Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyers for Patients and Families

When you seek medical care, you’re putting your health—and sometimes your life—in someone else’s hands. When providers break that trust and fall below accepted standards of care, the consequences can be devastating. Our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers help injured patients and families across Illinois pursue answers, accountability, and compensation after serious medical errors.

Illinois Medical Malpractice – Why These Cases Are Different

Medical malpractice claims are not just “big injury cases.” They involve complex medicine, detailed records, and providers and hospitals who often refuse to admit anything went wrong. There may be multiple doctors, nurses, clinics, or facilities involved in a single course of treatment, each with its own insurer and legal team.


At the same time, you’re trying to recover, manage appointments, and make sense of what happened—often after being told that your outcome was simply “a known risk” or that “nothing more could have been done.” When you work with a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer who understands how these cases are built, you get a team focused on translating the medicine, sorting out conflicting explanations, and building a claim that reflects the full impact on your life.

Common Types and Causes of Medical Malpractice

Doctor in white coat reviews patient's chart, patient with IV in arm.
Medical clipboard with magnifying glass and a heart rate monitor line.
Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis

One of the most common forms of malpractice involves failing to diagnose a serious condition—or diagnosing it too late. This can include missed cancers, heart attacks or strokes brushed off as minor issues, infections allowed to spread, or serious diseases mistaken for something more routine. We look at what symptoms you reported, what tests should have been ordered, how results were interpreted, and whether another reasonably careful provider would have recognized the problem sooner.

Operating room equipment: surgical lamp above a table.
Surgical Errors and Procedure Mistakes

Surgery always carries risk, but some injuries have nothing to do with “known complications” and everything to do with preventable mistakes. Examples include operating on the wrong body part, leaving instruments or sponges inside the patient, cutting or damaging nearby organs, or failing to control bleeding in a timely way. We review operative reports, anesthesia records, nursing notes, and post-op care to identify where the surgical team deviated from accepted standards.

Hand holding pill and capsule, medicine.
Medication Errors and Anesthesia Problems

Medication errors can happen at any stage: prescribing the wrong drug, giving an incorrect dose, failing to account for allergies or interactions, or mixing up patients or medications. Anesthesia mistakes—such as improper dosing, failure to monitor, or ignoring alarms—can lead to brain damage, cardiac events, or even death. We examine charts, pharmacy logs, and monitoring records to understand who was responsible for each step and whether safeguards were ignored.

Illustration of in vitro fertilization process.
Birth Injuries and Obstetric Negligence

Pregnancy and childbirth should be carefully monitored to protect both mother and baby. Negligence can include failing to respond to signs of fetal distress, delays in performing a necessary C-section, improper use of forceps or vacuum devices, mismanagement of maternal conditions like preeclampsia, or errors in newborn care. These cases often involve long-term consequences such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, or injuries to the mother. We work with qualified experts to evaluate what should have been done differently and how those choices affected your child’s future.

A black and white line drawing of a booth with a dome on top.
Emergency Room and Urgent Care Errors

In busy ERs and urgent care centers, providers may rush, fail to take a thorough history, or discharge patients too quickly. Heart attacks may be mistaken for indigestion, infections for minor illnesses, or serious injuries for simple sprains. When a provider overlooks red flags or fails to order critical tests, patients can suffer worsening conditions that could have been prevented with appropriate care. We look at triage notes, timing of evaluations, and whether protocols for high-risk symptoms were followed.

Heart-shaped stethoscope icon, medical symbol.
Nursing, Monitoring, and Communication Failures

Even when the diagnosis is correct, harm can occur when nurses are overworked, monitoring is inconsistent, or critical information never makes it from one provider to another. Missed vital sign changes, failure to respond to alarms, incorrect charting, and poor handoffs between shifts can all lead to delayed treatment and preventable injuries. We analyze nursing notes, staffing levels, and hospital policies to see whether systemic failures or understaffing contributed to what happened.

What to Expect From Our Medical Malpractice Team

From the first conversation, we understand that you’re looking for more than a legal opinion—you want to know what actually happened and whether it could have been avoided. Our first job is to listen: How did your care unfold? What were you told, and when? What has changed in your life since?


Once we understand the basic story, we map out a plan that may include:


  • Ordering and reviewing your complete medical records from all providers involved
  • Working with qualified medical experts to evaluate whether standards of care were breached
  • Comparing what should have been done to what was actually documented and performed
  • Identifying every provider, clinic, hospital, or facility that may share responsibility
  • Calculating economic losses such as medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, and home modifications
  • Documenting pain, loss of independence, and how the injury has changed your daily life and future plans


We handle communication with providers, hospitals, and insurers so you’re not left dealing with risk managers, “patient advocates,” or adjusters on your own. Throughout your case, we explain each step in plain English, talk through decisions like whether to pursue a case formally, and keep you updated so you always understand what’s happening and why.

