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Malpractice Center

Best Surgical Error Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA (2026)

We checked published results against client reviews for this evidence-based 2026 list of Los Angeles surgical error lawyers, weighing what each firm has handled and where it focuses its practice.

Sources checked

5 lawyers and firms

Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Gnaphron, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Heimberg Barr, LLP takes the first spot on this list based on its legal practice since 1993 and the medical malpractice verdicts and settlements it publishes. Look for cases involving your surgery before you make the call. Ask who'll handle your file and what you'll pay in fees, and don't overlook California's filing rules.

At a glance

  1. 1Heimberg Barr, LLPFree consultation4.0 out of 5
  2. 2Bostwick & AssociatesFree consultation4.2 out of 5
  3. 3Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. FagelFree consultation4.5 out of 5
  4. 4Morgan & MorganFree consultation4.7 out of 5
  5. 5Bradley KramerFree consultation3.8 out of 5

Best Surgical Error Lawyers in Los Angeles

  1. Open spot. Feature your firm in Los AngelesFor lawyers
  2. Heimberg Barr, LLP logo1

    Heimberg Barr, LLP

    4.04 Google reviewsRated 4.0 out of 5 on Google from 4 reviews

    Best for: Serious injuries after medical care

    Since opening in 1993, Heimberg Barr, LLP has taken on medical malpractice cases, with catastrophic injury claims also part of its work. Its site lists surgical errors as claims it handles and names Dr. Steven A. Heimberg, a trial attorney, on the team. The firm publishes a verdict involving twins who suffered brain damage after an unnecessary premature delivery.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for its years of experience and the recognition it has earned.

    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

  3. Bostwick & Associates logo2

    Bostwick & Associates

    4.25 Google reviewsRated 4.2 out of 5 on Google from 5 reviews

    Best for: Surgical injuries involving children

    Bostwick & Associates reports a $14 million result in a case involving a three-day-old child who suffered brain injuries because of a surgery error. The firm made this list partly because of that result. Ask how the firm handles surgical injury claims in its medical malpractice practice, including concerns about anesthesia, rather than relying on the case areas it lists.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for how much of its work is medical malpractice and the recognition it has earned.

    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. Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel logo3

    Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel

    4.582 Google reviewsRated 4.5 out of 5 on Google from 82 reviews

    Best for: Surgery and anesthesia claims

    Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel lists anesthesia malpractice among its practice areas as well as surgery errors, and specifically names gastric bypass surgery. Use those listings to start asking questions if you were injured during an operation. The firm publishes a $460 million medical malpractice verdict, and you can also request service in Spanish.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for how much of its work is medical malpractice and the recognition it has earned.

    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

  5. Not sure who to call first?

    Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Los Angeles can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.

  6. 4

    Morgan & Morgan

    4.79,784 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 9784 reviews

    Best for: Delayed cesarean delivery claims

    You'll find mixed accounts in Morgan & Morgan's many client reviews. Across 9,784 reviews, its Google rating is 4.7; reviewers mention strong results, but some describe slow communication or raise questions about fees. Surgical errors are among the medical malpractice claims listed by the firm, which has a Los Angeles office.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    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

  7. Bradley Kramer logo5

    Bradley Kramer

    3.8125 Google reviewsRated 3.8 out of 5 on Google from 125 reviews

    Best for: Patients seeking medical-legal background

    Bradley Kramer's founding partner, Bradley I. Kramer, M.D., Esq., has medical and legal credentials. From its office in Beverly Hills, 13 km from Los Angeles, the firm handles medical malpractice claims that include surgical errors, according to its listings. Favorable settlements feature in some clients' accounts of supportive service.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for 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

Where they are in Los Angeles

A few minutes that might help

Questions about your own case?
How a malpractice claim usually moves in California

  1. 1.Something went wrong

    Write down dates and names while they're fresh.

  2. 2.Get your records

    Ask for your full chart and test results.

  3. 3.Free case review

    A lawyer looks at what happened, free.

  4. 4.Medical opinion

    A doctor checks whether the care fell short.

  5. 5.Notice before suing

    Some places need a notice before a claim.

  6. 6.File before the deadline

    Your lawyer starts the claim before the deadline.

  7. 7.Settlement or trial

    Many claims settle. Some go to a judge or jury.

