For this evidence-based 2026 list of Phoenix surgical error lawyers, we looked at each firm's practice focus alongside published results, client reviews and professional standing.
With its published $8 million surgical error settlement and focus on medical malpractice, Hastings Law Firm takes the lead on this list. Before calling the firm, find out how it handles fees and case costs and who reviews surgical records. Because filing deadlines matter, you'll also need to check Arizona's malpractice rules.
4.851 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 51 reviews
Best for: Surgical injury malpractice claims
An $8 million surgical error settlement stands out among Hastings Law Firm's published results. Founded in 2005 by Tommy Hastings, the firm focuses on medical malpractice and also publishes results involving missed diagnoses and negligent prescribing. That combination supports its position here: a direct surgical result alongside a sustained malpractice focus.
Stood out in our review for how much of its work is medical malpractice and the results it publishes.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
4.824 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 24 reviews
Best for: Injury and wrongful death claims
Frank Powers and Shawn Cunningham appear in Harris, Powers & Cunningham, PLLC's published malpractice verdicts. The firm's results include a $5.875 million wrongful death verdict and a $4.25 million injury verdict. It also reports a $6.3 million verdict against Banner Health in 2016 for failure to diagnose and treat a vertebral artery dissection.
Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and the results it publishes.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
4.9232 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 232 reviews
Best for: Clients wanting clear case updates
When clients review Runion Personal Injury Lawyers, they repeatedly mention updates and answers they could understand. Across 232 Google reviews, its rating is 4.9. Although that gives the communication feedback a substantial base, those reviews cover more than surgical claims.
Stood out in our review for what its clients say and the results it publishes.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
Not sure who to call first?
Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Phoenix can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.
4.8107 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 107 reviews
Best for: Surgery injuries involving amputation
In a published case description, Snyder & Wenner, P.C. describes medical malpractice during surgery that led to amputation. Because it concerns surgery, that case belongs directly here. Alongside birth injury verdicts involving Banner hospitals, its published descriptions include a verdict against Phoenix VA Hospital.
Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and what its clients say.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
4.8545 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 545 reviews
Best for: Claims involving delayed C-sections
Morgan & Morgan's published $37.8 million verdict concerns a delayed C-section that left Brendan Dixon with severe brain injury. A Hillsborough County jury returned that verdict in 2007, so it isn't an Arizona surgical error result. The firm's site also addresses surgical errors and medication injuries within a broader practice that includes employment claims.
Stood out in our review for what its clients say and how much of its work is medical malpractice.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
When reviewing what happened, the lawyer checks when you learned the injury might involve negligence. Because Arizona's 2-year filing period starts at accrual, it doesn't automatically begin on the operation date. Find out which deadline your claim must meet.
Gather the medical records
Bring your operative report and records of care after surgery if you have them. To assess the suspected error, the lawyer can tell you what else is needed. Before gathering missing records, ask who obtains them and pays.
Address the medical opinion
Under Arizona law, a claimant has to certify whether expert testimony is needed. When it's needed, the initial disclosures must be served with a preliminary expert opinion affidavit. Find out who arranges the medical review for you.
File and exchange information
Before proceeding with a claim the lawyer accepts, the filing has to meet the applicable deadline. After that, records and testimony can be exchanged. Until minors reach age 18, Arizona pauses the clock; it then allows the same 2-year period.
Consider settlement or trial
While some listed firms publish settlements and jury verdicts, others don't publish results. Before proceeding, ask how your lawyer handles settlement and trial. Although Arizona has no malpractice damage caps, you can't infer an individual claim's value or outcome from that.
Malpractice claims in Phoenix: the rules that matter
The filing deadline in Arizona
The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
Limits on damages in Arizona
Pain and sufferingNo cap
All damages togetherNo overall cap
Expert paperworkThe claimant must certify whether expert testimony is needed and, if so, serve a preliminary expert opinion affidavit with the initial disclosures.
A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
If a claim fails, some firms here say they charge no attorney fee under their contingency arrangement; if there's a recovery, the lawyer takes a share. Expenses aren't included. Beyond court fees, those expenses can pay for records and medical opinions. Although the firms describe their terms, they don't say who advances expenses or who must pay them if the claim fails. Ask for a written answer. Before agreeing, also find out the lawyer's share and how expenses change what you receive. Even though every listed firm offers a free consultation, you may still pay for later work and case expenses.
According to each of the nine listed firms, you can get a free consultation. A contingency arrangement is also offered by five.
What to bring to your first call
When you had surgery and first began to suspect an error
If available, the operative report and instructions you received at discharge
Names of the surgeon and hospital, along with other clinicians who treated you
Records of treatment you received afterward or during another operation
Bills for medical care, along with records of related expenses
Letters or messages you've received from the insurer or hospital
Photos of visible injuries, with dates if you know them
Your main concerns in a short, written timeline
Questions to ask a lawyer
1For a procedure like mine, have you handled surgical error claims?
2Who handles my file, and who evaluates my records?
3Under Arizona law, when must I file my claim?
4For my claim, is an expert opinion affidavit needed?
5What calculation do you use for your contingency fee?
6If there's no recovery, who has to pay case expenses?
