Pediatric Malpractice Lawyer Florida | Juan Cordero Lawyers

Pediatric & Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Pediatric Malpractice Lawyer Florida

When doctors and hospitals fail children — during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or childhood — the consequences can last a lifetime. We fight for injured kids and their families throughout Florida.

Florida Pediatric Malpractice Attorneys

Children are not small adults. Their anatomy, physiology, and the way illness presents are fundamentally different — and when a doctor, pediatrician, or hospital fails to account for that, the consequences can be catastrophic and permanent.

Pediatric malpractice cases include misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of serious conditions like meningitis, appendicitis, or cancer; surgical errors on minors; medication dosing mistakes that can cause organ damage or death; emergency room failures; and birth injuries including HIE (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy) and cerebral palsy.

We also handle adult medical malpractice cases throughout Florida — surgical errors, misdiagnosis, anesthesia errors, and hospital negligence. But our primary focus is on the most vulnerable victims: children whose entire futures have been altered by a provider's failure to meet the standard of care.

We work with leading medical experts — pediatric neurologists, neonatologists, surgeons, and life care planners — to build the strongest possible case. Our attorneys understand the medicine, the law, and how to present complex cases to juries.

Types of Pediatric & Medical Negligence Cases

Pediatric misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis
Pediatric surgical errors
Medication dosing errors in children
Pediatric emergency room errors
Birth injuries and HIE (oxygen deprivation)
Cerebral palsy from labor & delivery negligence
Neonatal oxygen deprivation
Failure to diagnose pediatric cancer
Anesthesia errors in children
Hospital negligence involving minors
Medical negligence during labor & delivery
Medical negligence during pregnancy
Preeclampsia / eclampsia mismanagement
Failure to order emergency C-section
Failure to monitor fetal distress
Nursing errors and medication mix-ups

Florida Statute of Limitations

  • 2 years from discovery of the injury to file suit
  • 4-year absolute repose — no exceptions after 4 years
  • Birth injury cases involving minors may have extended deadlines
  • Mandatory 90-day pre-suit investigation required before filing

Do not wait — contact us immediately to preserve your rights.

Why These Cases Are Complex

  • Require expert medical testimony to establish standard of care
  • Mandatory pre-suit investigation and Notice of Intent
  • Strict 2-year statute of limitations with 4-year repose
  • Well-funded defense by hospitals, insurers, and risk management teams
  • Non-economic damage caps struck down — full recovery now available

Have questions about your medical malpractice claim?

Read our Medical Malpractice FAQ →

Florida Medical Malpractice Law Explained

Florida has some of the most complex medical malpractice laws in the country. Understanding these rules is critical to protecting your claim.

Statute of Limitations

Florida Statute §95.11(4)(b) gives you 2 years from discovery of the injury. An absolute 4-year statute of repose bars all claims after 4 years from the negligent act, regardless of when you discovered it. Fraud or concealment by the provider may extend this to 7 years.

Pre-Suit Requirements

Under Florida Statute §766.106, before filing suit you must serve a Notice of Intent on all defendants and obtain a corroborating expert opinion. Defendants have 90 days to investigate and respond with a rejection, offer, or admission of liability. This process is mandatory — skipping it can get your case dismissed.

Proving Negligence

You must prove the provider deviated from the accepted standard of care — what a reasonably competent provider in the same specialty would have done. Expert testimony is required. Florida uses a pure comparative fault system, meaning your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.

How We Handle Your Medical Malpractice Case

From your first call to final resolution, here is what to expect when Juan Cordero Lawyers takes your case.

01

Free Case Evaluation

We review your medical records and circumstances at no cost to determine whether negligence occurred and whether you have a viable claim.

02

Pre-Suit Investigation

Florida law requires a 90-day pre-suit investigation period. We obtain your records, retain medical experts, and issue a Notice of Intent to Initiate Litigation.

03

Expert Review & Corroboration

A qualified medical expert must corroborate that negligence occurred before a lawsuit can be filed. We work with leading specialists in every relevant field.

04

Filing & Discovery

We file suit, conduct depositions of treating physicians, and obtain all hospital records, policies, and communications relevant to your case.

