While it is important to begin preparing any personal injury case as soon as possible in order to preserve all relevant evidence to make the strongest possible case, time is especially critical in medical malpractice cases. Because of perceived abuses in the system, and to prevent frivolous lawsuits, the Florida legislature has created strict timelines that apply in medical malpractice cases. For example, we only have a two-year period from the date that you knew of the medical malpractice, or should have known of the malpractice, in order to have your case evaluated by other medical experts and prepare and serve an affidavit to this effect on the allegedly negligent doctor who caused you harm. Even if you do not discover the malpractice for years, Florida law places a firm time limit of four years on your ability to file a medical malpractice case. This may seem like a lot of time, but medical malpractice cases can be extremely complicated and do, by their nature, take time.