Your deadline: 3 years from the injuryRead the California law guide

Each step in more detail

  1. Check the filing date

    When you speak with the lawyer, give the surgery date and when you discovered the injury. Under California's general rule, you must file within 3 years of injury or 1 year after actual or reasonable discovery; the earlier deadline applies. To check your dates, have a California lawyer apply that rule.

  2. Review the medical records

    Along with the operative report, share records of treatment you had after surgery. To assess the claim, which medical opinions does the lawyer need? If you're suing a health care provider for negligence in California, you don't need a certificate of merit.

  3. Decide whether to file

    When a lawyer agrees to take your claim, discuss the complaint (the document that starts the lawsuit) and review the fee agreement. Before claiming punitive damages in California, you need court permission under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code ยง 425.13.

  4. Develop the claim

    Ask how your chart and medical opinions will help the team explain what happened during your care. If you have further care or expenses, tell your lawyer. Ask the lawyer to check California's separate filing rule for minors if your child was injured.

  5. Consider resolution

    Before deciding about a proposed settlement, discuss what going to trial would involve. Only non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, fall under California's MICRA cap. When judgment, award or settlement occurs, the amount then in force applies. No cap applies to economic damages.

Malpractice claims in Los Angeles: the rules that matter

The filing deadline in California
  1. The clock startsOn the day of the injury
  2. Time to start a claim3 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
  3. At the very most3 yearsafter the treatment, with a few exceptions
Limits on damages in California
  • Pain and sufferingCapped at $470,000
  • All damages togetherNo overall cap
  • Expert paperworkNo certificate of merit is required to sue a health care provider for negligence.

Read the California law guideWork out your own deadline

Local hospitals

Star ratings from CMS Care Compare. Look up a hospital

Filing deadline for most malpractice claims in California
3 years
Source
Outer limit (statute of repose)
3 years
Source
Hospitals near Los Angeles with a CMS star rating
6
Source

What a malpractice lawyer costs in Los Angeles

  1. The first callOften free. Ask before you book.
  2. A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
  3. If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
  4. If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
Four listed firms say they work on contingency. The lawyer receives a share of the recovery, with no lawyer's fee if the claim fails. Case costs are separate. Those costs can include obtaining records and medical opinions, as well as court fees. The firms' stated terms don't say who carries these expenses. Ask whether the firm advances them and whether you'd have to repay them if nothing is recovered. Before you sign, get a written explanation of how the fee is calculated and which expenses you'd owe. Bradley Kramer's contingency terms aren't stated.

According to all five listed firms, there's no charge for the first consultation. Contingency arrangements are also offered by four of them.

What to bring to your first call

  • When you had surgery and the date you first suspected an injury
  • If you have them, your operative report and anesthesia record
  • Records from follow-up treatment, along with your discharge instructions
  • Names of the surgeon and hospital, and any other providers involved
  • Records showing income lost after the injury, plus your medical bills
  • Letters or messages you've received from the hospital or insurer
  • Visible changes or injuries shown in photos
  • Your own brief timeline, written in your words

Questions to ask a lawyer

  1. 1If a claim involved this surgery or a similar injury, have you handled it?
  2. 2Who'll work on my file, including reviewing my medical records?
  3. 3To review this, what other records or medical opinions would you need?
  4. 4Given the dates in my case, how would California's filing deadline apply?
  5. 5If I recover money, how would you work out your fee?
  6. 6If my claim fails, could I owe case expenses, and who pays them?
  7. 7If I need updates or have urgent questions, whom can I contact?
  8. 8What might concern you enough not to take my case?

Choosing a surgical error lawyer in Los Angeles

Experience with your operation tells you more than the size of a lawyer's biggest verdict does. Has the lawyer handled an injury from your procedure, or dealt with the kind of mistake you think happened? In a result Bostwick & Associates publishes, a child was injured by an error during surgery. Among the practice areas at Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel are gastric bypass surgery, with anesthesia malpractice also listed. Those details give you questions to ask; you'll still need more than a listing to decide whether either firm suits your case.

Bring along whatever records you've been able to gather. Your operative report and anesthesia record can help you decide what to ask, so bring those along with discharge instructions and records of treatment you had later. If your chart is incomplete, ask how to obtain the missing records the lawyer needs to review. Tell the lawyer what changed after surgery, using your own words, and when you first realized something might have gone wrong.

