When Medical Professionals Make Irreversible Mistakes
A misread CT scan misses a bleeding brain; a surgical sponge stays behind after an appendectomy; a newborn is deprived of oxygen during delivery and develops cerebral palsy. Each scenario is preventable, yet each can leave families drowning in medical bills and unanswered questions. Our Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys investigate these failures, line up expert testimony, and file the medical malpractice lawsuits that force negligent hospitals, physicians, and nurses to pay full and fair compensation under Pennsylvania law.
From our Center City office, we fight for injured Pennsylvanians across the Greater Philadelphia area, including Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties.
Why Patients and Families Choose The Law Offices of Craig A. Altman
Before diving into legal strategy, here’s what distinguishes our law firm in complex medical malpractice cases:
Focused malpractice experience – Decades litigating birth injuries, surgical errors, anesthesia mishaps, and misdiagnoses.
Rapid expert review – Board‑certified specialists screen records within days, not months, so we can file a timely medical malpractice claim.
Contingency‑fee representation – No hourly bills; we advance case costs and recover only if we win.
Clear, compassionate guidance – We translate dense medical charts into plain English and keep families informed at every milestone.
Obtaining fair compensation after a catastrophic medical error demands an experienced medical malpractice lawyer with both trial skills and financial resources. We retain economists, life–care planners, and hospital administrators to quantify damages and expose systemic negligence.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice We Litigate
Medical malpractice refers to a medical professional’s negligence that deviates from accepted standards of care and injures a patient. Below are the claim types we see most often.
Category | Typical Scenario | Potential Impact |
|---|---|---|
Birth injuries | Failure to address fetal distress, improper use of forceps | Cerebral palsy, brachial plexus damage |
Surgical mistakes | Wrong‑site surgery, instrument left inside the body | Infections, repeat operations |
Misdiagnosis / delayed diagnosis | Cancer signs ignored, stroke symptoms missed | Disease progression, wrongful death |
Medication errors | Wrong dosage, harmful drug interactions | Organ failure, severe allergic reaction |
Anesthesia malpractice | Improper intubation, dosage errors | Brain injury, cardiac arrest |
Hospital‑acquired infections | Unsanitary equipment, poor hand hygiene | Sepsis, extended ICU stay |
Each of these medical malpractice claims requires meticulous gathering of medical records and swift consultation with specialty‑matched experts.
What Must Be Proven in a Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
Pennsylvania courts require four elements:
Duty of care – The medical professional owed you treatment meeting accepted standards.
Breach – The provider deviated from that standard (the hardest element to prove without medical experts).
Causation – The breach directly caused injury.
Damages – The injury resulted in measurable losses (e.g., additional surgeries, lost wages).
Our legal team secures sworn expert reports addressing each element before filing suit, satisfying Pa. R. Civ. P. 1042.3’s certificate‑of‑merit requirement.
Damages We Pursue in Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice injuries often require lifelong care. We document every dollar so insurers have no wiggle room.
Medical expenses & future medical expenses – Revision surgeries, rehab, home health aides.
Lost wages & earning power – Paychecks missed now and diminished career potential.
Non‑economic damages – Pain, emotional distress, loss of life’s pleasures.
Punitive damages – When providers hide errors or falsify records.
Pennsylvania has no cap on compensatory damages in medical malpractice lawsuits, giving juries full authority to value catastrophic harm.
Steps to Strengthen Your Medical Malpractice Claim
Request complete medical records immediately; do not rely on summaries.
Write down timelines of symptoms, doctor visits, and any unusual statements by staff.
Follow all medical advice; gaps in treatment can undermine causation.
Avoid social media posts discussing the case.
Contact our office for a free consultation before signing any hospital release.
A single missed deadline can bar your claim. Speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney early.
FAQs for Medical Malpractice Victims
How much can you sue for medical malpractice in Pennsylvania?
There’s no statutory ceiling on compensatory awards, and in severe injury cases, damages often reach exceptionally high levels once you factor in lifelong care and lost earning capacity.
What percentage do most medical malpractice attorneys take?
Contingency fees typically range from 30% to 40% of the recovery, plus reimbursed costs.
Do most medical malpractice lawsuits settle?
Yes. Insurers often prefer settlement once expert reports confirm negligent medical care and damages. However, we prepare every case for trial to maximize value.
How long does a medical malpractice lawsuit take?
Every case is unique. Factors such as the complexity of the medical issues, the number of defendants, and the court’s calendar all affect the timeline. While some matters resolve sooner and others take longer, we work diligently at each stage to move your claim forward as efficiently and strategically as possible.
What are the odds of winning a medical negligence case?
Success depends on strong expert testimony and clear causation. Our track record shows that thorough case work‑ups tilt the odds in the plaintiff’s favor.
Ready for Experienced Legal Help For Your Injuries?
If you suspect a medical mistake harmed you or a loved one, contact our Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys today. The consultation is free, and we don’t collect a fee unless we recover compensation. Call or click below to speak with a qualified medical malpractice lawyer.
$10 Million
Burn Injury in Pennsylvania
$1.3 Million
Bar Patron Assault in Pennsylvania
$750,000
Injury Caused by an Exploding Thermos
$550,000
Neck & Back Injuries
$400,000
Motor Vehicle Accident
$300,000
Minor with a Broken Leg
$300,000
Injuries Resulting From a Trip & Fall
$250,000
Pedestrian Accident
Injured? Tell Us Your Story. We’ll Handle the Rest.
Call To Speak To A Lawyer For A Free Case Evaluation.
Cases We Handle in Pennsylvania
Hurt in a car crash, trucking accident, slip-and-fall, or other negligence-based mishap in Southeast Pennsylvania?
The Altman Team focuses exclusively on personal injury law, leveraging a deep command of Pennsylvania tort statutes to win maximum compensation for residents of Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware Counties.
You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.