A stroke is a medical emergency that needs fast care. When a doctor fails to spot the signs of a stroke, a patient may lose the chance to get treatment that could limit serious harm. A missed or delayed diagnosis may lead to lasting brain damage, disability, or even death.
If you or a loved one suffered harm because a stroke was misdiagnosed in Jacksonville, Florida, you may have legal options. Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers can review what happened and determine whether medical negligence may have played a role.
Our attorneys can investigate your medical records, work with experts, and explain your rights. Contact our law firm at (904) 396-1100 today to schedule a free consultation with a Jacksonville stroke misdiagnosis lawyer and learn more about your options.
Why Choose Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida
Medical malpractice cases can be hard to prove. Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers has over 100 years of combined experience helping injured people and families pursue compensation.
Our firm has served clients in Jacksonville, FL, and has recovered tens of millions for injured people. Our Jacksonville medical malpractice lawyers understand how serious a medical error can be and can handle each stage of your claim.
We can investigate the medical care you received, gather evidence, consult medical experts, and deal with insurance companies. This allows you to focus on your health and family.
Contact the firm today to discuss your stroke misdiagnosis case with a Jacksonville personal injury attorney during a free consultation and learn how we may be able to help.
What Is a Stroke Misdiagnosis?
A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Without proper blood flow, brain cells can quickly become damaged. The two main types are ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.
A stroke misdiagnosis can happen when a medical provider fails to recognize a stroke or mistakes its symptoms for another health problem. A doctor might believe that a patient is suffering from a migraine, seizure, low blood sugar, or another condition.
A delay can matter because some stroke treatments are most useful when provided soon after symptoms begin.
What Are Common Signs of a Stroke?
Doctors and other medical workers should take possible stroke symptoms seriously. Quick treatment may reduce the brain damage caused by a stroke.
Common warning signs can include:
- Sudden weakness or numbness, often on one side
- Trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden problems with vision
- Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance
- A sudden and severe headache with no known cause
People with possible stroke symptoms should call 911 right away. The CDC advises against driving to the hospital because emergency medical workers may be able to begin care on the way.
Knowing these warning signs may help patients and families respond quickly.
How Can a Stroke Be Misdiagnosed?
There are several ways that a stroke diagnosis may be missed or delayed. A medical provider might fail to fully review a patient’s symptoms or medical history. Testing may also be delayed, or the results may not be properly reviewed.
Possible medical errors may include:
- Failing to recognize clear stroke symptoms
- Not ordering needed medical tests
- Misreading test results
- Failing to refer a patient for more testing
- Mistaking stroke symptoms for another condition
- Delaying treatment after a stroke is found
Not every missed diagnosis is medical malpractice. A Jacksonville medical malpractice attorney must look at the facts and determine whether the medical provider’s care met the required standard.
How Do You Prove Medical Malpractice in Florida?
Florida law sets specific rules for medical negligence cases. A patient generally must show that a health care provider failed to meet the professional standard of care and that this failure caused the patient’s injury.
In a stroke misdiagnosis case, this may require showing that a reasonably careful medical provider would have recognized the signs, ordered proper tests, or taken other steps under similar circumstances.
Medical experts often play an important role in these cases. They may review medical records and explain what a provider should have done. They can also help determine whether delayed treatment caused or increased the patient’s injuries.
How Long Do You Have To File a Stroke Misdiagnosis Claim in Florida?
Medical malpractice claims have strict deadlines called statutes of limitations. Under current Florida law, a medical malpractice action generally must be started within two years of the incident or when the incident was discovered or should have been discovered.
Florida also has special steps that must be completed before a medical negligence lawsuit is filed. For example, the law requires a reasonable investigation into whether grounds for a medical negligence claim exist.
These rules can be complicated, and waiting too long may affect your ability to seek compensation. Speaking with an attorney early can provide more time to investigate what happened and meet important legal deadlines.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyers
If you believe a doctor or another health care provider failed to properly diagnose your stroke in Jacksonville, FL, you may have the right to seek compensation. A medical malpractice claim could help you recover money for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses caused by negligent care.
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate what happened and explain your legal options. Our team understands the serious impact that a missed or delayed stroke diagnosis can have on patients and their families.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Jacksonville stroke misdiagnosis attorney. We can listen to your story, review the facts surrounding your treatment, and discuss the next steps you may be able to take.
