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Need Help With A Medical Malpractice Issue?

When a doctor makes a mistake in your health care, it can have devastating consequences. A medical error can cause serious injury, disability, and permanent damages. When a doctor or hospital makes a medical error that causes an injury or death, the injury victim and their family may be able to recover damages to compensate them for their losses.

In a medical malpractice lawsuit, the injured patient has to show that their doctor breached their duty of care, which caused the injury and loss. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be very complicated, involving multiple doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, nurses, and other health care providers. Some examples of medical malpractice and an overview of the legal process can help you understand if you might have a claim.

What Are Some Examples of Medical Malpractice?

Examples of medical malpractice can include any injury, damage, or loss caused by medical negligence. Most medical malpractice cases involve a patient making a claim against a doctor, hospital, or other medical professionals. Some examples of medical malpractice injuries include:

  • Misdiagnosis
  • Hospital-acquired infections
  • Delayed cancer diagnosis
  • Anesthesia errors
  • Birth injuries
  • Retained foreign objects
  • Botched plastic surgery
  • Medication errors
  • Emergency room errors
  • Nursing home accidents
  • Surgical errors
  • Telemedicine errors
  • Lack of informed consent

How Can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Help Me?

Medical malpractice and wrongful death claims have a time limit known as a statute of limitations. A medical malpractice attorney can make sure the claim is filed in time. If a complaint is filed even one day late, the injury victim may be barred from recovering any damages.

Medical malpractice cases are complex and can take a long time. It is important to have someone on your side to represent you through the long and difficult process. The right medical malpractice lawyer can let you know your options in a legal case, including whether you want to accept a settlement offer or take your case to court. Your lawyer can also negotiate to make sure you get an award to cover all your costs and damages.

How Do I Find a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?

If you or a loved one suffered an injury based on a bad diagnosis, botched surgery, medical fraud, prescription errors, or breach of doctor-patient confidentiality, a medical malpractice lawyer can help. Use FindLaw to find a medical malpractice lawyer near you to represent you in your medical malpractice dispute.

Do You Need a Lawyer in Illinois?

Anyone who is aiming to file a lawsuit or who must defend themselves against a lawsuit (civil) or criminal allegations should find an Illinois lawyer who has experience in the type of case they’re facing. Whether you reside in Illinois or any other state, the rule of law (and the complexity thereof) makes it preferable in most situations to have an attorney to represent your interests in civil or criminal court rather than representing yourself.

Defendants in the Illinois court system — or those facing federal charges for felonies, particularly — will most likely see better results with proper legal counsel. Criminal convictions can result in lengthy jail or prison sentences, as well as the creation of a permanent criminal record for first-time offenders. A skilled lawyer can help you craft the best defense possible, improving your chances of acquittal — and if the prosecution is willing to negotiate rather than go to trial, an attorney can help you get the best deal possible.

If you are seeking restitution, you should consider consulting a lawyer for both civil and criminal court. Whether the defendant is the state or an individual, attorneys working as prosecutors can use a body of provided evidence such as physical evidence, eyewitness accounts, digital communications or surveillance, to create a compelling argument in your favor

In almost all instances, representing yourself in a court of law is not recommended, particularly if the consequences of a conviction (or a failure to successfully prosecute) are significant. Attorneys are often called upon to act as experts, and their expertise can often be invaluable.

How to Find a Lawyer in Illinois

To find an Illinois lawyer, you will want to consider both budget and reputation. It is important to find a lawyer that is within your financial reach but also has strong legal experience and a track record of established success.

Extensive research is also important when selecting a lawyer to represent your best interests. You can check the Illinois State Bar Association to research potential candidates.

Before hiring a lawyer, it’s important to cross-reference results in web searches, to ensure consistent and reliable information. Including checking through prominent cases, social media profiles, local or state media coverage and going directly to the attorney or firm’s website.

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost in Illinois?

In Illinois, a general estimate of the per-hour cost for a lawyer can range from about $130 to $400 per hour, depending on location, expertise and the complexity of the case in question.

In some cases, attorneys may opt to offer clients a flat-rate fee instead of a per-hour fee. This typically arises in criminal defense law as well as certain divorce court proceedings. A fee for a misdemeanor defense is usually far less than the flat fee for a felony defense. Representation on issues related to juvenile offenses and traffic offenses may cost you less than the representation on situations involving corporate law or bankruptcies.

Finally, certain lawyers, such as personal injury lawyers, typically offer clients representation based on contingency. If you win a settlement from such a case, such as slipping and falling at a business establishment and incurring a serious injury, your personal injury lawyer will retain a percentage of your total settlement, rather than charging you any per-hour or flat-rate fees.

If you cannot afford representation in a legal matter, legal aid may be an option to consider.

What Types of Cases Can an Illinois Lawyer Help With?

While an Illinois lawyer can take on cases of any sort, the most common criminal cases in Illinois involve simple assault or aggravated assault, sexual assault, violations of the Controlled Substances Act, burglary (business and residential), driving while under the influence (DUI) and severe violent crime such as homicide and armed robbery.

Illinois lawyers are also typically called upon to represent parties in marital disputes leading to divorce or separation, the custody battles common to such cases, and other civil proceedings.

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