Standing Up to Hospitals, Providers, and Insurance Companies

Medical malpractice cases often pit individual patients and families against institutions that are skilled at defending themselves. Hospitals may argue that your outcome was inevitable, blame underlying health issues, or suggest that any delay in diagnosis “made no difference.” Doctors and nurses may close ranks, and insurers hire experts who frame bad results as unavoidable, even when the record tells a different story.


At Alberts & Eiler, P.C., we respond with preparation and experience. Our attorneys bring more than 30 years of combined experience working both for and against insurance companies and have completed over 100 jury trials as a team. We understand how malpractice carriers evaluate risk, what kinds of evidence get their attention, and where they tend to undervalue long-term harm.


Because we intentionally maintain a smaller caseload, we can dig deeply into both the medicine and the human story behind your case. That means understanding not just which guideline was missed or which test wasn’t ordered, but also how the injury has affected your ability to work, care for family members, and enjoy everyday life. When providers or insurers refuse to take responsibility, our willingness and readiness to bring your case to court make clear that we are prepared to fight for a full and fair result.

Common Questions About Medical Malpractice in Chicago and Across Illinois

  • How do I know if what happened to me was medical malpractice or just a bad outcome

    Not every complication or disappointing result is malpractice. The key questions are: Did the provider follow accepted standards of care for someone in your situation? If not, did that failure cause or worsen your injury? Answering those questions usually requires a careful review of your records and input from qualified medical experts. During a consultation, we listen to your story, identify red flags, and, if appropriate, obtain records to have them reviewed so you’re not left guessing

  • What should I do if I suspect I was harmed by medical negligence?

    First, focus on your health—follow up with appropriate medical providers to stabilize your condition or seek a second opinion if needed. Ask for copies of your records, discharge summaries, imaging, lab results, and any written materials you signed or received. Write down a timeline of what happened, including dates, names, and what you were told at each step. Avoid posting about your situation on social media. Before signing releases, accepting refunds, or agreeing to any “resolution” with a hospital or provider, speak with a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer about your rights.

  • Will my doctor lose their license if I bring a malpractice claim

    Most malpractice cases are about accountability and compensation, not automatically revoking licenses. Licensing boards and professional regulators handle discipline separately from civil claims. While a lawsuit may prompt review by others, the primary goal of a malpractice case is to obtain financial compensation for the harm you’ve suffered and, in some cases, to encourage safer practices. We can talk about your goals and concerns so you understand what a claim is—and is not—likely to accomplish.

  • Do medical malpractice cases always go to trial?

    No. Many meritorious cases resolve through negotiated settlements, especially when the evidence is strong and the injuries are clearly documented. However, malpractice insurers and defense firms are known for fighting hard, and some cases do need to be tried to achieve a fair outcome. Our approach is to prepare every case as if trial might be necessary, while also exploring settlement options along the way. If your case does move toward trial, we’ll explain the process and what to expect at each stage.

  • Are there special time limits for bringing a medical malpractice case?

    Yes. Medical malpractice claims are subject to strict time limits, and these can differ from other personal injury cases. The deadlines may depend on when the negligence occurred, when it was discovered, the age of the patient, and whether certain types of defendants are involved. Because these rules are technical and missing a deadline can end a claim before it starts, it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as you suspect malpractice so the timelines in your specific situation can be evaluated.

  • What kinds of compensation are available in a medical malpractice case?

    Depending on the facts, a medical malpractice claim may seek compensation for additional medical treatment made necessary by the negligence; future care, rehabilitation, or in-home assistance; lost wages and reduced earning capacity; and out-of-pocket costs. Many patients are also entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, loss of normal life, disability, disfigurement, and emotional distress. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may have additional claims related to their loss. Our job is to understand how the negligence has altered your life and build a case that reflects those changes—not just the bills that arrived in the mail.

Ready to Talk With a Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer?

If you or someone you love has been harmed by suspected medical negligence in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois, you don’t have to sort through records, medical jargon, and conflicting explanations on your own. Our firm brings deep insurance-industry insight, substantial trial experience, and a hands-on approach to evaluating and pursuing medical malpractice cases. We offer confidential, no-cost consultations, and you do not pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.