Medical errors are distressingly common, impacting countless lives right here in Chicago. Contact a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer if you suspect negligence caused your injury or worsened condition.
Don't navigate this complex situation alone. Speak with a Chicago medical malpractice attorney at Abels & Annes, P.C. to discuss your case and learn about your legal options. Call us now at (312) 924-7575 for immediate assistance.
Let us fight for you.
Why Choose a Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer From Abels & Annes, P.C. for Your Case?
After medical negligence, you need a legal team with the right experience, resources, and dedication. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we focus on helping injured people in Chicago get the justice and compensation they deserve.
Here’s why people trust Abels & Annes, P.C. with medical malpractice cases in Chicago.
Results Matter
Our firm has a strong track record, successfully winning millions for our clients across various personal injury cases, including a $3,000,000 settlement for a client harmed by medical negligence.
We prepare every case thoroughly and are ready to fight for the best possible outcome, whether through negotiation or in court.
Communication
We know legal and medical issues can be confusing. Our team takes the time to explain your rights and the legal process in clear, simple language. Our team serves clients in English, Spanish, and Polish.
Free Consultations Available 24/7
You can call us anytime, day or night, to discuss your situation without any obligation. Our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys are ready to answer your questions.
Our dedicated Chicago personal injury lawyers know the local courts and healthcare systems. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 924-7575 to see how we can help your medical malpractice case.
Medical Malpractice Claims in Chicago
Medical malpractice happens when a healthcare provider's carelessness causes harm to a patient. It's more than just a bad outcome or a result you didn't expect.
It involves a failure to provide the level of care that a reasonably careful professional would have offered under similar circumstances.
To have a valid medical malpractice claim in Illinois, you generally need to prove four things:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed. This means the healthcare provider agreed to treat you, creating a duty of care.
- The healthcare provider breached the standard of care. They acted negligently or failed to act in a way that a competent provider would have.
- This breach directly caused your injury.
- You suffered damages as a result.
Being unhappy with your treatment results isn't enough for a malpractice case in Chicago. Your care must have fallen below the accepted medical standard, and this failure must have caused you harm.
A Chicago medical malpractice attorney can listen to the details of your situation and determine if you may have a case.
Standard of Care Explained
Standard of care refers to the type and level of care that an average, qualified healthcare professional with similar training and experience would have provided in the same situation.
It’s not about perfection. Doctors aren't expected to be miracle workers. However, they are expected to use reasonable skill and care in diagnosing and treating patients.
Determining the standard of care often requires input from other medical professionals. These individuals review the case facts and your medical records. They then offer an opinion on whether your provider acted reasonably.
If they find your provider deviated from accepted medical practices, that deviation could be considered negligence or a breach of the standard of care.
Common Types of Medical Negligence Cases Abels & Annes, P.C. Handles
At Abels & Annes, P.C., our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys handle cases involving negligence by doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other providers.
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
When a doctor fails to diagnose a serious condition, like cancer or heart disease, or diagnoses it much later than they should have, the patient can lose valuable treatment time. This delay can allow the condition to worsen, sometimes leading to permanent disability or death.
Misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor diagnoses the wrong condition, leading to incorrect or harmful treatment while the real illness progresses untreated.
Surgical Errors
Surgical errors include operating on the wrong body part (wrong-site surgery), leaving surgical instruments or sponges inside the patient, causing nerve damage, puncturing organs, or using improper techniques.
Even infections caused by unsterile tools can be grounds for a claim if proper protocols weren't followed.
Birth Injuries
Injuries to a baby or mother during pregnancy, labor, or delivery are heartbreaking, and negligence can lead to conditions like cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy (nerve damage in the shoulder and arm), brain damage due to oxygen deprivation, fractures, or other trauma.
This can happen due to failure to monitor the baby's heart rate, improper use of delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors, delaying a necessary C-section, or failing to manage maternal health conditions properly.
Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia requires careful administration and monitoring. Too much anesthesia can cause brain damage or death, while too little can lead to anesthesia awareness (waking up during surgery).
Errors can also involve failing to review the patient's medical history for potential complications, improper intubation causing airway damage, or inadequate monitoring of vital signs during a procedure.
Medication Errors
Medication mistakes can occur at several points:
- The doctor prescribes the wrong drug or dosage
- The nurse administers the medication incorrectly
- The pharmacist dispenses the wrong drug or provides incorrect instructions
Harm can result from allergic reactions, dangerous drug interactions, overdoses, or under-treatment due to the wrong dosage.
Hospital Negligence
Hospitals have a duty to provide a safe environment and competent care. Negligence can include understaffing, unsafe premises, poor staff training, and errors in testing and radiology.
Emergency Room Errors
Emergency rooms are fast-paced environments, but the standard of care still applies. Errors include improper patient triage, misdiagnosis, medication errors, and premature discharge.
Failure To Treat
Sometimes, medical negligence involves not doing something that should have been done. This includes not ordering needed tests, not referring patients to specialists, not following up on test results, and ignoring patient symptoms, which can worsen conditions or delay treatment.
If you believe you or a loved one suffered harm due to any of these or other medical negligence in the Chicago area, contact Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 924-7575.
Let us fight for you.
Compensation You Can Seek With a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney
If a healthcare provider's negligence injured you, Illinois law allows you to seek compensation, known as damages, for the harm you've suffered. In tragic cases where malpractice leads to death, wrongful death damages may also be available.
