Medical Malpractice

Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Sick and injured people entrust their lives to medical professionals daily across the state. While the vast majority of medical professionals treat patients to the best of their ability, mistakes happen, often because corporate healthcare systems and insurance companies put profit over patient safety. The law allows victims to recover compensation for injuries sustained due to medical negligence by health care providers. This area of law is known as medical malpractice. If a health care professional caused you harm, you need to speak with an Illinois medical malpractice attorney.

Examples of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice can take many different forms. Some of the most common examples include the following:

• Failure to diagnose,
• Incorrect diagnosis,
• Emergency room errors,
• Hospital malpractice,
• Medication errors,
• Anesthesia errors,
• Surgical errors,
• Birth injuries, and
• Diagnostic errors.

Victims of medical malpractice can suffer catastrophic, life-changing injuries or pass away from complications. While no money can undo permanent injuries and emotional trauma, filing a lawsuit can help hold the provider accountable and keep them from harming anyone else.

Medical Malpractice Statistics

According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, over 250,000 people die every year due to medical error.  This makes medical error the third leading cause of death in the U.S., behind only heart disease and cancer.

The medical malpractice statistics show the types of practitioners involved. The top 10 practitioners on the list for 2010 to 2022 are:

• Registered nurses,
• Medical physicians,
• Practical nurses,
• Nursing paraprofessionals,
• Technicians and assistants,
• Therapists and counselors,
• Dentists,
• Pharmacists,
• Osteopathic physicians, and
• Social workers.

If any medical provider caused you harm, speak with a medical malpractice attorney in Illinois. Let our office review the facts of your case and help you decide how best to proceed.

Average Medical Malpractice Settlement

All medical malpractice cases involve different circumstances. These circumstances impact your case and, ultimately, your potential settlement. Factors such as injury type and severity, liability, damages, and available insurance coverage all play a role in determining case value.

Proving Medical Malpractice in Illinois

Before collecting compensation for your medical malpractice claim, you must prove liability against the defendants. There are four elements of liability:

• The medical professional must owe the victim a duty of care, which you can demonstrate through a medical provider-patient relationship;
• The medical professional must have breached their duty of care by failing to act as another reasonable medical provider would in similar circumstances;
• The medical provider’s failure to prove the appropriate level of care must have caused the victim’s injuries; and
• The victim must have sustained damages due to substandard care.

Failure to prove any of the four elements of negligence could mean you will not receive any compensation for your injuries. That is why we recommend hiring an Illinois medical malpractice attorney right away. We can protect your rights and help you gather evidence to prove negligence against the medical professional.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on Medical Malpractice?

Victims typically have two years from the date of the malpractice to bring a lawsuit in Illinois. However, some factors can impact the amount of time you have. For example, victims might have up to four years to file if they do not discover the malpractice for some time after it occurred. Because the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is complicated, it is best to consult with an attorney.

Contact an Illinois Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you need assistance pursuing a medical malpractice claim in Illinois, attorney John Polivick stands ready to help. He understands the catastrophic damage that occurs with medical malpractice and the importance of holding these providers accountable. He has years of experience representing corporations. Now, he specializes in helping victims pursue compensation from these large corporations. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation to discuss your medical malpractice claim.