February 27, 2001 - The Price Of Practice

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Doctors and insurers often blame people who file "frivolous" lawsuits as one reason why malpractice insurance rates for doctors keep increasing.

Steve Brown, director of the West Virginia office of Medical Assurance, the state's largest malpractice insurer, believes that just like the reason why people purchase lottery tickets, they see one person getting money from a lawsuit and think they could get the same.

"People see malpractice lawsuits as a quick fix, a fast buck," said a neurosurgeon, Dr. Fred Payne. "They see it as a good way to get out of the misery and poverty they're in."

However, many attorneys state that lawyers carefully analyze all cases and determine whether they have merit before filing a complaint. The costs of pursuing a personal injury case are high and attorneys get paid only if they win. Thus, according to some jurists a lawyer would have to be an idiot to take a case that has no merit.

Also, although some settlement agreements state that the doctor admits no liability, most medical malpractice insurers settle only when the plaintiff can show that the doctor was negligent. Frank O'Neil, vice president of marketing for Alabama-based Medical Assurance, said that they only settle cases when they believe there was negligence and will go to trial if they think the case is frivolous.

"Some people have a misconception that once there's settlement, it's like you've won the lottery and you use it to go to Disney World," said Ms. Williams, a mother of a five-year old son diagnosed with cerebral palsy. "No amount of money can take away the pain. How do you put a price tag on a child who will be disabled for the rest of his life? When you're told to put your trust in people in the medical system, they need to be held accountable when they cause an injury," she added.

In cerebral palsy cases it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, review the medical procedures in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate the birth record and injuries. If you or a loved one is a victim of cerebral palsy, call now at or CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A SIMPLE CASE FORM. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don't delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.

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The Gunn Law Group handles cases involving Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance, Property Insurance Coverage and Disputes, Insurance Bad Faith, Hurricane Insurance Claims, as well as the most serious of Personal Injury such as: Automobile Accidents, Spinal Cord Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability and Wrongful Death. The Gunn Law Group serves the following Florida areas: Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Arcadia, Atlantic Beach, Bartow, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs, Boynton Beach, Bradenton, Brandon, Brooksville, Cape Coral, Casselberry, Clearwater, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Crestview, Crystal River, Dade City, Dania, Daytona Beach, Deerfield Beach, Deland, Delray Beach, Destin, Dunedin, Englewood, Eustis, Fernandina Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Green Cove Springs, Gulf Breeze, Hallandale, Hialeah, Hollywood, Homestead, Hudson, Inverness, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Key Biscayne, Key Largo, Key West, Kissimmee, Lake City, Lake Mary, Lake Wales, Lake Worth, Lakeland, Largo, Leesburg, Live Oak, Longwood, Lutz, Maitland, Marathon, Marco Island, Melbourne, Merritt Island, Miami, Miami Beach, Milton, Mount Dora, Naples, New Port Richey, New Smyrna Beach, Niceville, North Fort Myers, North Miami Beach, North Palm Beach, Ocala, Okeechobee, Orange Park, Orlando, Ormond Beach, Oviedo, Palatka, Palm Bay, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm City, Palm Coast, Palm Harbor, Panama City, Pensacola, Perry, Plant City, Pompano Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Port Saint Lucie, Punta Gorda, Quincy, Rockledge, Safety Harbor, Saint Augustine, Saint Petersburg, Sanford, Sanibel, Sarasota, Satellite Beach, Sebring, Seminole, Shalimar, Spring Hill, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Tavares, Tavernier, Titusville, Venice, Vero Beach, West Palm Beach, Weston, Winter Haven, Winter Park, Winter Springs Copyright 2008 © Gunn Law Group, P.A. , All Rights Reserved Terms & Conditions Site Map