Our Chicago Lawyers Aggressively Advocate For Our Clients
Experienced Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Experienced Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Medical malpractice is negligence by a medical professional that does not meet the generally accepted standard of care and results in injury or death. A medical professional can make a negligent act during diagnosis, treatment, or surgery, or something the medical professional should have done but neglected to do.
It is highly unlikely that your doctor will admit to making a mistake that led to your condition getting worse, but these mistakes can turn a person's life upside down. Many things can go wrong when treating an illness or injury that may not be obvious to the average person right away. An illness or injury that could seem unrelated may appear after treatment or surgery. Negligence by health care professionals is the third leading cause of death in the United States. That is why our Chicago-based medical malpractice lawyers take such cases so seriously.
Our attorneys take a comprehensive approach to every single case:
- Thoroughly reviewing medical records
- Regularly consulting with medical experts
- Effectively negotiating on behalf of injury victims to make sure they receive the maximum compensation
What Is Considered Medical Malpractice In Illinois?
When people place their trust in doctors, nurses or other health care providers, they expect safe and competent care. Unfortunately, mistakes sometimes happen, and when those mistakes cause serious harm, the issue may fall under medical malpractice in Illinois.
Medical malpractice occurs when a health care professional fails to meet the accepted standard of care, leading to injury or damage to the patient. Several examples of medical malpractice can include:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis: When a doctor fails to identify an illness correctly or in time, the patient may lose valuable treatment opportunities.
- Surgical mistakes: Errors such as operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside the body or causing unnecessary complications.
- Medication errors: Giving the wrong medication, incorrect dosage or failing to check for dangerous drug interactions.
- Birth injuries: Negligence during pregnancy, labor or delivery that causes harm to the mother or child.
- Failure to treat: Not providing the proper treatment despite a correct diagnosis, due to ignoring symptoms or discharging a patient too early.
How Long Do You Have To File A Medical Malpractice Claim In Illinois?
Timing is one of the most critical parts of a medical malpractice case. Under Illinois law, patients have two years from the date they discovered (or should have reasonably discovered) the injury caused by medical negligence.
However, there is also a statute of repose, which sets an absolute deadline of four years from the date of the negligent act, regardless of when the injury was discovered. For minors who are injured, the rules can differ, allowing more time to file.
Specialized Medical Malpractice Areas
Anesthesiology Errors
With over 100 years of collective experience, we hold providers accountable for critical anesthesia mistakes. Millions recovered for victims of surgical negligence.
Emergency Room Errors
ER negligence can be fatal; our team fights for justice in high-pressure medical errors. We've secured millions for families affected by hospital negligence.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Life-altering spinal injuries require specialized legal advocacy and deep medical knowledge. Our attorneys have won millions for catastrophic injury victims.
Hospital Liability
We challenge large institutions when systemic failures lead to patient harm. 100+ years of collective experience fighting hospital negligence.
Neuro Surgical Negligence
Complex brain and nerve surgeries demand the highest standard of care. We've recovered millions for victims of neurosurgical errors.
Elements Of A Successful Medical Malpractice Claim
In order for a medical malpractice claim to be successful, four elements have to be established:
- A duty of care – There needs to have been a relationship in which you were the patient, and the other party was a medical professional responsible for your care.
- Breach of duty – The medical professional must have violated the duty of care while treating you. Our medical experts can describe the standard of care that would be expected under the circumstances. It must be shown that the medical professional did not meet those standards during your treatment.
- Causation – It must be proven that the breach of duty was a direct cause of your injury. The medical professional may try to claim that your injury was caused by something else. Our medical experts can help show a direct link between the professional's negligence and your injury.
- Damages – You must be able to prove that you were injured. Damages can be economic, such as medical bills. They can also be non-economic, such as emotional distress.
Any party that provides medical care could be held responsible: hospitals, doctors, nurses, physician's assistants, nurse practitioners, and hospital support staff, among others.
If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, contact The Deratany Law Firm LLC. Call +1 312-605-1841 and set up a free case consultation to discuss your legal options.