05

Settlement or Trial

Most cases resolve through negotiated settlement. If the defense does not offer fair compensation, we take your case to trial and fight for every dollar you deserve.

Pediatric Malpractice & Birth Injury Specialists

Children deserve specialized advocacy. We handle the full spectrum of pediatric malpractice — from birth injuries and HIE to misdiagnosis, surgical errors, and medication mistakes in children of all ages. These cases often involve lifelong consequences that require substantial, long-term compensation.

HIE (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy)
Cerebral palsy from oxygen deprivation
Pediatric misdiagnosis — meningitis, cancer, appendicitis
Medication dosing errors in children
Pediatric surgical errors
Brachial plexus / Erb's palsy
Delayed C-section brain damage
Failure to monitor fetal distress

Labor & Delivery Negligence

Medical Negligence During Labor & Delivery

Labor and delivery is one of the highest-risk periods in medicine. Obstetricians, nurses, and hospital staff must monitor both mother and baby continuously — and when they fail to respond to warning signs, the consequences can be catastrophic and permanent.

Negligence during labor and delivery most commonly involves failure to recognize or respond to fetal distress, delayed or improper C-section decisions, misuse of delivery instruments (forceps, vacuum extractor), and failure to manage obstetric emergencies like placental abruption, umbilical cord prolapse, or uterine rupture.

A baby deprived of oxygen during delivery — even briefly — can suffer permanent brain damage, cerebral palsy, HIE, or death. These injuries are often preventable. When they are caused by a provider's failure to meet the standard of care, the family has a right to pursue full compensation.

We work with board-certified obstetricians and neonatologists who review the fetal monitoring strips, delivery records, and nursing notes to establish exactly when the standard of care was breached and what should have been done differently.

Common Labor & Delivery Negligence Claims

Failure to recognize or respond to fetal distress on monitoring strips
Delayed C-section causing oxygen deprivation
Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractor
Failure to manage placental abruption or previa
Umbilical cord prolapse — failure to act immediately
Uterine rupture — delayed diagnosis or response
Shoulder dystocia mismanagement causing brachial plexus injury
Failure to order emergency C-section for non-reassuring fetal heart rate
Inadequate monitoring of high-risk labor
Nursing failure to escalate deteriorating fetal status to physician

Fetal monitoring strips are the most critical evidence in a labor negligence case. They must be preserved immediately.

Call (305) 525-8957 — Free Consultation

Pregnancy Negligence — Common Claims

Failure to diagnose or treat preeclampsia / eclampsia
Gestational diabetes — undiagnosed or mismanaged
Failure to diagnose ectopic pregnancy
Delayed diagnosis of placenta previa or abruption
Failure to order or interpret prenatal genetic testing
Medication errors during pregnancy causing fetal harm
Failure to diagnose Group B Strep (GBS) infection
Inadequate monitoring of high-risk pregnancy
Failure to refer to maternal-fetal medicine specialist
Mismanagement of HELLP syndrome

Pregnancy Negligence

Medical Negligence During Pregnancy

Prenatal care negligence occurs when an OB-GYN, midwife, or healthcare provider fails to properly monitor, diagnose, or treat a condition during pregnancy — putting both mother and baby at risk.

Preeclampsia is one of the most commonly missed diagnoses in obstetrics. It affects 5–8% of pregnancies and, if undetected or mismanaged, can progress to eclampsia, stroke, organ failure, and death of the mother or baby. When a provider fails to recognize the warning signs — elevated blood pressure, protein in urine, sudden swelling — and fails to act, that is negligence.

Gestational diabetes, ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa, Group B Strep, and HELLP syndrome are all conditions that require timely diagnosis and management. A missed or delayed diagnosis that causes harm to the mother or baby can form the basis of a medical malpractice claim.

We handle prenatal negligence cases throughout Florida, working with maternal-fetal medicine specialists and obstetric experts to establish what the standard of care required and where it was breached.

HIE & Oxygen Deprivation

HIE — Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

HIE is one of the most serious and most preventable birth injuries. When a baby is deprived of oxygen during labor or delivery, the brain begins to die within minutes. Early intervention — therapeutic hypothermia (cooling therapy) — can limit the damage, but only if the injury is recognized and treated immediately.