Use the consultation to test the working relationship

  • Ask who'll review your chart and whom you'll usually contact about the case. If you want to speak with the named attorney, find out what that person will do on your case before signing.
  • Ask the lawyer what made those other claims like yours, rather than accepting that they've handled something similar. A large recovery in the firm's published results doesn't tell you what your case might recover.
  • How will you get updates? People reviewing some firms on this list say they couldn't get calls answered or heard little from the firm afterward. Ask whom you can reach when your usual contact isn't available and what the team will do next.
  • Ask for a written fee agreement. If the consultation is free, you can discuss your claim at that meeting without paying for the time. Ask what you'll be charged for legal work after that meeting, including any separate case expenses.

Under a contingency agreement, the lawyer's fee comes out of any money you recover as a share of that amount. If your claim fails, there's no lawyer's fee to pay. Case expenses need a separate discussion, so ask who pays for records and medical opinions while the claim is pending and whether you'd have to repay those costs if you recover nothing.

Treat it as a warning when someone won't explain the agreement or predicts a payout without first reading your records. California doesn't require a certificate of merit when you sue a health care provider for negligence. You haven't established a claim just because of that rule. You're reading general information here, not legal advice.

Questions people ask

How soon should I contact a Los Angeles surgical error lawyer?
When you suspect that surgical care may have caused an injury, get in touch with a lawyer. You needn't wait for the whole chart. California's general filing deadline is within 3 years of injury or 1 year after you discovered it, or reasonably should have discovered it; whichever comes first is the deadline that applies. To understand your situation, have a California lawyer explain how those dates apply.
Which listed firms handle surgical error claims?
Among the claims listed by all five firms are surgical errors or surgical injury. Alongside Bostwick & Associates' published $14 million result for a surgery error on a three-day-old child, Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel lists anesthesia malpractice and gastric bypass surgery. Ask each firm about your procedure before you choose one.
Can I speak to a lawyer without paying for the first consultation?
A free consultation is offered by all five listed firms. If the firm would review your claim, ask which records you'd need to provide. Because the consultation is free, don't assume later expenses are covered; those are a separate issue. Before arranging representation, ask for written terms that explain how you'd pay the legal fees and case costs.
Do I need a medical certificate before suing in California?
If you sue a health care provider for negligence in California, a certificate of merit isn't required. Whether your surgical injury supports a claim is a different question, so ask what medical review the lawyer needs for your records. Before you can claim punitive damages, Cal. Civ. Proc. Code ยง 425.13 requires you to get court permission.
Is there a limit on compensation in a California malpractice case?
Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, fall under California's MICRA cap. Economic damages have no such cap. When judgment, award or settlement occurs, the cap amount then in force applies. To understand your claim, ask a California lawyer about those categories. What your case might recover can't be read from a firm's published verdict.
What is the deadline if my child was injured during surgery?
A child suing under California's rule must file within 3 years of the wrongful act. If the child is under 6, the later of 3 years or the eighth birthday is the deadline. To check the deadline, give a California lawyer your child's age and treatment dates. Because the adult discovery rule applies to adults, don't assume it gives your family the same filing time.
How long will a surgical malpractice claim take?
You can't apply one estimate of case length to every claim on this list. Once the lawyer reviews your records, ask what has to happen next and what could slow things down. Although published verdicts and settlements describe past results, they don't give you a schedule for your case. While your claim is pending, how will the firm keep you up to date?
What if my loved one died after surgery?
Wrongful death appears among the claims listed by all five firms. When you talk to the lawyer, give the surgery date and when your loved one died. If you have hospital records, bring them. Along with explaining the applicable deadline, the lawyer can discuss whether a claim is possible and who may bring it. Malpractice isn't established simply because someone died after surgery.
Does a hospital's star rating tell me whether I have a claim?
Nearby hospitals rated on CMS Care Compare include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. What happened during your operation can't be established by those ratings. To review the care recorded in your chart, ask a lawyer. If you want the events reviewed, your operative report and follow-up chart are more directly tied to what happened.

Sources

  1. California Code of Civil Procedure ยง 340.5, California Legislative Information
  2. California Civil Code ยง 3333.2, California Legislative Information
  3. California Code of Civil Procedure ยง 364, California Legislative Information
  4. State Enactments of Selected Medical Liability Reforms (as of 8/27/2026), Medical Professional Liability Association
  5. Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States (updated 6/10/2026), Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.
  6. Hospital General Information, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  7. Malpractice Center methodology, Malpractice Center

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