If you or a loved one believes you’ve been a victim of medical negligence in Chicago, our experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyers are here to help. Our personal injury law firm has a proven track record of successfully handling medical malpractice cases and advocating for victims to secure the justice they deserve.
In this Article
Do I Need a Medical Malpractice Attorney?
A report from Johns Hopkins revealed that diagnostic errors cause serious harm to an estimated 795,000 Americans each year across medical facilities. Stroke misdiagnosis ranks as the #1 diagnostic error.
If you suspect malpractice, our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers can help prove your claim by:
Establishing a duty of care. Medical providers must give patients the standard of care expected in their field.
Proving your medical provider breached their duty of care. Medical professionals who fail to meet expected standards in diagnosing, treating, or guiding patients violate their duty of care and may be held accountable if this negligence causes harm.
Proving your condition was the result of negligence. For a malpractice claim to succeed, we must demonstrate that the healthcare provider’s substandard care resulted in your harm.
Showing that the harm resulted in financial, physical, or emotional damages.
What Can I Expect from a Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
A medical malpractice attorney will handle all aspects of your case. This includes:
Investigating your claim and gathering medical records and other evidence
Consulting with medical experts to establish the standard of care and prove negligence
Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf for fair compensation
Representing you in court if necessary
Illinois Has a Statute of Limitations for a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
In Illinois, medical malpractice lawsuits have a short statute of limitations. Under 735 ILCS §5/13-212(a), you typically have two years to file.
Will I Need to Go to Court for My Malpractice Case?
According to the American Bar Association (ABA), few lawsuits make it to trial. Most malpractice claims are resolved out of court through negotiations with healthcare providers and insurers. If the provider is uninsured, your personal injury lawyer may need to file a lawsuit.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice refers to the negligence or substandard care provided by a healthcare professional that results in harm to a patient. This can include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, and failure to diagnose or treat a condition. Medical malpractice cases can be complex and require extensive knowledge of both medical and legal systems.
What Is NOT Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice isn’t merely an unfavorable treatment outcome. Proving medical malpractice requires evidence that a healthcare provider’s conduct fell below the standard of other healthcare professionals.
Some common mistakes that do not qualify as medical malpractice include:
Unforeseen complications during a procedure that were beyond the control of the healthcare provider
Failed treatments or procedures that were within standard practice and did not result in any significant harm to the patient
A poor outcome from a treatment or procedure that was properly performed and within the standard of care
Can I Recover Malpractice Compensation If I Had a Preexisting Condition?
Yes, you often can. If a doctor or other healthcare provider was negligent and your preexisting condition worsened, you may still be entitled to compensation with an Illinois medical malpractice claim.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases in Chicago, IL
Medical Principles and Practice notes that medication errors are the leading cause of medical malpractice in the country. However, each year thousands of people also fall victim to surgical procedures, errors, misdiagnoses, and lapses in judgment.
Our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys are experienced in many types of claims:
Misdiagnosis
Delayed diagnosis
Failure to diagnose
Birth injury due to negligence
Surgical errors
Anesthesia mistakes
Improper medication or dosage amounts
Leaving a foreign object inside a patient after surgery
Failure to monitor the patient’s vital signs
Medication errors
Common Types of Injuries from Medical Malpractice in Chicago
Common injuries that can lead to a successful medical malpractice claim include:
Brain injury—damage to brain cells
Paralysis—loss of muscle function
Infection caused by unsanitary practices or poor surgical techniques
Organ damage from errors during medical procedures
Wrongful death—a fatality from preventable medical errors or omissions
Chronic pain, which may arise from inappropriate medical treatment
Disfigurement—alteration of appearance through surgical or treatment errors
Loss of limb when amputation was caused by wrongful medical practices
Psychological trauma—mental suffering due to medical malpractice incidents
What Compensation Can I Receive for Medical Malpractice?
You may be eligible for damages such as:
Medical bills and other medical expenses, current and future
Pain and suffering
Lost earnings potential
Rehabilitation costs
Counseling for mental health
Disfigurement and disability
Lost wages and benefits
Diminished life quality
Funeral and burial costs in the case of wrongful death
Other losses due to negligence may warrant additional compensation. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can estimate the value of your case.
What Is My Malpractice Case Worth?
The compensation for your malpractice claim depends on your specific situation. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can evaluate your case by looking at factors like the severity of your injury, how it affects your quality of life, and whether you need ongoing medical care.
How Long Will It Take to Receive My Settlement Check?
It can take several months to a year or more to receive a settlement check from Illinois medical malpractice cases. The time frame depends on the complexity of your case, whether it goes to trial, and how quickly the involved parties are able to reach a settlement agreement.
Contact Our Chicago Medical Malpractice Team
If you suffered from a medical mistake, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our proven medical malpractice attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Free Malpractice Case Evaluations
Our medical malpractice law firm offers a free consultation to discuss the injuries you or a loved one has experienced and determine possible compensation. During the consultation, we may discuss:
How long your case will take
The estimated value of your injuries
What legal deadlines must be met
What possible challenges we will face
Our payment structure is simple. We work on a contingency fee basis; we only collect fees if we successfully settle your case.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC has years of experience handling these matters and fighting for medical malpractice victims.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Latisha S.
Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
(312) 223-1700