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Common Defendants in Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

Written by: Michael J. Helfand

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Posted over 2 years ago. Applies to Illinois, 1 helpful vote, 0 comments

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Doctors

This may be the most obvious type of defendant in a medical malpractice case. Doctors are often sued in cases of medical negligence because they were the provider who failed to diagnose an illness, or prescribed the wrong medication or treatment.

Providers who assist doctors

Doctors have several types of healthcare providers working with them, and many are involved in your treatment. Examples are nurses and lab technicians. These people are often responsible for reporting results and screening patients. Negligence can occur in these situations, as well.

Hospitals

Hospitals can be sued for negligence if you were injured because of problems with the equipment or facility. Also, hospitals are commonly sued in addition to the doctor who was treating you there. Illinois has higher damage caps for hospitals, meaning you can recover more. The limit on non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering) against a hospital is $1,000,000, compared to $500,000 for doctors.

All of the above

Often, an attorney will recommend suing all the parties involved in treating you at the time of your injury. Sometimes this is done to ensure that you will be compensated. Often, this is done because it's impossible to tell at the outset who is responsible for your injury.

Additional Resources

Medical malpractice cases are complex and expensive. All of the attorneys we recommend will consult with you for free and answer all your questions. If you'd like a referral to an experienced medical malpractice attorney in the Chicago area or elsewhere in Illinois, give us a call.

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