Leading this list is Fernandez Firm. With medical malpractice as a strong focus, it publishes wrongful death settlements involving hospital care and nursing home bedsores. Before calling, make sure the firm handles deaths involving the kind of care your loved one received. Who'll review the records? For medical negligence filing rules and restrictions on recovery, see the Florida law guide.
4.8126 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 126 reviews
Best for: Deaths involving negligent medical care
Among Fernandez Firm's published wrongful death settlements are one involving a child who died after hospital care and another for a nursing home resident's widow after infected bedsores caused his death. Because these cases involve medical negligence, that focus matters here. Its Tampa office lists Frank F. Fernandez, III and Jennifer Gentry Fernandez as attorneys.
Stood out in our review for the results it publishes 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
4.9701 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 701 reviews
Best for: Medication and misdiagnosis death claims
After a hospital patient died from an improper medication mixture, Abrahamson & Uiterwyk obtained a $600,000 settlement for the family, a published result directly relevant here. Another listed result is $500,000 for medical malpractice wrongful death in Pasco County. When clients discuss communication in reviews, they repeatedly describe regular updates and explanations that made sense to them.
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
4.939 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 39 reviews
Best for: Medical negligence death claims
No firm on this list has a narrower practice focus than Percy Martinez. With medical malpractice at the center of its listed work, it covers anesthesia negligence and missed diagnosis; its site also addresses wrongful death. A reconstruction expert used a photograph of a wrong-site marking in a published $8.4 million surgical settlement.
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
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.
4.9814 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 814 reviews
Best for: Nursing home neglect concerns
With an office in Tampa, Farah & Farah has been operating since 1979. Alongside site coverage of wrongful death and nursing home neglect, its published case descriptions discuss inadequate heel protection and bedsores. Although it doesn't give an amount, the firm also reports a recovery against a hospital for an emergency room brain injury.
Stood out in our review for its years of experience 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
4.414 Google reviewsRated 4.4 out of 5 on Google from 14 reviews
Best for: Delayed diagnosis and hospital claims
For a case involving delayed diagnosis and treatment of perianal cancer, Valenzuela Law Firm, P.A. reports a $6 million settlement. Another published settlement, for $2 million, involved an emergency room physician and hospitalists who didn't promptly diagnose and treat a posterior stroke. For families worried about missed diagnoses or hospital care, those results give the firm a place on this list.
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
When did your family suspect something was wrong, and what was the treatment? Under Florida's medical malpractice filing rule, you have 2 years from the incident or discovery, subject to a 4-year outer limit. Ask a Florida lawyer to check those dates against your circumstances.
Records and medical investigation
Before suing, you must conduct a reasonable investigation under Florida's rule. Which hospital records does the lawyer need, and how will a qualified medical expert review the treatment? With the chart, the attorney can assess whether there's support for the medical negligence claim.
Notice supported by an expert
To corroborate the notice of intent, a qualified medical expert must provide a verified written opinion. Before you can file a lawsuit, certain steps must happen; ask your attorney to explain them and that written support in plain language.
Filing and recovery questions
Even if the claim moves to a lawsuit, you still need to meet the filing deadline. Damage caps aren't enforced in Florida. When medical negligence caused the death, Florida's wrongful death act restricts who can recover non-economic damages; ask what that means for your family.
Considering a resolution
Although the firms publish jury verdicts and settlements, neither route promises that you'll recover money. Before choosing whether to accept an offer or proceed further, find out from your lawyer which issues remain disputed. How would fees and expenses affect a recovery? Have them explain.
Malpractice claims in Tampa: the rules that matter
The filing deadline in Florida
The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
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.
A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
According to Nine listed firms, they work on contingency. If the claim fails, there's no lawyer's fee; otherwise, the lawyer receives a share of the recovery. No contingency terms are listed for MattLaw Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. Separate from fees are case expenses, including medical records and medical opinions that can cost money, as can court fees. If nothing is recovered, the firms' listed terms don't establish who owes those expenses, nor do they say who advances them. Get written terms that explain how expenses are deducted and what share of recovery goes to the lawyer. What would you owe if the claim were unsuccessful? According to all listed firms, consultations are free.
According to all ten firms on this list, you can have a free consultation. Contingency work is stated by Nine.
What to bring to your first call
What concerns you about the care, in a brief written account
When treatment took place and the date of death
The point when you first suspected treatment had caused harm
Which doctors and hospitals were involved, by name
Any medical records you have (include delivery notes if they're relevant)
Records of related expenses, along with medical bills
Anything the hospital or insurer sent in letters or messages
Images of pressure injuries or other photographs relating to the care
Questions to ask a lawyer
1What death claims have you handled involving this kind of medical care?
2Who'll work on our file, including reviewing the medical records?
3What will you do to obtain the qualified medical expert's written opinion?
4Given our family's circumstances, when is the filing deadline?
5Under Florida's wrongful death act, which people in our family may recover damages?
