Award-Winning Sepsis Malpractice Law Firm in Florida
Sepsis is one of the most dangerous medical emergencies healthcare providers encounter. It develops when the body’s response to an infection triggers widespread inflammation, organ dysfunction, and potentially life-threatening complications. When recognized and treated early, sepsis can often be managed successfully. However, when doctors, nurses, hospitals, or emergency departments fail to identify the warning signs, patients can suffer catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
At Freedland Harwin Valori Gander, we represent victims and families throughout Florida who have suffered harm because healthcare providers failed to diagnose or timely treat sepsis. Our attorneys understand how devastating these cases can be and are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable.
Written and edited by our team of expert legal content writers and reviewed and approved by Daniel Harwin
- Content last updated on:
- June 30, 2026
Table of Contents
- Why Hire FHVG as Your Sepsis Misdiagnosis Lawyers in Florida?
- Can You Sue a Doctor for Sepsis?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Sepsis Malpractice
- How Much Does a Florida Sepsis Misdiagnosis Lawyer Cost?
- What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Sepsis Malpractice Settlement?
- How To Tell if You Have a Medical Malpractice Claim in Florida
- Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis
- Seek Help From a Florida Sepsis Malpractice Lawyer Now
Common Causes of Failure to Diagnose Sepsis
Sepsis often begins as a routine infection, which can make diagnosis challenging if providers fail to thoroughly evaluate symptoms.
Common medical mistakes include:
Failure to Recognize Symptoms
Healthcare providers may overlook classic warning signs such as:
- Fever
- Chills
- Rapid heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Confusion
- Low blood pressure
- Extreme fatigue
- Decreased urine output
Missing these symptoms can delay lifesaving treatment.
Misdiagnosis
Sepsis symptoms may resemble other medical conditions.
Providers sometimes incorrectly diagnose:
- Influenza
- Viral infections
- Gastrointestinal illnesses
- Dehydration
- Anxiety-related symptoms
- Minor infections
Misdiagnosis can allow sepsis to progress unchecked.
Failure to Order Appropriate Testing
When sepsis is suspected, healthcare providers often need to order:
- Blood cultures
- Complete blood counts
- Lactate testing
- Imaging studies
- Organ function testing
Failure to perform these evaluations may prevent timely diagnosis.
Delayed Emergency Room Evaluation
Emergency departments frequently encounter patients with early sepsis symptoms.
Delays in triage, assessment, or treatment can result in rapid deterioration.
Failure to Escalate Care
Patients may initially appear stable before their condition worsens.
Healthcare providers must respond appropriately when warning signs emerge.
Failure to transfer patients to higher levels of care can have devastating consequences.
What You Need to Know About Sepsis Malpractice Claims
Sepsis Malpractice Settlements
We have secured record-setting settlements and life-changing verdicts for our medical malpractice clients, including those harmed by a sepsis misdiagnosis. Notable case outcomes for sepsis malpractice cases include the following:
- $1.8 million settlement for a patient who suffered from necrosis, loss of bowel, sepsis, and septic shock when a hospital and practicing physicians failed to diagnose bowel ischemia in a reasonable time
- Confidential settlement on behalf of the family of 63-year-old woman who died as a result of the healthcare providers failing to timely diagnose and treat a septic infection
Client Testimonials
With a core desire to help others, our lawyers provide compassionate representation and treat every client like family. Here is what some of our satisfied clients have said:
“Freedland and team are professional, thorough, and caring! They make you feel like you are family and a part of the process each step of the way. They do an excellent job, and would recommend them anytime!”
“What an incredible law firm! Mr. Harwin and the entire staff and team were simply amazing! Throughout the entire process, this team gave me confidence of security that everything was gonna work out for me, and they fought and worked so hard to make sure I did! Happy to say this is my team that made sure I won and was happy! Highly recommend!”
– Harry C.
Meet Our Florida Sepsis Misdiagnosis Attorneys
Can You Sue a Doctor for Sepsis?
Yes, you can sue a doctor for medical malpractice that involves sepsis. You may have grounds to take legal action if you can prove the following four elements of medical negligence:
1. Duty
First, you must show that a doctor-patient relationship existed, giving rise to a duty of care. Doctors and other medical practitioners have a legal duty to provide their patients with the prevailing professional standard of care. This means they must give the same care that a reasonable professional with the same training would in the same situation.
2. Breach of Duty
A medical provider breaches this duty when they fail to meet the applicable standard of care. The breach could be an act or omission. If a health care provider breaches their duty, sepsis could result.
Examples of medical errors that could lead to sepsis include the following:
- Misdiagnosis
- Failure to timely diagnose sepsis
- Failure to prevent or treat an infection
- Failure to perform tests
- Failure to monitor a patient
- Improper sterilization or disinfection practices
- Poor care after a surgical procedure
- Poor treatment of a surgical incision
3. Causation
Next, you must prove that the doctor’s breach of duty led to an injury. For example, a doctor’s misdiagnosis of sepsis could cause organ damage or long-term health complications. An attorney will gather evidence to establish a causal link between the breach and injury and show that a diagnosis failure or delay caused your harm.
4. Damages
The last element of negligence is damages. You must establish that the injury resulted in damages, such as medical bills or pain and suffering.
