2Who would take responsibility for my child's file as attorney?
  3. 3Before deciding whether to take the case, which records would you need?
  4. 4To meet Florida's requirement, how will you obtain the medical opinion?
  5. 5When is the filing deadline for my child's case?
  6. 6If there's no recovery, who owes case costs, and how is your fee calculated?
  7. 7When we have questions or need updates, how will we hear from you?
  8. 8If you turn down the case, will you explain why?

Choosing an HIE lawyer in Tampa

Start with work that resembles your child's case. Each listed firm's site covers HIE, but that doesn't tell you who has handled a disputed delivery delay. Valenzuela Law Firm, P.A. and Morgan & Morgan publish delayed C-section results; Percy Martinez publishes a surgical negligence settlement. Ask each firm how its experience relates to the care that concerns you. Don't expect the same result.

Make the first conversation useful

  1. Describe the care and the dates

    When you explain when you first learned about the injury, also give the lawyer your child's birth date and the hospital's name. If you have delivery notes, keep them within reach. Explain what you don't know. Before calling, you don't need to turn the questions you have into a legal accusation.

  2. Ask who will review the file

    Find out how the firm obtains a medical opinion and which attorney would take responsibility for the claim. Before a lawsuit, Florida requires a reasonable investigation. To support the notice of intent, a qualified medical expert must provide a verified written opinion. For that review, ask the lawyer which records you'll need to provide.

  3. Discuss contact and payment

    While the firm reviews the records, who will answer your questions, and how will you hear about progress? Because all listed firms offer a free consultation, you can discuss the claim without paying a consultation charge. For later work, ask separately about any obligation you'd take on. Before signing, ask to see the fee agreement.

When reading reviews, watch for communication patterns. Even a good rating doesn't prove medical malpractice results. While Morgan & Morgan's feedback includes communication complaints, Darrigo & Diaz receives repeated comments about clear explanations. If you already feel left out of discussions about your child's care, tell the lawyer what worries you most and ask how they'd address it.

  • If someone promises a result after hearing only your first account of events, be wary.
  • Before signing, make sure you understand the fees and responsibility for medical review costs.
  • Ask why if a firm turns down your case. Another consultation won't necessarily change the deadline for filing your claim.

Questions people ask

Which Tampa firm leads this HIE lawyer list?
Because its practice focuses on medical malpractice and its site covers HIE, Percy Martinez takes the first spot on this list. Although it isn't an HIE case, the firm also publishes a surgical negligence settlement of $8.4 million. Before choosing, find out about its comparable birth injury work. Delayed C-section results are published by Valenzuela Law Firm, P.A. and Morgan & Morgan.
What is Florida's filing deadline for an HIE malpractice claim?
With an outer limit of 4 years after the incident, Florida generally requires filing within 2 years of the incident or when it was or should have been discovered. For children's claims, there's an additional rule. When calculating your deadline, don't rely on the diagnosis date alone. Ask a Florida lawyer to explain how the statute applies after reviewing the dates in your case.
Does my child's age change the deadline?
If a claim is brought for a child on or before the eighth birthday, Florida's rule says the 4-year and 7-year limits don't bar it. That doesn't give every child the same filing deadline. Ask a Florida lawyer to review the birth and treatment dates, plus when the injury was discovered, before you make any decision to wait.
Can we speak with a Tampa HIE lawyer for free?
According to all five listed firms, you can consult with them for free. Although four say they work on contingency, the listing doesn't state Paul Trial Group's contingency terms. During the call, find out what happens next and whether the firm will review the records for your child. Even with a free consultation, you still need to ask about costs and payment terms for later representation.
What does a Florida HIE case need before a lawsuit?
Before you sue, Florida requires a reasonable investigation. To corroborate the notice of intent, a qualified medical expert must also provide a verified written opinion. Find out who will arrange that opinion and which delivery records the lawyer needs to review. Even if a firm's site lists HIE, it still needs to review the details of your child's case.
How long will an HIE claim take?
You can't get a reliable timeline for your claim from this list. How long another case will take isn't established by published results. Nor does Florida's filing deadline set a date for finishing the case. Find out which medical review is needed and ask the lawyer what happens next. While the firm assesses your claim, ask how it will keep you informed about its progress.
What should we do before the first consultation?
When writing down the treatment dates, include when you first learned about the injury. If you have hospital correspondence, gather it with the delivery notes and any other records you have. Bring questions you still have. Because all listed firms offer a free consultation, you can ask what else they need during that call and have a Florida lawyer check your deadline.
What if our child died after suspected medical negligence?
To learn who may bring a claim and what damages may be available, ask a Florida lawyer to review it. When medical negligence causes a death, Florida's wrongful death act limits who can recover damages for losses without a direct bill. Those losses are called non-economic damages. Although several listed firms cover wrongful death, seeing that practice area on a list doesn't establish whether your family is eligible.
Does Florida cap damages in medical malpractice cases?
Damage caps aren't enforced in Florida. When medical negligence causes a death, the state's wrongful death act separately restricts who can recover non-economic damages. You can't determine a claim's possible recovery from either rule. To understand how the available damages relate to your child's care and your family's circumstances, ask a Florida lawyer to explain them.

Sources

  1. Florida Statutes § 95.11 (2026), Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
  2. Florida Statutes § 768.21 (2026), Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
  3. Florida Statutes § 768.81 (2026), Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
  4. Florida Statutes § 766.106 (2026), Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
  5. State Enactments of Selected Medical Liability Reforms (as of 8/27/2026), Medical Professional Liability Association
  6. Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States (updated 6/10/2026), Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.
  7. Hospital General Information, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  8. Malpractice Center methodology, Malpractice Center

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