Professional Negligence
Professional negligence, also called “malpractice,” is when a professional’s conduct falls below accepted standards within that professional’s industry or practice, and causes harm to a person. Malpractice may be caused by carelessness, lack of professional skill, ignorance, miscommunications, disregard of established rules, or even a malicious and criminal intent.
Malpractice is not limited to a particular profession, and it actually includes the conduct of many professionals, such as: accountants, architects, brokers, engineers, insurance agents, land surveyors, lawyers, medical specialists, medical practitioners, nursing home attendants/employees, pharmacists, and many more.
Jeffrey R. Davis, P.A. has represented the victims of professional negligence including legal malpractice, architectural malpractice, engineering malpractice, broker and insurance agent errors, notary public fraud, and other professional errors and omissions. The firm has also represented victims of nursing home neglect or abuse.
If you or a relative has been harmed by professional services or conduct that fell below acceptable professional standards, consult with an attorney as soon as you are aware of your injuries. This is important because Florida law imposes different deadlines on when you may bring malpractice claims against certain professionals, before you lose the right to pursue your claims. For example, in some cases the statute of limitations may be 2 or 4 years (and up to 7 years in certain cases of fraud and concealment).
Please learn more about your legal rights if you are a victim of professional negligence. Contact Jeffrey R. Davis P.A. for a no-obligation free case review or call us at (305) 577-3777. We are always prepared to pursue maximum compensation for damages caused by professional misconduct. Our attorneys will speak with you in English or Spanish/Se Habla Español.
Summary on Differing Statutes of Limitation
- When a claim for malpractice must be brought depends on whether the job fits the statutory definition of “professional”. For this purpose, a “profession” is a job that requires a 4-year college degree as a minimum requirement before licensing in Florida is possible. FLA. STAT. § 95.11(4).
- So, professional malpractice claims must be brought within 2 years from the time the harm is discovered or 2 years from when it should have been discovered with the exercise of due diligence.
- If you are harmed by a worker in an occupation (that does not meet the requirements of a “profession”) the malpractice claim must be brought within 4 years from the time the harm is discovered or 4 years from the time the harm should have been discovered with the use of due diligence.
- Medical malpractice claim deadlines are different. See medical malpractice.
These are only guidelines that do not substitute consulting with an attorney.
Consult an experienced attorney as soon as possible to avoid the risk of losing your legal rights. Submit free case review.
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