Our Tampa legal malpractice law firm has been advocating for clients since 1967. We know how to fight back against the people who take advantage of those who were simply seeking help in the first place.
We represent people and businesses that have been the victim of a wide variety of legal malpractice. You should not bear the financial burden of their wrongdoing. Let an experienced Tampa legal malpractice lawyer at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore make this situation easier for you.
Our home office is located in Tampa, but we serve clients throughout Florida, including, but not limited to the following cities:
Legal malpractice occurs when a lawyer fails to act with the skill and care expected of a lawyer under similar circumstances, and this failure harms the client. Lawyers are consulted and hired in a wide variety of cases and to advise their clients in all manner of legal problems. On occasion, they do so negligently.
The legal malpractice lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore have seen and prosecuted countless types of this negligence, including:
Florida’s legal malpractice claims process can be complex and involves several steps. You must prove that the professional was negligent or acted wrongfully and you have damages due to their negligence. Since you are going up against a professional in Florida, it’s essential that you have a Florida legal malpractice lawyer on your side.
We’ll investigate how you were harmed by legal malpractice. Legal malpractice can take many forms, such as:
Trial errors refer to mistakes made during the litigation process that can significantly impact the outcome of your case. These mistakes can range from failing to present key evidence to not properly objecting to inadmissible evidence introduced by the opposing counsel. Trial errors may also involve a lawyer’s failure to follow courtroom procedures, such as jury instructions or rules of evidence, which can ultimately lead to an unjust verdict.
Attorneys are required to meet strict deadlines when filing legal documents, whether it’s for a court case, a business deal, or an estate planning matter. Failure to file necessary documents on time or at all is a common form of legal malpractice and can cause your case to be dismissed or lead to missed opportunities.
After an unfavorable ruling, your attorney should inform you of your right to appeal the decision. In some cases, they may also be responsible for filing the appeal on your behalf. When an attorney fails to file a lawsuit or appeal on time or fails to advise you of your appellate rights, this can be considered malpractice if the appeal could have led to a different outcome.
An attorney has a duty to thoroughly investigate all aspects of a case, whether it involves gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, or reviewing legal precedents. When attorneys cut corners or fail to conduct a proper investigation, it can lead to inadequate representation and an unfair outcome in your case.
One of the most serious forms of legal malpractice occurs when an attorney pushes a client to accept an improper or unfavorable settlement. Attorneys have a duty to act in their client’s best interests, and pressuring you into settling a case for less than it’s worth can constitute malpractice.
Though not strictly a form of legal malpractice, accounting malpractice often intersects with legal matters, especially in cases involving business transactions, tax law, and estate planning. Accounting malpractice occurs when an accountant or CPA fails to meet the professional standard of care, resulting in financial harm.
You must be able to show that the legal professional who damaged you was negligent and that their negligence caused your damage or injury. Negligence indicates that they did not act as a reasonable professional would in a similar situation.
The professional is held to the standard that other similar professionals are held. Thus, an attorney’s actions are compared to what a reasonable attorney would do, and an accountant is compared to a reasonable accountant.
Financial liability is determined by establishing the following elements:
The professional’s breach of the duty of care caused you to suffer damage
You may wonder how much your case is worth. In a malpractice case, you can get compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. In legal malpractice cases, you may be able to get all the damages that you would have gotten in your original case if it was a personal injury claim or other damages related to your case.
Economic damages are those that are directly connected to out-of-pocket expenses. They include losses such as lost wages, property damage, medical expenses, and more.
Non-economic damages are not represented by monetary loss. Instead, they are intangible losses like pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability or physical impairment, and the loss of the enjoyment of life. All evidence is considered when measuring non-economic damages.
Being the victim of legal negligence in Florida can cause significant impact to your finances and your ability to lead your life. However, it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore can help you understand the laws that apply to your case and collaborate with you to develop a dynamic solution that will get you the best outcome possible in your case. That may mean accepting a maximum settlement offer or taking your case to trial. We offer services throughout Florida.
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