Timely diagnosis of sepsis is vital to avoid critical or fatal outcomes. If you suspect your doctor’s negligence, late diagnosis, or misdiagnosis resulted in sepsis, speak with an attorney to determine if you have a case.
FHVG represented the family of a 78-year-old man who died as a result of the healthcare providers failing to properly recognize and treat a septic infection. They failed to order proper diagnostic testing, failed to transfer the patient to a proper unit at the hospital, and failed to perform a surgery that would have been life-saving
How Much Does a Florida Sepsis Misdiagnosis Lawyer Cost?
FHVG works on a contingency fee basis. When you hire our medical malpractice attorneys, you receive comprehensive legal representation at no upfront cost. If we secure compensation for you, we take a pre-agreed percentage from the settlement or award.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Sepsis Malpractice Settlement?
Patients who develop sepsis because of their doctor’s negligence suffer physical, emotional, and financial losses. Fortunately, victims can pursue compensation for their economic and non-economic damages in a sepsis malpractice claim.
Economic damages cover the monetary losses caused by the sepsis and related injuries, including the following:
- Medical bills
- Future medical care expenses
- Cost of medical devices or supplies
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
Non-economic damages compensate for the non-financial impacts of the malpractice on your life, such as the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
How to Know When You Should Contact a Lawyer for a Sepsis Misdiagnosis
You should consider speaking with an attorney if:
- A loved one died after an infection worsened unexpectedly
- Sepsis was diagnosed only after significant delays
- Emergency room providers dismissed serious symptoms
- A hospital failed to recognize infection warning signs
- Delayed treatment resulted in organ failure
- A patient required amputation after untreated sepsis
- Medical providers failed to order appropriate testing
Prompt legal investigation can help preserve critical medical records and identify whether negligence occurred.
Medical errors cause unimaginable harm. Let FHV Legal help you pursue justice.
How Freedland Harwin Valori Gander Investigates Sepsis Cases
Failure-to-diagnose sepsis cases often involve complex medical questions and extensive record review.
Our legal team investigates:
Medical Timeline Analysis
We reconstruct the timeline of symptoms, evaluations, testing, diagnosis, and treatment.
Emergency Department Care
We review whether emergency physicians, nurses, and staff properly assessed the patient’s condition.
Hospital Treatment Decisions
Our team examines whether healthcare providers responded appropriately as symptoms evolved.
Expert Medical Review
Independent experts evaluate whether providers complied with accepted standards of care.
Damages Assessment
We evaluate:
- Medical expenses
- Future care costs
- Rehabilitation needs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages
Seek Help From a Florida Sepsis Malpractice Lawyer Now
You shouldn’t have to face the consequences of a medical error alone. At Freedland Harwin Valori Gander, our experienced attorneys have deep experience identifying the signs of medical malpractice, including failures to diagnose sepsis promptly. We work with a network of reputable medical industry professionals and investigators to gather evidence and create a case against a negligent health care provider. At FHVG, we are prepared to employ all available resources to fight for the maximum recovery you deserve.
If you need legal assistance from a trusted sepsis malpractice attorney in Florida, contact us online or call (954) 467-6400 to schedule your free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Failure to Diagnose Sepsis
Can failure to diagnose sepsis be medical malpractice?
Yes. If healthcare providers fail to recognize symptoms, order appropriate testing, or provide timely treatment that reasonably competent providers would have delivered, malpractice may have occurred.
Can a hospital be liable for a delayed sepsis diagnosis?
Yes. Hospitals may be liable when physicians, nurses, emergency department staff, or systemic failures contribute to delayed diagnosis or treatment.
What evidence is used in a sepsis malpractice case?
Evidence often includes medical records, laboratory results, hospital documentation, expert testimony, and treatment timelines.
What compensation may be available?
Victims may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future care needs, pain and suffering, disability, and wrongful death damages.
How long do I have to file a sepsis malpractice claim in Florida?
Florida medical malpractice claims are subject to specific deadlines and legal requirements. Consulting an attorney promptly is important.
free consultation anytime, anywhere.
ALL FIELDS REQUIRED
- ANESTHESIA & PACU ERRORS
- BIRTH TRAUMA
- EMERGENCY ROOM MISTAKES
- FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE OR MISDIAGNOSIS – CANCER
- FAILURE OR DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS OF SEPSIS
- FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT GESTATIONAL DIABETES
- FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE BREAST CANCER
- FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE HEART ATTACK
- FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE OR TREAT AORTIC DISSECTION
- FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE PNEUMONIA
- FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE PULMONARY EMBOLISM
- FAILURE TO TREAT STROKE
- HOSPITAL MALPRACTICE
- INTRAVENOUS INFILTRATION
- MEDICATION ERRORS
- MEDICATION OVERDOSE
- MISDIAGNOSIS
- NEGLIGENT FETAL MONITORING
- OB/GYN ERRORS
- PLASTIC SURGERY ERRORS
- PREOPERATIVE CLEARANCE ERROR
- RADIOLOGY ERRORS
- SPINE SURGERY MISTAKES
- STILLBIRTH & MISCARRIAGE MALPRACTICE
- SURGERY CENTER ERRORS
- SURGICAL ERRORS
- TYPES OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS
CASE RESULTS
TESTIMONIALS
999 Ponce De Leon Blvd
Suite 1030
Coral Gables, FL 33134
