When you turn to professionals for medical care, you are putting your health and your life in someone else’s hands. Doctors, nurses and other health care workers are held to high standards set by their professions, but from time to time they fall short of expectations. For many patients, the consequences of these instances of medical malpractice and negligence are devastating.
Why Choose Gill Ports Hoste LLC for My Medical Malpractice Claim in Chicago?
Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex civil claims a person can pursue. Clients in Chicago trust Gill Ports Hoste LLC because we have established ourselves as one of the top medical malpractice firms in Illinois. We offer:
- An exclusive focus on medical malpractice and personal injury cases, with decades of combined experience
- Medical malpractice settlements and verdicts that total hundreds of millions of dollars
- Recognition from the legal community and top legal rating services like Super Lawyers
- A record of going up against the largest health care organizations and insurers
- Personalized representation, where each case receives focused attention and strategic planning
- We offer contingency fee arrangements and only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you.
Medical malpractice cases often require significant resources. A Chicago personal injury lawyer at Gill Ports Hoste LLC has the tools and experience necessary to put behind your case. Call us today to schedule a free case review with a Chicago medical malpractice attorney.
Should I Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Chicago?
Healthcare providers and their insurers often aggressively defend medical malpractice claims. Hiring an experienced medical malpractice attorney can significantly improve your ability to recover compensation. An attorney understands the legal and medical issues involved and can guide you through the complex procedures and proof requirements.
A medical malpractice lawyer can assist your case by:
- Reviewing medical records to determine whether negligence occurred
- Consulting medical experts who can evaluate whether the standard of care was violated
- Identifying all healthcare providers involved in your treatment
- Investigating hospital policies and treatment protocols that may have contributed to your injury
- Calculating the full value of your damages, both now and in the future
- Handling all communications with insurance companies and defense attorneys
- Representing you in negotiations or trial proceedings if a settlement cannot be reached
Call us today to learn more about how an experienced attorney can strengthen your claim for compensation. We’re standing by to stand up for you.
Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers For Clients Injured By Medical Negligence
At Gill Ports Hoste LLC, a Chicago personal injury law firm, we are dedicated to helping clients fight for justice after being injured due to medical malpractice. Our attorneys have built a track record of great success helping clients secure the compensation they deserve. The firm has prevailed in cases against high-profile doctors and large, prominent health care organization, such as:
- The University of Chicago Hospitals
- Loyola University Medical Center
- Rush University Medical Center
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
- Advocate Christ Medical Center
- Advocate South Suburban Hospital
- Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital
- Methodist Medical Center and many others.
We have extensive experience advocating aggressively on behalf of injured people in a wide range of medical malpractice cases, including those involving:
- Birth injuries sustained by either the child or by the mother, including cerebral palsy, jaundice and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
- Surgical errors in the operating room causing hemorrhage, vessel or nerve injury or other damage
- Medication errors — negligence or malpractice in prescribing or administrating medication
- Anesthesia errors causing death or hypoxic brain damage
- Hospital negligence on the part of doctors, nurses or hospital administrators
- Medical mistakes in the emergency room
- Mistreatment of metabolic disorders like hyponatremia causing brain injuries and central pontine myelinolysis
- Diagnosis errors that result in failure to treat life-threatening conditions
- Failure to diagnose or treat spinal cord injuries
Who Could Be Liable for My Medical Malpractice Incident in Illinois?
Medical malpractice can occur in many different healthcare settings. Depending on the circumstances of the case, several individuals or organizations may share responsibility for the negligent care. Importantly, you can recover compensation from every party that contributed to your injuries or worsened condition.
Potential defendants in a medical malpractice claim may include:
- Physicians
- Surgeons,
- Nurses or medical staff
- Hospitals or healthcare systems
- Pharmacists
- Radiologists or diagnostic specialists
- Medical practices or physician groups
In some cases, multiple parties may share responsibility for a patient’s injuries. Identifying every liable party is important because it can expand the potential sources of compensation available in the claim.
How Do I File a Medical Malpractice Case in Illinois?
Illinois law imposes specific procedural requirements on medical malpractice claims. Before filing a lawsuit, you must complete certain steps to ensure the claim has merit.
For example, there is a certificate of merit requirement under Illinois law. Before your malpractice lawsuit can proceed, you must file an affidavit stating that a qualified healthcare professional has reviewed your case and determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe malpractice occurred. Failing to comply with Illinois procedural requirements can result in dismissal of your case.