7When I need an update, how will you provide it, and how do I contact whoever handles my case?
8How soon will you tell me if you've accepted my case?
Choosing a surgical error lawyer in Phoenix
Rather than a firm's rating, start with your operation. Once you've explained the procedure and what changed afterward, ask if the lawyer has handled that kind of suspected error before. If a car crash case required surgery, that doesn't show the lawyer has handled negligence during an operation. Because several firms here take both kinds of claims, make clear which one you're asking about.
Ask whose job it is to read your operative report. Although someone answers your first call, that person may not be the attorney who evaluates your case. Before going further, get that attorney's name and ask how the firm decides if a medical opinion is needed. Under Arizona's rule, a claimant must certify whether expert testimony is necessary. When it's necessary, the initial disclosures must come with a preliminary expert opinion affidavit.
When asking about comparable surgical cases, find out what the lawyer actually did. If a verdict is published, check whether it concerns another state or medical problem.
Find out how you'll stay in touch. When a new medical bill arrives, who should you contact, and whom can you reach if that person isn't available?
Before signing, read through the fee agreement. If you recover money, the contingency fee is the lawyer's share. Ask separately who pays expenses when a claim fails.
If someone promises an outcome, be wary. Until your records are reviewed, a past settlement can't tell you what that review will show.
According to every firm listed here, a consultation is free. Although you can use that conversation to see if a firm fits, it doesn't mean the firm has taken your case. Make sure you ask whether they'll represent you. Reaching intake staff has been difficult, according to some firms' reviews. Rather than leaving the filing deadline unaddressed, follow up promptly if you haven't heard back from the firm.
When a child is injured, Arizona pauses the filing clock until the patient turns 18; the same 2 years then runs from that birthday. Even so, it's worth asking about the chart now. This isn't legal advice, just general information. To understand which rules apply to your family's circumstances, speak with an Arizona lawyer.
Questions people ask
Which Phoenix firm leads this surgical error lawyer list?
Because it focuses on medical malpractice and publishes results including an $8 million surgical error settlement, Hastings Law Firm leads this list. It began its work in 2005. You can't predict another patient's recovery from that settlement. Rather than going by the dollar amount alone, ask how much experience the firm has with your particular procedure or suspected error.
How long do I have to file a surgical malpractice claim in Arizona?
After your claim accrues, Arizona generally allows you 2 years to file it. A medical malpractice claim accrues when the patient knew, or reasonably should have known, about the injury and that someone's negligence was its cause. To determine that date, a careful review may be needed. If you had treatment after surgery, ask an Arizona lawyer how the rule applies to both.
What should I do before calling a lawyer about a surgical error?
Start by noting the surgery date and what happened afterward. Gather your discharge instructions and follow-up care records with the operative report if you have it. When speaking with the lawyer, explain when you first suspected negligence. Rather than assuming you have to collect every record before making a call, ask early about when you need to file.
Can I speak with a listed lawyer without paying for the first consultation?
According to all nine firms, your first consultation is free; five also say they work on contingency. Even after that conversation, a firm may not have accepted your case. Case expenses don't become free because of it, either. Before signing a representation agreement, ask what the consultation covers and have the firm give you its proposed fee terms.
What does Arizona require for an expert opinion in a malpractice case?
Whether expert testimony is needed must be certified by the claimant. When it's needed, a preliminary expert opinion affidavit must be served with the initial disclosures under Arizona's rule. Used in the claim, that affidavit contains a medical opinion. Before the review, ask your lawyer who arranges it and how you'll pay for it.
Does Arizona limit damages in medical malpractice cases?
No. Arizona's constitution prohibits damage caps of any kind in medical malpractice cases. A claim still has no set value, and a patient might not recover money. The published settlements and verdicts on this list reflect individual cases. Ask an Arizona lawyer what a review of your records may support.
Is the deadline different if my child was injured during surgery?
Yes. Arizona pauses the filing clock while a patient is under 18. After turning 18, the minor has the same 2 years an adult would have. An Arizona lawyer can explain how that rule applies to your child. You can ask for a record review now; you don't have to wait for the clock to start.
How long will a surgical error case take?
There's no single timetable for a surgical error case. Arizona's 2-year rule sets a filing deadline, not a promise of when the case will end. Ask your lawyer what comes after the record review and whether an expert opinion is needed. Several firms on this list publish settlements or verdicts, but those results don't establish how long a case takes.
Can a lawyer review a claim if my loved one died after surgery?
Several firms on this list handle wrongful death claims. Harris, Powers & Cunningham, PLLC publishes a $5.875 million malpractice wrongful death verdict. Snyder & Wenner, P.C. lists a malpractice wrongful death settlement. Neither result decides your family's rights. Ask an Arizona lawyer who may bring a claim and which filing deadline applies after a death.
Do strong reviews show that a firm has handled surgical error cases?
Reviews can tell you about communication, though they may concern unrelated injury claims. Runion Personal Injury Lawyers has substantial positive feedback, for example, but some of its published results involve vehicle injuries requiring surgery. Ask specifically about negligence during an operation. A practice page and comparable published outcomes tell you something different from a firm's overall rating.
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