Harm from medical care · medical malpractice
You trusted the people caring for you, and something went wrong
The scan was read as normal. The prescription was the wrong dose. The surgery was supposed to be routine, and months later you're still living with what happened in that room. When harm comes from the very care that was meant to help, it can be hard to know whether you're looking at bad luck or at a mistake someone should answer for.
Medical malpractice is the legal name for harm caused when a doctor, nurse, hospital or other provider falls short of the care a reasonably careful provider would have given in the same situation. You don't need to decide whether that is what happened to you. Tell us what happened, in your own words, and a lawyer at our firm will look at your case.
This may be for you if
- A doctor missed or delayed a diagnosis, and my illness got worse in the meantime.
- Something went wrong during or after a surgery or procedure.
- I was given the wrong medication, or the wrong dose.
- My baby or I was injured during pregnancy, labor or delivery.
- A family member died, and we have questions about the care they received.
- A nursing home or hospital failed to prevent a fall, an infection or a pressure sore.
What we do, and what we do not
We do
- A lawyer at our firm looks at your case, asks the questions that matter, and tells you straight whether this is something we can help with.
- Medical cases usually need a lawyer who handles them where the care took place. When another firm is better placed to lead yours day to day, we choose that firm for you, from firms we have vetted for their expertise and track record, and we stay responsible for your case with them.
We do not
- We don't tell you what your case is worth or promise that a lawyer will take it on.
- We don't give medical advice. If you need care now, please get it first.
Two firms on your side, for the cost of one
When another firm leads your case, you have two law firms on your side, and it costs you no more than one firm would. The firm leading it day to day is one that handles medical cases where the care took place, and it's your first call for questions about the case. Our firm stays responsible for your case with them for as long as it lasts: we check in often, keep our own calendar of its deadlines, and we're who you write to if something doesn't feel right.
You decide whether to go ahead, and nothing happens until you say yes.
How it works, step by stepHow fees work, and how they are shared
Problems we often hear about
- Missed, late or wrong diagnosis
An illness that was missed, caught late or mistaken for something else.
- Injuries at birth
Harm to a baby or a mother during pregnancy, labor or delivery.
What helps to have ready
- The names of the doctors, hospitals, clinics or pharmacies involved.
- Rough dates of the visits, tests, procedures or hospital stays that matter.
- A short timeline of your symptoms and what you were told at each step.
- Any records, test results or patient portal messages you already have.
- Discharge papers and medication lists.
- Bills or insurance statements that show where and when you were treated.
- What to have ready before you talk to a lawyer
A short, practical list you can use for any kind of problem.
Questions people ask
Does a bad outcome mean it was malpractice?
Not necessarily. Medicine carries real risks, and some treatments fail even when everyone does everything right. The legal question is whether a provider fell short of accepted care and whether that caused the harm. Answering it almost always means having another doctor review the records.
Why do these cases need a doctor to review them?
Because a jury usually needs a medical expert, a doctor in the same or a similar field, to explain what careful care looked like and where it went wrong. Many states require a lawyer to consult such a doctor, and sometimes to file a certificate or statement saying so, before a case can begin.
What does it cost?
It costs nothing to ask. Lawyers who handle medical cases usually work on a contingency fee: their fee is a share of any recovery, and they receive nothing if there's none. Some states limit those fees in medical cases.
This may also apply
- Dangerous or defective products
If a medical device or drug itself was the problem, and not only how it was used.
- Insurance claims denied or underpaid
If your health or disability insurer is refusing to pay for the care you now need.
- When an institution failed to protect you
If a patient was abused or neglected in a hospital, nursing home or care facility.
This page explains things in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation, and the law differs from state to state.