Chicagoans go to the doctor to get better, not worse. But a medical provider’s careless mistakes, oversight, or decisions can worsen a patient’s medical condition, leading to preventable injury, illness, or death. When that happens, injured patients and their loved ones have the legal right to receive compensation from the at-fault provider and their medical malpractice liability insurance carrier.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can help you. We’re a leading personal injury law firm with years of experience securing compensation for medical malpractice victims. Contact our team of Chicago medical malpractice lawyers to learn whether you or a loved one are the victims of medical malpractice and how we can ensure you receive full and fair compensation.
Table of Contents
- Choose Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, for Your Medical Malpractice Case
- What Constitutes Medical Malpractice in Chicago?
- Your Rights To Seek Compensation for Medical Malpractice in Chicago
- You Don't Have to Battle Insurance Companies on Your Own
- What to Do if You Suspect Medical Malpractice
- Contact a Skilled Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
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Choose Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, for Your Medical Malpractice Case
When dealing with the aftermath of medical malpractice, it is essential to choose a law firm with years of experience with the resources to handle claims against medical providers and large insurance companies effectively. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, is that kind of team.
We recover millions of dollars in settlements, court judgments, and jury verdicts for medical malpractice victims and their loved ones. Our lawyers approach each case with meticulous attention to detail and relentless dedication to serving our clients’ interests and getting them the maximum compensation.
What Constitutes Medical Malpractice in Chicago?
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical provider fails to treat a patient with the minimum acceptable medical standard of care, causing injury or harm. The medical standard of care is the level of care a patient should receive from a competent healthcare professional under similar circumstances.
The standard of care applicable to any given healthcare scenario can vary depending on the patient’s condition, the urgency of their medical need, the healthcare setting where they receive treatment, and the medical provider’s area of expertise.
If a patient seeks care for chest pains indicative of a heart attack, for example, the standard of care you might expect that patient to receive from a family doctor working as a sole practitioner in Wrigleyville might differ from that of an emergency medicine specialist at a major university hospital in Hyde Park.
Poor health outcomes can sometimes occur even with the best medical care.
Medical professionals try their best to help patients, but they may make harmful mistakes, such as:
- Failing to obtain informed consent from a patient before performing a procedure.
- Misdiagnosing or delaying diagnosis of an emergent medical condition or fatal disease.
- Prescribing or administering the wrong medication or dosage.
- Making a mistake during surgery and causing internal injuries to a patient.
- Failing to keep track of a patient’s vital signs when administering anesthesia.
- Providing substandard care to mother and child during labor and delivery.
- Failing to provide appropriate aftercare.
These are just some examples of the many ways medical malpractice can occur. It often takes the skilled, experienced analysis of a seasoned Chicago medical malpractice lawyerāaided by a medical expert when appropriateāto identify an instance of malpractice that a patient might overlook.
If you suffered a significant health setback, complication, or injury after receiving medical care or consulting a healthcare provider in Chicago, the team at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can assess your case and determine whether you have a valid medical malpractice claim.
Never assume your poor health outcome was unavoidable or your fault. Contact our team to learn about your rights.
Your Rights To Seek Compensation for Medical Malpractice in Chicago
Victims of medical malpractice in Chicago have the legal right to receive compensation from any healthcare provider who causes them harm by failing to treat them according to the medical standard of care. Medical providers who could face liability include doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, anesthesiologists, radiologists, surgical technicians, and pharmacists. Healthcare businesses and institutions may also carry liability for malpractice, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and health systems.
Every case of medical malpractice we handle at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, differsāthere’s no single type or amount of damages you could seek.
Depending on your circumstances, you may pursue payment for your:
- Current and future medical expenses related to the malpractice.
- Increased costs of living or the cost of dealing with the fallout from malpractice.
- Lost earnings and job benefits from taking time off work to recover.
- Diminished earning capacity if the injury limits your ability to work in the future.
- Physical pain and emotional suffering due to the injury.
- Loss of quality of life.
- Scarring, disfigurement, or loss of bodily function.
If a provider’s medical malpractice caused or worsened your loved one’s health condition, leading to their death, you may have the right under Illinois law to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit for damages, including loss of your loved one’s companionship, consortium, and financial support. In cases of extreme or malicious misconduct, a Cook County court might also award you punitive damages.