6Who should we contact, and how often will we hear from you?
7How will you pay case expenses and your fee if there's a recovery?
8What would we owe if the claim fails?
Choosing a Tampa lawyer after a medical death
Which part of the care worries you? When a diagnosis is missed, the questions differ from those involving medication or infected bedsores; several firms on this list publish results in these areas. What work have they done? Before relying on a large birth injury verdict, find out whether the published case involved a death, because that verdict alone doesn't answer the question.
When you first explain things, keep it simple: what happened, and when your family first suspected a problem. Before calling, you don't need to decide whether the care was negligent. Which records does the lawyer need to assess your concern? If you already have hospital correspondence, tell the lawyer about it.
Who'll review the chart and arrange the medical expert opinion? Before you file a medical negligence lawsuit, Florida requires you to conduct a reasonable investigation.
Who'll handle your file, and will you speak with that attorney directly or mostly with someone else on the team?
How does the firm plan to stay in touch? Although some clients describe helpful service, reviews for Farah & Farah and Morgan & Morgan raise concerns about communication.
For feedback about service, read the reviews. A death involving the same medical issue isn't something those reviews prove the firm has handled.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, Darrigo & Diaz and Jack Bernstein list Spanish-language service if you'd prefer to discuss your case in Spanish.
With a free consultation, you can discuss the claim without a charge for that meeting. That doesn't necessarily mean the firm has accepted your case. If more records are needed, find out what happens next and whether anyone will charge you to review them. According to every firm on this list, the first consultation is free.
Before signing, make sure you distinguish case expenses from the lawyer's fee. If nothing is recovered, what happens to payment? Get those terms in writing, and be wary of anyone who promises a result or won't answer expense questions. Don't read published settlements as a price list for your loss. Those cases are over. Because this is general information rather than legal advice, ask a Florida lawyer to explain the deadline and who may recover damages.
Questions people ask
Which Tampa firm leads this wrongful death lawyer list?
Because it focuses on medical malpractice and publishes wrongful death settlements involving hospital care and nursing home bedsores, Fernandez Firm leads this list. In client accounts, compassionate support comes with responsive communication, too. Whether the firm suits your family's claim isn't something a ranking can decide. Before choosing, ask who would handle your file and about deaths involving the same kind of treatment.
How long do I have to file a medical negligence claim in Florida?
Under Florida's medical malpractice filing rule, you have 2 years from the incident or when it was or should have been discovered; the outer limit is 4 years after the incident. Have a Florida lawyer promptly check the dates for you. Before applying this medical malpractice rule, remember it isn't the deadline for every kind of wrongful death claim.
Does Florida limit damages when medical negligence caused a death?
Damage caps aren't enforced in Florida. When medical negligence caused the death, though, its wrongful death act restricts who can recover non-economic damages. Even without a cap, not every family member can recover every kind of damage. Before you discuss a possible recovery, have a Florida lawyer explain how those restrictions affect your family.
Do I need a medical expert before suing?
Before a medical negligence lawsuit, Florida requires a reasonable investigation; to support the notice of intent, a qualified medical expert must provide a verified written opinion. How does the firm arrange that review, and who pays for it? When you start the consultation, bring your concerns and whatever records you already have.
Can I speak with a Tampa lawyer without paying a consultation fee?
According to all ten listed firms, you can get a free consultation. Because Nine also say they work on contingency, the lawyer's fee depends on recovering money. Who pays for medical opinions or other case expenses isn't established by that free meeting. Before hiring, get the terms in writing and ask about those charges.
How long will a medical wrongful death case take?
No supported timetable tells you when your case will finish. Before suing, Florida requires a reasonable investigation and an expert-supported notice, so find out from the lawyer what work remains before filing. Although the firms publish verdicts and settlements, those past results don't tell you how long your own claim will take. Instead of a promised finish date, request updates tied to the next task.
What should I do first if I suspect hospital negligence caused a death?
When did treatment happen, and when did you first suspect a problem? If you have records and hospital messages, gather them and ask a Florida lawyer to check the deadline for filing. Published medical wrongful death settlements appear on Fernandez Firm and Abrahamson & Uiterwyk's sites. Before choosing a firm, ask what experience it has with the care that concerns you.
Are there different filing rules for children?
If a claim is brought on behalf of a child on or before the eighth birthday, Florida's rule says the 4-year and 7-year limits don't bar it. Even so, death claims involving children don't all have the same deadline. Before relying on that provision, have a Florida lawyer check whether it applies to the particular claim your family is considering.
Do a hospital's CMS stars show whether it caused my loved one's death?
CMS star ratings are available for nearby hospitals. What happened during your loved one's treatment isn't something those ratings can tell you. To support the notice of intent, Florida's medical negligence process requires an investigation and a qualified medical expert's written opinion. Rather than relying on the hospital's overall rating, have the lawyer assess the actual care and the medical records.
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