Beyond the certificate of merit, the process of filing a medical malpractice claim generally includes:
- Obtaining and reviewing medical records related to the alleged malpractice
- Consulting with a qualified medical expert to determine whether the standard of care was violated
- Preparing and filing the certificate of merit affidavit required by Illinois law
- Filing the complaint in the appropriate Illinois court
- Serving the defendants with notice of the lawsuit
- Participating in the discovery process, where both sides exchange evidence and expert opinions
- Negotiating a settlement or preparing the case for trial
An attorney will manage all aspects of your case, from initial filings all the way to negotiation and litigation. This gives you time to focus on your rest and recovery.
How Much Money Can I Recover in a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Compensation in a medical malpractice claim is designed to address both the financial losses and personal harm caused by negligent medical care. Illinois law allows injured patients to seek damages for all their economic and non-economic losses related to malpractice.
The value of your medical malpractice claim will depend on many factors, including the severity of your injuries and the cost of future medical care. A successful medical malpractice case may include money for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In cases where malpractice results in death, surviving family members may pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim. These claims may include damages for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
An experienced attorney can help you track and calculate the full extent of your damages. Your lawyer will also work with experts in medicine and finance to help assess your complex losses. Gill Ports Hoste LLC can help you get a sense of what your claim might be worth during a free consultation.
Medical Malpractice FAQs
Below are questions we are frequently asked regarding medical malpractice.
What constitutes medical malpractice?
Physicians in Illinois are expected to provide care according to a certain standard. When they stray from that standard and cause someone an injury, further illness or death, it is considered to be medical malpractice. To determine the standard of care, courts will look to other medical professionals who provide the same services to the similar patients.
What are examples of medical malpractice?
Medical negligence comes in many forms. For example, many people may think that there must be an error in the actual treatment of a patient, such as making a mistake during surgery or administering the wrong medication. However, diagnostic errors can also be considered medical malpractice. A physician who fails to diagnose, misdiagnoses or even delays a diagnosis could be viewed as acting negligently.
Is there a deadline for medical malpractice lawsuits?
Yes. Under Illinois law, someone who suffers as a result of medical negligence has up to two years from the date he or she discovers or should have discovered the injury to initiate the claim. There is also a statute of repose, which states that no one may bring a claim four years after the actual incident.
There is an exception for patients who are minors. Someone younger than 18 who experiences medical malpractice has as long as eight years to file a claim, provided that the lawsuit is initiated before the victim has turned 22.
How do I prove medical malpractice?
There are three main components that medical malpractice victims or their families must prove against a healthcare provider:
- The patient was under the care of the defendant
- The defendant strayed from the standard of care
- The deviation led to the patient’s injuries or wrongful death
Additionally, Illinois law requires that prior to filing the claim, the plaintiff must consult with a qualified health professional who can attest to the legitimacy of the lawsuit. The only exception is for when doing so would mean missing the statute of limitations deadline.
What damages are available in a medical malpractice lawsuit?
Medical negligence claims can recover compensatory damages which seek to restore someone’s quantifiable losses. That would include money spent on medication, hospital stays and further treatment. Non-compensatory damages address the physical pain and suffering and emotional distress that these medical mistakes can cause.
These lawsuits require the assistance of a legal professional. Anyone who has questions about this issue should speak with a medical malpractice attorney in Illinois.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Chicago?
Most medical malpractice law firms operate on a contingency fee basis. That means their fee is contingent upon the outcome in your case. You do not pay any upfront attorney fees. Instead, your lawyer only gets paid if they recover a settlement or verdict for you.
If your attorney is successful, they will obtain a pre-agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or award as payment. We charge a 33% in most cases.
This fee structure minimizes the financial risk of seeking legal help. Gill Ports Hoste LLC offers contingency fees in all medical malpractice cases. We also offer free consultations to help you understand your rights and legal options.
Efficient And Cost-Effective Legal Services So You Can Recover
Medical malpractice cases are expensive and often difficult to win. At Gill Ports Hoste LLC, our legal team has the in-depth legal knowledge, skill and resources to see you through even the most complex medical malpractice cases with steadfast expertise and personal service.
Our team of attorneys diligently investigates each case to uncover the evidence needed to prevail at trial. We work closely with highly regarded medical experts and distill their findings into persuasive, understandable explanations for the courtroom.
Learn More About Your Options For Financial Compensation in Chicago Today
If you or a loved one has been injured due to negligence from a medical provider, we can help. During a no-cost consultation, we will learn about your situation and offer a realistic assessment of your case. We take the time to explain your options so that you can make an informed decision about whether you want to take legal action.
To schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced medical negligence lawyer in Chicago, contact Gill Ports Hoste LLC, at (312) 372-8893 or email us directly.
Based in Chicago, we offer legal services throughout Northern Illinois.