At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we understand the importance of holding negligent medical providers in Chicago accountable. We’re known for our relentless commitment to securing the maximum compensation our clients deserve from at-fault providers and their medical malpractice insurance carriers. You can trust us to handle every detail of your medical malpractice claim while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
You Don’t Have to Battle Insurance Companies on Your Own
If medical malpractice causes a health problem, dealing with that health problem is challenging enough. The last thing you need is to worry about forcing insurance companies to pay for your care and lossesāand you don’t have to. A skilled medical malpractice lawyer from Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can handle all insurance issues as your legal representative.
In most Chicago medical malpractice cases, victims can receive at least some compensation through insurance coverage. Some patients carry health or long-term disability insurance that may cover certain costs associated with treating their health problemsāsubject to often-significant copays and deductibles. When medical malpractice causes harm, however, the provider’s medical malpractice liability insurance should pay for most of your losses.
Obtaining maximum compensation from a provider’s malpractice insurance company can be complex and daunting. Pursuing a medical malpractice claim involves adhering to complicated procedures specific to Illinois law. In Illinois, for example, you cannot take legal action for medical malpractice without first obtaining an affidavit of merit from a qualified medical professional attesting to the legitimacy of your claim and stating that the medical professional deviated from the standard of care, resulting in harm.
Armed with seasoned attorneys and adjusters, insurance companies often leverage these procedures to reduce their liability and avoid paying claims. They employ aggressive tactics to question or undermine the validity of your claim, including trying to shift blame onto others or accusing you of causing your condition.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can handle these and other challenges that commonly arise in Chicago medical malpractice cases. Our attorneys understand Illinois law and how to build a winning case that complies with its complex procedures. We’re also familiar with the range of tactics insurers use to try and undermine your claim, and we know how to protect you from them and obtain maximum compensation on your behalf.
What to Do if You Suspect Medical Malpractice
If you suspect you may be a victim of medical malpractice in Chicago, you must take the appropriate steps to protect your rights.
Here are some suggestions.
Keep Track of Telltale Signs of Malpractice
Take note of anything about your health condition or treatment that may indicate malpractice.
This could include:
- Unexpected complications from a procedure or surgery.
- A sudden deterioration in your health.
- The surprise diagnosis of late-stage severe illness.
- A provider’s failure to give you straight answers about your diagnosis or treatment.
- A provider’s apology or expression of regret about your condition.
- A provider’s refusal to release your healthcare records to a new provider.
- Severe health complications from taking a new medication.
Trust your gut to tell you if something seems off. Write it down, and be sure to tell a lawyer about it.
Continue Getting Careābut Change Providers if Necessary
Don’t halt your treatment because you suspect medical malpractice. Your health should always be your priority, but if you have lost confidence in your current healthcare provider, don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion or change providers. You have the right to control your healthcare decisions and who treats you in most situations.
Save Your Medical Records and Other Documentation of Treatment and Health Problems
Preserve all documents you receive concerning your treatment and health problems, including medical records, bills from providers, payment receipts, prescription notes, and any correspondence related to your treatment from a provider or insurance company. They may constitute crucial evidence a lawyer needs to evaluate your potential medical malpractice claim.
Talk to an Experienced Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Immediately
Reach out to a skilled medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you suspect medical malpractice. A knowledgeable attorney can quickly assess your circumstances and tell you whether you may have a case.
A lawyer can advise you about how to address the situation with your current medical provider in a way that protects your rights to compensation. They can take immediate steps to preserve critical evidence of malpractice before at-fault providers amend it.
Don’t worry about the cost of talking to a skilled Chicago medical malpractice lawyer. Most attorneys, including Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, offer free consultations to individuals who suspect malpractice and want to learn more about their rights. You won’t pay a penny for this consultation, even if you decide not to proceed with legal action.
We represent our clients in Chicago medical malpractice cases on contingency. That means we shoulder all the financial risks of your case. We don’t charge an upfront retainer or bill you by the hour. We work for you in exchange for a percentage of the money we recover from providers and insurers. You owe us nothing unless we deliver results.
Contact a Skilled Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
Medical malpractice isn’t easy to spot. Chicagoans have every right to trust that their healthcare professionals will provide skillful care. No one should have to worry that their doctor caused them harm. If it happens, however, Illinois law gives you significant legal rights to demand payment from those at fault and their insurance companies.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, represents individuals in Chicago who suffer harm in cases of suspected medical malpractice or have lost loved ones in such cases. In a free consultation, a knowledgeable legal professional from our team can assess your circumstances and explain your options. Contact us online or call our Chicago office at (312) 500-2901 today.