Some damages you may be able to recover include:
- Medical Expenses: Bills for hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, therapy, medication, equipment, and the estimated costs for ongoing or future medical care
- Lost Wages: Income you lost while recovering from your injury and couldn't work
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity: Compensation for the income you'll lose over your expected working life
- Other Out-of-Pocket Costs: Expenses related to your injury, like travel costs for medical appointments or modifications needed for your home or vehicle
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and discomfort
- Emotional Distress: Damages for the mental anguish, anxiety, depression, fear, or psychological trauma
- Disability: Compensation for losing physical or mental abilities due to the injury
- Disfigurement: Damages if the injury caused scarring, amputation, or other changes to your physical appearance
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for the inability to participate in hobbies, activities, or aspects of daily life that you previously enjoyed
- Loss of Consortium (spouse): Damages for the loss of companionship, support, and intimacy resulting from the malpractice.
Wrongful Death Damages
If medical malpractice tragically results in a patient's death, certain surviving family members (like a spouse or children) may file a wrongful death lawsuit. Damages in these cases aim to compensate the family for losses resulting from their loved one's death.
These can include:
- Medical expenses incurred before death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of the deceased's expected earnings and financial support
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and support
- Grief, sorrow, and mental suffering
A Chicago medical malpractice lawyer at Abels & Annes, P.C. will work diligently to identify all potential damages in your case to seek the full compensation you deserve for the harm caused by medical negligence.
How a Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Helps You
An experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney from Abels & Annes, P.C. can manage every aspect of your case, allowing you to focus on healing. We become your advocates, fighting for your rights against powerful hospitals and insurance companies.
Investigating Your Claim
The first step is determining if you have a valid case. We conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding your injury. This involves listening carefully to your story, understanding your medical history, and identifying the potential negligence.
We analyze the timeline of events and pinpoint where the standard of care might have been breached.
Gathering Evidence and Medical Records
Our attorneys collect all necessary medical records from every doctor, hospital, clinic, and pharmacy involved in your care. We review them meticulously to understand your treatment and identify potential errors or omissions documented within them.
Working With Medical Professionals
Medical malpractice cases almost always require input from qualified medical professionals. Our team consults with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers with relevant medical field experience.
They help us understand the complex medical issues, determine if the standard of care was violated, and assess how the negligence caused your specific injuries. These professionals can provide expert reports and testimony crucial for proving your case.
Calculating Your Damages
We work to identify and calculate the full extent of your losses. This includes gathering medical bills and projecting future medical costs, documenting lost wages and assessing future earning potential, and evaluating the non-economic impact of the injury on your life (pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment).
Negotiating With Hospitals and Insurance Companies
Most medical malpractice cases are resolved through settlement negotiations rather than a full trial. Insurance companies representing doctors and hospitals have experienced adjusters and lawyers who aim to minimize payouts.
We handle all communications and negotiations on your behalf. Leveraging the strength of the evidence we've gathered and our knowledge of Illinois malpractice law, we aggressively negotiate to achieve a fair settlement that fully compensates you for your losses.
Taking Your Case to Court if Needed
While we always aim for a fair settlement, sometimes insurance companies refuse to offer reasonable compensation. If negotiations fail, we are fully prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to court.
Deadlines
Illinois has strict deadlines for filing a medical malpractice claim, like the statute of limitations. Your attorney will ensure that you meet all deadlines and that your paperwork is filled out correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice Claims in Chicago
Facing a potential medical malpractice situation brings up many questions. Here are answers to some common concerns.
Can a Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Help Me if I Signed a Consent Form Before the Procedure?
Signing a consent form is standard practice before most medical procedures. This form typically outlines the known risks and potential complications of the treatment. However, signing a consent form does not allow a healthcare provider to be negligent.
How Long Will My Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Take?
It's difficult to predict exactly how long your medical malpractice case will take because the timeline varies significantly depending on the case's complexity, the severity of the injuries, the number of parties involved, and whether the case settles or goes to trial.
Some cases might resolve in several months through negotiation, while others, particularly those involving complex medical issues or requiring a trial, can take several years to reach a final resolution.
Do I Have To Go to Court in Chicago for a Medical Malpractice Case?
Many medical malpractice cases are settled out of court through negotiations between your Chicago medical malpractice lawyer and the insurance company for the healthcare provider or hospital. A settlement often provides faster compensation and avoids the uncertainty and stress of a trial.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. While we strive for a fair settlement first, we’ll fight in court if that's what it takes to achieve justice.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Medical Malpractice?
Various healthcare professionals and entities can be held responsible if their negligence caused harm, including:
- Physicians (surgeons, primary care doctors, specialists)
- Nurses (RNs, LPNs, nurse practitioners)
- Hospitals and medical clinics
- Anesthesiologists
- Pharmacists and pharmacies
- Dentists and oral surgeons
- Radiologists and lab technicians
- Physical therapists
- Chiropractors
In some cases, multiple parties might share responsibility for the harm caused.
Secure Your Rights After Medical Negligence in Chicago
The experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. are ready to listen to your story, evaluate your potential claim, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Let us put our experience and dedication to work for you.
Call Abels & Annes, P.C. today at (312) 924-7575 to start your journey toward justice, or contact us online. Let us fight for you.
Chicago
Office
Address: 100 N LaSalle St #1710, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 924-7575
Fax: (855) 529-2442