Have you or someone you love suffered because a doctor or hospital made a preventable mistake? Medical malpractice can leave lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. You deserve answers, accountability, and fair compensation for what you’ve lost.
Our Medical Malpractice Attorney in Chicago represents patients and families harmed by negligent medical care in the Chicago area. Other attorneys frequently refer difficult malpractice cases to us because of our proven courtroom results. In the last ten years alone, our law firm has recovered more than $200 million for our clients, and we’re ready to demand the compensation you deserve, too.
If you believe medical negligence caused your injury, contact our Chicago malpractice attorneys now for a free initial consultation. We can review your situation, explain your legal options, and help you move forward with confidence.
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to uphold the accepted standards of care and causes harm to a patient as a result. A failure to provide the accepted standard of care happens when a provider fails to act with the same level of skill and care that another professional in the same field would have used in the same situation.
It’s worth noting that a bad patient outcome is not necessarily evidence of medical malpractice. The provider’s conduct must fall below accepted medical standards of care and cause direct harm to the patient to qualify as malpractice. This legal standard applies to all licensed professionals, including doctors, nurses, surgeons, chiropractors, podiatrists, and to medical facilities and hospitals throughout Chicago and the rest of Illinois.
Illinois courts define malpractice broadly to cover any negligent act or omission that leads to injury during diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up care. That can include surgical mistakes, missed diagnoses, or failures to recognize serious symptoms. Each case turns on what the medical records and expert witnesses show about the care provided and whether it met professional expectations. A Chicago malpractice lawyer can assess whether a provider’s actions violated recognized standards of care and whether that violation caused measurable harm to the patient.
Medical malpractice can take many forms, and no two cases look the same. Some involve surgical mistakes that cause direct injuries, while others come from delayed diagnoses or medication mix-ups that worsen a patient’s condition over time. Common types of medical mistakes that can give rise to malpractice claims include:
Illinois law requires anyone who wants to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit to include a document called an “affidavit of merit” when filing a case against a doctor or hospital. This rule applies to all claims involving medical, hospital, or other “healing art” malpractice, including chiropractic malpractice. The affidavit confirms that the patient’s lawyer has had a qualified healthcare professional review the case and verify that there is a reasonable basis for the claim.
The health care professional must have experience in the same area of medicine as the defendant and must practice or teach in that field. This expert review helps the court verify that the case involves a genuine medical error, not just an unexpected or unavoidable result. The expert must prepare a written report for the patient’s attorney to attach to the lawsuit.
This law aims to keep frivolous lawsuits from wasting the court’s time and allows judges to focus on credible malpractice claims supported by real medical evidence. It also makes early expert involvement a key part of the process, which can strengthen malpractice cases and clarify the issues before claims move forward in court.
Several different parties can bear responsibility for medical malpractice, depending on who made the mistake and how it happened. Liability could rest with a single provider or with multiple individuals or hospitals or institutions that took part in the patient’s care. Below are some examples of parties that might face accountability when medical negligence harms a patient:
A successful medical malpractice claim can include compensation for several types of losses. The purpose of this compensation is to help patients and families cover the costs linked to the injury and the effect it has on their daily lives. The value of each claim depends on the extent of the injury, how long recovery takes, and how the injury affects the person’s ability to work or live independently. Depending on the details of your malpractice case, you could secure compensation for:
Illinois’ Wrongful Death Act sets strict deadlines for medical malpractice lawsuits, which apply to all claims against doctors, hospitals, and other licensed medical providers. In most cases, patients have two years from the date they knew, or reasonably should have known, that medical negligence caused their injury. In other words, the “filing window” starts when the injury and its cause become apparent, not necessarily when the medical mistake happened.
However, Illinois also has a four-year “statute of repose” that sets a hard deadline for all malpractice lawsuits, even those involving injuries that aren’t discovered until later. For cases involving minors, the law extends this filing window to eight years, but no case can begin after the patient’s 22nd birthday.
These strict time limits mean early legal action is critical. A Chicago malpractice attorney can help patients review medical records, gather expert opinions, and prepare all necessary filings within the legal deadlines set by Illinois law.
Medical malpractice cases are difficult to prove because medicine is a highly technical field that involves complex procedures. Patient records, which are often the most important source of evidence in malpractice cases, typically contain abbreviations, test results, and treatment notes that only trained professionals can accurately interpret. Without the right background knowledge, it can be difficult to identify when something might have gone wrong or how a doctor’s decision caused harm.
Most malpractice claims depend on what the medical records actually show and how the provider’s conduct compares to accepted standards of care. That comparison requires more than just reviewing charts. It requires careful analysis from experts who understand the science, terminology, and treatment protocols behind each decision.
Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers work with qualified medical experts who can explain whether a doctor or hospital followed proper procedures. These experts can identify mistakes that might not be obvious to someone without medical training. Our seasoned attorneys already have relationships with the right specialists and know which professionals can give credible, detailed opinions to support their clients’ malpractice claims.
Serious malpractice injuries deserve serious legal representation. At Levin, Riback & Adelman, we focus on holding negligent medical providers accountable and helping patients recover what they’ve lost. If you believe a medical mistake caused your injury, contact our Chicago office for a compassionate and confidential consultation at no cost.
When a medical mistake causes harm, it’s natural to have questions about what comes next. The FAQs below address the basics of medical malpractice in Chicago and how an attorney can guide you through the legal process.
No, Illinois law does not limit the amount you can recover from a medical malpractice claim. Now, the total value of each malpractice case depends on the facts alone, including the extent of the injury, the cost of treatment, and how the injury affects the patient’s life and future.
Yes. Illinois law allows surviving loved ones to file wrongful death claims when a patient suffers a fatal injury due to medical malpractice. The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate can bring this type of claim on behalf of the surviving spouse and next of kin. A wrongful death lawsuit can provide compensation for medical costs, funeral expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship. A Chicago malpractice lawyer can help families understand how the process works in Illinois courts.
Yes. A signed consent form does not relieve a healthcare provider of responsibility for negligent care. It only serves as proof that you agreed to the procedure or treatment after learning about its risks. It does not give a doctor or hospital free rein to ignore accepted medical standards. If your provider made an avoidable mistake during treatment or failed to act with reasonable care, you can still file a malpractice claim, whether or not you signed a consent form.
We work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if we recover compensation for you through a settlement or verdict. This arrangement allows patients and families to pursue valid claims without taking on financial risk. During your initial consultation, your lawyer will explain how their fees and case costs work before you sign any agreement.
Bring copies of all medical records, hospital discharge papers, test results, and bills related to your care. Include any letters or emails from doctors, hospitals, or insurance companies. Write down the names of everyone involved in your treatment, along with key dates and a brief timeline of what happened. These details can help your lawyer see where potential errors might have occurred and how they affected your health. The more complete your documentation, the faster the attorney can evaluate your case and determine whether you have a malpractice claim.
We understand how the complex world of medical malpractice works, and we take the time to sit with you and your family to understand your unique situation. We invite you to share your concerns and your goals with us, so we can help to develop a strong legal plan to get you the results you seek.
Schedule your free consultation with our experienced lawyers today via our online contact form, or call 312-782-6717 to start moving forward.
