Palm Beach County Delayed Diagnosis Lawyers

A delayed diagnosis can have life-altering consequences. When a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a condition promptly, patients may lose critical time for treatment, leading to severe complications, permanent injury, or even death. These medical errors often occur due to negligence, such as a doctor failing to recognize symptoms, misinterpreting test results, or delaying necessary medical tests. That’s where our experienced Palm Beach County delayed diagnosis lawyers step in.

At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we believe that patients deserve answers and justice when a delayed diagnosis results in avoidable harm. Our experienced Palm Beach County delayed diagnosis lawyers are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable and helping victims recover the financial compensation they need to move forward. If you or a loved one has suffered due to a misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, or diagnostic error, contact our firm for a free consultation today.

Why Choose Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa?

Decades of Experience Handling Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice cases are complex and require a deep understanding of both legal and medical principles. Our attorneys have spent decades representing victims of medical negligence, helping clients recover substantial settlements and verdicts in delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and failure to diagnose cases.

Proven Track Record of Success
Our firm has successfully recovered millions of dollars for clients harmed by delayed diagnoses and medical negligence. We approach every case with a strategic and aggressive legal plan to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.

Collaboration with Top Medical Experts
To prove a delayed diagnosis case, we work with board-certified medical specialists, including oncologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and pathologists, who help us establish how the failure to diagnose a condition caused harm and what a competent doctor should have done differently.

Personalized Legal Representation
Every medical malpractice case is unique, which is why we provide individualized legal strategies tailored to each client’s specific circumstances. We take the time to understand your medical condition, treatment history, and the emotional and financial impact the delayed diagnosis has had on your life.

No Upfront Costs – We Don’t Get Paid Unless You Do
We believe that financial concerns should never prevent someone from seeking justice. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case.

What Is a Delayed Diagnosis?

A delayed diagnosis occurs when a doctor fails to recognize and diagnose a medical condition in a timely manner, causing a delay in treatment that worsens a patient’s condition. While not every delay in diagnosis is considered malpractice, a delay caused by negligence—such as failing to order the correct tests, misinterpreting lab results, or dismissing patient symptoms—can form the basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

A delayed diagnosis can result from:

Failure to order appropriate medical tests
If a doctor does not request critical diagnostic tests, such as blood work, biopsies, MRIs, or CT scans, the condition may go undetected.

Misinterpretation of test results
A radiologist, pathologist, or physician may incorrectly read an X-ray, MRI, biopsy, or blood test, leading to a missed or delayed diagnosis.

Failure to refer to a specialist
If a primary care doctor does not send a patient to a specialist (such as an oncologist or cardiologist) when necessary, a disease may progress untreated.

Failure to follow up on abnormal test results
If test results indicate a possible medical issue, but a doctor fails to act on them, the patient’s condition may deteriorate.

Miscommunication among medical providers
In hospital settings, delays often occur when medical staff fails to properly communicate test results or critical patient information.

When these failures cause serious harm, legal action may be the best way to obtain compensation and prevent similar errors from happening to others.

Common Medical Conditions Affected by Delayed Diagnosis

A delayed diagnosis is particularly dangerous in cases where early detection is crucial for effective treatment. Some of the most commonly misdiagnosed or delayed conditions include:

Cancer
Cancer is one of the most serious conditions impacted by diagnostic delays. Many cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma, have higher survival rates when diagnosed in early stages. A delayed cancer diagnosis can lead to more aggressive treatments, reduced life expectancy, and emotional distress for patients and their families.

Stroke
Stroke requires immediate medical intervention. A delayed stroke diagnosis can result in permanent brain damage, paralysis, or death. Common errors include failing to recognize symptoms, dismissing warning signs, or not ordering a CT scan or MRI when stroke symptoms are present.

Heart Attack
A heart attack may be mistaken for acid reflux, anxiety, or muscle pain, leading to deadly delays in treatment. If a doctor fails to order an EKG, blood tests, or cardiac imaging, a patient may suffer unnecessary heart damage or death.