What Causes HIE?

Delayed or failed emergency C-section
Umbilical cord compression or prolapse
Placental abruption — delayed response
Uterine rupture
Prolonged labor without intervention
Failure to respond to non-reassuring fetal heart rate
Maternal hypotension during labor
Misuse of Pitocin causing uterine hyperstimulation

HIE Outcomes & Long-Term Effects

Cerebral palsy (spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic)
Intellectual disability
Epilepsy and seizure disorders
Vision and hearing impairment
Feeding and swallowing difficulties
Motor delays and movement disorders
Speech and language impairment
Lifelong care needs — often millions in future costs

What We Investigate in HIE Cases

Fetal monitoring strip review — every deceleration, every missed response
C-section decision timing — was it ordered in time?
Nursing escalation — did nurses notify the physician?
Cooling therapy — was it initiated promptly?
NICU records — was the injury recognized and documented?
Expert neonatologist and OB review
Life care plan — full future cost projection

HIE cases require immediate action. Evidence must be preserved now.

Call (305) 525-8957

Injured? Call Now for a Free Consultation.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We come to you — home, hospital, or our offices.

Pediatric Malpractice Lawyers Serving Florida Cities

We represent injured children and their families across Florida — from Miami-Dade to the Treasure Coast and beyond.

Miami

Can I sue a Miami doctor or hospital for pediatric medical malpractice?

Yes. Miami families whose children were injured by negligent doctors, pediatricians, surgeons, or hospitals can file a medical malpractice claim under Florida law. Juan Cordero Lawyers handles pediatric malpractice cases at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Jackson Memorial, Baptist Health, and all major Miami-Dade medical facilities. Call (305) 525-8957 for a free consultation.

Fort Lauderdale

What is the deadline to file a pediatric malpractice claim in Fort Lauderdale?

Florida gives you 2 years from the date you discovered — or should have discovered — the injury. For minors, the statute of limitations may be tolled until the child turns 8, but an absolute 4-year repose period applies in most cases. Fort Lauderdale and Broward County families should contact us immediately to protect their child's rights.

Stuart / Treasure Coast

Does Juan Cordero Lawyers handle pediatric malpractice cases in Stuart and the Treasure Coast?

Yes. Our Stuart office serves Martin County, St. Lucie County, and the entire Treasure Coast. We handle pediatric surgical errors, misdiagnosis in children, birth injuries, and hospital negligence at Martin Health System and all Treasure Coast medical facilities. Call (772) 227-0577.

Orlando

Can I file a pediatric malpractice lawsuit in Orlando, Florida?

Yes. Orlando and Central Florida families have the same rights under Florida medical malpractice law. We handle pediatric cases involving Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, AdventHealth for Children, and other Central Florida hospitals. Contact us for a free case evaluation.

Tampa

How do I find a pediatric malpractice lawyer in Tampa, Florida?

Juan Cordero Lawyers represents Tampa Bay area families whose children were injured by medical negligence at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Tampa General, BayCare, and other facilities. With Florida Lawyer Since 1999 and Top 100 Trial Lawyer recognition, we fight for maximum compensation. No fee unless we win.

Jacksonville

Does Florida law apply to pediatric malpractice cases in Jacksonville?

Yes. The same Florida statutes — including the 2-year statute of limitations, mandatory pre-suit investigation, and expert corroboration requirement — apply statewide, including Jacksonville and Duval County. We represent injured children and their families throughout Northeast Florida.

Watch: Florida Pediatric & Medical Malpractice Law Explained

Attorney Juan Cordero explains what it takes to prove pediatric malpractice in Florida and how expert witnesses build winning cases for injured children.

Watch: Attorney Juan Cordero

Video coming soon — visit our YouTube channel for the latest legal guides

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Proving Pediatric Malpractice in Florida

The standard of care for children, expert witness requirements, and the pre-suit process under Florida law.

More videos on our channel
Watch: Attorney Juan Cordero

Video coming soon — visit our YouTube channel for the latest legal guides

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Florida Pediatric Surgical Errors & Misdiagnosis Claims

When a doctor's mistake injures a child — and what your family can recover.

More videos on our channel