Attorney Richard Mitzel Adds Vital New Information on Medical Malpractice to His Website

Attorney Richard Mitzel, located in Tampa Florida, has added vital new information regarding medical malpractice to his website. The new information describes the early steps in pursing a medical malpractice claim. Having this information available on his website will help victims of medical malpractice and their families better understand what steps need to be taken after contacting an attorney.

Medical harm is a major cause of suffering, disability and death of victims of malpractice. The Journal of Patient Safety recently published a study, which concluded that as many as 440,000 people die from preventable errors in hospitals. Tens of thousands also die from preventable mistakes outside of hospitals. Medical negligence is the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer. The most common incidences of medical negligence are medication errors, medical mismanagement, misdiagnosis, anesthesia mistakes, hospital acquired infections, bed sores and wrong site surgeries.

“Pursuing a medical malpractice claim has been made even more difficult by the Florida legislature,” says Richard Mitzel. “Florida statutes require a pre-suit process designed to give the medical provider a chance to investigate a claim prior to the start of litigation.” Mitzel added, “Despite this, early resolution of the claim by settlement is very rare.”

The process of bringing a claim of malpractice relies on the nationally agreed upon standard of care and whether or not it was met or rendered by the healthcare professional. The burden of proof regarding this is the responsibility of the injured claimant.

To start the process, all medical records must be obtained and then are reviewed by the claimant’s expert witness who decides if the standard of care was met. If the expert witness decides the standard of care was not met, then a notice of intent to initiate litigation is sent to the healthcare provider accompanied by documentation.

After that occurs, the provider can initiate their own expert review and respond to the claim within 90 days with a denial that the claim is valid or an admission of fault and an offer of arbitration. If the provider does not respond within the 90 day window, the claim is deemed to be rejected by the provider and the suit can be filed. Richard Mitzel wants to help victims navigate this difficult process and he gives everyone a free case review.

Attorney Richard Mitzel has been practicing in Florida for over 30 years and is a member of the Florida Bar, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and the Hernando County Bar Association. He is also a member of The National Trial Lawyers. He has devoted his life to representing clients who have been the victim of wrongful personal injury. “I take my client’s cases personally. I handle each client’s case myself, from the beginning to the end. I also give each client my personal cell phone number.”

Mr. Mitzel’s personal attention is evidenced by the praise given to him by his clients. “Ric Mitzel is unlike any lawyer I have ever met. He is truly dedicated,” says Arthur B. “He will spend more time helping a client get the justice they deserve.” More information can be found at http://richardmitzel.com.