Severe Infections & Sepsis
Bacterial infections, including sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia, can escalate rapidly. If a doctor fails to promptly diagnose and treat an infection, the patient may develop organ failure, septic shock, or death.

Diabetes & Endocrine Disorders
A misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of diabetes, thyroid disease, or other hormonal disorders can cause nerve damage, kidney failure, vision loss, and cardiovascular complications.

If a doctor’s negligence led to a delayed diagnosis of any of these conditions, you may have grounds for legal action.

How to Prove Medical Malpractice in a Delayed Diagnosis Case

To win a delayed diagnosis lawsuit, we must prove the following:

1. Doctor-Patient Relationship – The medical professional had a duty of care to diagnose and treat the patient.
2. Breach of Standard of Care – The doctor failed to act as a reasonably competent medical professional would under similar circumstances.
3. Causation – The delay in diagnosis directly led to harm, such as disease progression, additional medical complications, or the need for more intensive treatments.
4. Damages – The patient suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm due to the delay.

At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we work with top medical experts to establish negligence and build a compelling case.

Compensation for Victims of Delayed Diagnosis

A successful delayed diagnosis lawsuit may provide compensation for:

1. Medical Costs – Coverage for hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and future treatment.
2. Lost Wages – Compensation for missed work and reduced earning capacity.
3. Pain and Suffering – Damages for emotional distress, physical pain, and loss of enjoyment of life.
4. Wrongful Death – Financial support for families who lost a loved one due to delayed diagnosis.

Our Palm Beach County delayed diagnosis lawyers fight for maximum compensation to cover your medical and personal losses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Delayed Diagnosis Lawsuits

How do I know if I have a valid delayed diagnosis case?
If a doctor or healthcare provider failed to diagnose your medical condition in a timely manner and this delay caused harm, you may have a case. A valid claim typically requires proving that the delay was due to negligence, meaning another competent doctor would have diagnosed the condition sooner under the same circumstances. If the delay led to a worsening of your health, more invasive treatments, or a loss of treatment options, you should consult an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to review your case.

How long do I have to file a delayed diagnosis lawsuit in Florida?
In Florida, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases, including delayed diagnosis claims, is generally two years from the date the injury was discovered or should have been discovered. However, certain exceptions apply, such as cases involving fraudulent concealment by a doctor or lawsuits filed on behalf of minors. Since medical malpractice laws are complex, it is crucial to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed within the legal deadline.

What kind of evidence is needed for a delayed diagnosis lawsuit?
To prove a delayed diagnosis claim, you will need medical records showing your symptoms, test results, and the timeline of your treatment. Expert medical testimony is often required to demonstrate how a competent physician should have diagnosed your condition sooner. Additional evidence may include hospital records, pathology reports, witness statements, and documentation of how the delay impacted your health and well-being. A medical malpractice attorney will help gather and analyze this evidence to build a strong case.

Can I sue a hospital or medical facility for a delayed diagnosis?
Yes, hospitals and medical facilities can be held liable for a delayed diagnosis if the negligence was caused by their policies, procedures, or failure to properly train or supervise medical staff. If a delay occurred due to a hospital’s lack of communication, inadequate staffing, faulty equipment, or failure to follow medical protocols, a lawsuit can be filed against the institution as well as the individual doctor responsible.

What damages can I recover in a delayed diagnosis lawsuit?
Victims of delayed diagnosis may recover compensation for medical expenses, including the cost of additional treatments or surgeries that would not have been necessary if the condition had been diagnosed sooner. Lost wages and reduced earning capacity may also be claimed if the delay impacted the ability to work. Pain and suffering damages compensate for physical and emotional distress caused by the worsened condition. In cases of wrongful death resulting from a delayed diagnosis, surviving family members may be eligible for compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and financial support.

Contact Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa Today

If you or a loved one suffered due to a delayed diagnosis, it is crucial to seek legal representation as soon as possible. At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, our Palm Beach County delayed diagnosis lawyers provide compassionate and aggressive legal advocacy to hold negligent medical providers accountable. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.