The Hidden Physical, Emotional, and Financial Scars of Medical Mistakes

By Space Coast Daily // November 27, 2023

Florida residents rely on medical professionals to help them recover from illnesses and injuries daily. Although most patients experience positive outcomes and the treatment goes smoothly, errors can still happen.

Unfortunately, the victims of medical malpractice experience many negative consequences, including physical, emotional, and financial damages. While physical scars are visible to everyone, those aren’t the only types that victims of medical mishaps possess.

If you’ve been injured by a healthcare professional, contact a Miami medical malpractice lawyer. During a free consultation, they’ll help to guide you towards getting the compensation you deserve. Don’t settle for a lowball offer that only covers your medical expenses; work with a legal team of medical malpractice professionals to ensure justice is served.

The Types of Damages a Medical Mistake Can Cause

When you’ve been on the wrong end of a medical mistake, it can cause more damage than the obvious physical ones. The anger, frustration, and loss of faith in a healthcare professional or the entire system in general can hit victims physically, emotionally, and financially. Without the help of an experienced medical malpractice attorney, you’ll surely continue to suffer from someone’s poor judgment and outright neglect.

It’s important to note that Florida’s Medical Malpractice statute of limitations is a mere two years from the date of the mistake or the date the victim has discovered it. Attempting to receive compensation after two years will result in rejecting the claim.

Physical Damages

While some medical mistakes can be corrected, many will leave permanent disabilities. Whether they leave their victims with a life-altering condition that’s permanent or correctable, both can lead to long-term rehabilitation. Examples of the types of physical damage a medical mistake can cause can include:

Worsening of conditions
Removal of incorrect limb or organ
Incorrect diagnosis
Prescription errors
Birth injuries

Emotional Damages

Being on the receiving end of negligent healthcare, many victims experience more than just a decline in their physical health. Emotional and mental health should also be acknowledged after a medical mistake and, in many circumstances, can be just as traumatic and debilitating as physical damage. Common emotional damages suffered after medical malpractice include:

Mental anguish
PTSD
Anxiety attacks
Nightmares and sleep disorders
Loss of enjoyment of life

Financial Damages

Medical negligence can harm victims financially. This can happen during the short term while they are seeking compensation and also over their lifetime if the medical mistake has left them with a physical disability or chronic long-term pain. Some typical financial damages due to a medical error can include:

Past, present, and expected medical treatment
Current and expected travel-related expenses to and from medical appointments
Past, present, and expected lost wages and benefits
Housekeeping and lawn care services
Construction costs for necessary mobility devices

How To Recover All of Your Medical Malpractice Damages

To receive the maximum compensation for all of your medical malpractice damages, you’ll want to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. Cases like these can be complex; without an expert, you’ll surely be leaving money on the table. Imagine going up against a team of savvy medical insurance company lawyers alone. Their sole purpose is to limit liability and pay the bare minimum. Attempting to seek compensation without a lawyer is foolish and naive.

Here’s what you need to do to ensure you’re compensated for all your damages.

Hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
Gather evidence of damages
Obtain an Affidavit of Merit from a similarly trained medical expert
File a personal injury lawsuit