Best Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in Chicago, IL (2026)
To build this evidence-based 2026 list of Chicago nursing home neglect lawyers, we weighed each firm's published results and practice focus, alongside experience and client reviews.
Leading this list is Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Alongside its long practice history, it publishes a nursing home bedsore settlement. Before calling, find out who would take your family's case and whether the firm has worked on similar neglect claims. Find out about fees and case costs, too. To understand the filing rules, talk with an Illinois lawyer, including about those in our Illinois malpractice guide.
4.81,737 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 1737 reviews
Best for: Nursing home bedsore claims
After a nursing home resident was found unconscious in an elevator and needed surgery for a bedsore, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm obtained a published $1 million settlement. For the neglect concerns behind this list, that's directly relevant. Founded in 1985, the firm is in Chicago.
Stood out in our review for the results it publishes and its years of experience.
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
4.91,128 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 1128 reviews
Best for: Medication errors and neglect
Founded in 1924, Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, Ltd. has the longest history of any firm on this list. Its site addresses nursing home neglect and medication errors. Among its published medical malpractice results is Elise Blandin's $12.35 million settlement for a family after a delayed breast cancer diagnosis (not a nursing home case).
Stood out in our review for its years of experience 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
4.8605 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 605 reviews
Best for: Fatal bedsore neglect claims
Levin & Perconti publishes a $12.2 million Cook County jury award for a Chicago family whose mother died after negligent nursing care caused bedsores, leading to her death. Pressure injuries and fatal neglect are directly involved in that case. Among the Chicago firm's attorneys are Steve Levin and John Perconti, and its listed practice areas include nursing home abuse and medical malpractice.
Stood out in our review for the results it publishes 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
Not sure who to call first?
Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Chicago can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.
4.73,516 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 3516 reviews
Best for: Neglect with medical injury concerns
Disparti Law Group's client feedback repeatedly describes helpful support through a difficult process. For a family sorting out a resident's injury, that is a useful starting point for the first conversation. The Chicago firm lists nursing home abuse and medical malpractice among its practice areas, and its site also addresses wrongful death.
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
4.85,402 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 5402 reviews
Best for: Fatal medication dosage errors
After an 80-year-old client died from a medication dosage error, Malman Law obtained a published $975,000 result. Those held accountable included a hospital, nursing home and pharmacy. Because that case involved several care settings, the firm may be relevant if your family's concerns go beyond the nursing home.
Stood out in our review for the results it publishes 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
Describe what happened, including when your family learned about it. Under Illinois medical malpractice rules, you generally have 2 years to file and a 4-year outer limit. Find out from the lawyer which rules cover the resident's claim.
Review the care records
To examine the care concerns, the lawyer reviews your account along with the medical records. Find out who would obtain the records, including which nursing home and hospital records are needed. If the firm takes or declines the case, ask how it would explain that decision.
Obtain the medical review
To file an Illinois medical malpractice complaint, the attorney must include an affidavit and a qualified health professional's written report finding reasonable and meritorious cause to file. You can get a 90-day extension when the deadline is near.
File the complaint
To bring the claim to court, you file a complaint. The lawyer checks which deadline applies and what attachments are required before filing. For a child's medical malpractice claim, Illinois allows 8 years to sue, though never past the 22nd birthday.
Work toward a resolution
Because cases can resolve in different ways, the firms' published results include settlements and jury verdicts. Find out what would happen next in your case, including how fees and expenses would reduce any recovery. Yours can't be predicted from past results.
Malpractice claims in Chicago: the rules that matter
The filing deadline in Illinois
The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
At the very most4 yearsafter the treatment, with a few exceptions
Limits on damages in Illinois
Pain and sufferingNo cap
All damages togetherNo overall cap
Punitive damagesNot allowed
Expert paperworkThe plaintiff's attorney must attach an affidavit that a qualified health professional reviewed the case and found in a written report that there is a reasonable and meritorious cause for filing, with the report attached.
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.
According to the listed firms, their fees are contingent. If the claim fails, there's no attorney fee; otherwise, the lawyer gets a share of any recovery. You'll handle expenses separately, including charges for records and medical opinions, along with court fees. If there's no recovery, would you owe those expenses, and who pays them upfront? You won't find that answer in the firms' listed terms. Before signing, ask the lawyer to explain the share they'd charge, including how expenses would affect the amount you receive. Along with getting written terms, find out what the free consultation covers.
According to each of the ten listed firms, you can consult for free and hire on contingency.
What to bring to your first call
Any records you have of the resident's nursing home care and medications
Hospital records that relate to the resident's injury
When the injury happened and when your family first learned about it
Which facility and care providers were involved, listed by name
Medical bills for care related to the injury
Any letters or messages the nursing home, hospital or insurer sent you
Any photographs you have that show visible injuries
A short written timeline of the care concerns, including how the facility responded
Questions to ask a lawyer
1For this type of injury, have you handled nursing home claims?
2Who would be responsible for our file, including reviewing the records?
3When would we need to file our family's claim?
4For this case, would a qualified health professional's report be required?
5During the case review, how would we hear from you?
6How is the contingency fee you'd charge calculated?
7If there's no recovery, who must pay the case expenses?
8What does your consultation cover when it's free?
Choose for the care failure, not the headline result
Start by describing what happened to your relative. When a bedsore requires surgery, the chart raises different questions than it would for a medication dosage error. Find out whether the lawyer has handled similar neglect, including which records they'd examine. You'll find published bedsore results from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm and Levin & Perconti. For a fatal medication error involving a nursing home, Malman Law publishes a result. About your relative's care, a large birth injury verdict gives you less to go on.
Use the first conversation to test the fit
1
Ask who owns the file
Instead of settling for the name of whoever answers your call, ask which lawyer would actually review the case. Ask how you'd reach that lawyer, including who would explain why the firm accepted or declined the claim.
2
Make updates concrete
When clients review several firms listed here, they mention gaps in communication. During the records review, ask what updates to expect and who you could contact if your message goes unanswered. If your family needs language support, tell the firm.
3
Separate fees from expenses
According to every listed firm, consultations are free and fees are contingent on recovery. Though you can talk about the matter without paying a consultation charge, the firm may still decline your case. Along with the fee agreement, request a separate explanation of case expenses.
To file a medical malpractice claim, an attorney must also provide an affidavit and attach a qualified health professional's written report that supports the claim. You can get a 90-day extension when the deadline is near. Find out how the lawyer would arrange the review. Just because an extension exists, don't put off making your first call.
If a lawyer promises a recovery based on another family's settlement, be wary.
Ask for clarification if the firm won't identify the person who would handle your case.
Before signing, make sure you understand the fees and who's responsible for case expenses.
Make a note of what happened, including the facility's response. When you bring your records, ask what else the lawyer needs. You're reading general information, not legal advice. To understand how the rules fit your family's circumstances, speak with an Illinois lawyer.
Questions people ask
What should I do before calling a Chicago nursing home neglect lawyer?
Make a note of what happened, including when your family learned of the injury. As you gather your records or photographs, include how the facility responded. Before calling, you don't have to figure out the legal rules. To evaluate the care, an Illinois lawyer can explain which additional records are needed and check the deadline for filing.
What is the filing deadline for an Illinois nursing home neglect claim?
For a medical malpractice claim in Illinois, you generally have 2 years to file from when you knew or reasonably should have known of the injury, or received written notice. From the act or omission, there's also a 4-year outer limit. To find out whether those rules cover your nursing home claim, speak with an Illinois lawyer about how to count the dates.
Do these Chicago firms charge for the first consultation?
According to all ten listed firms, they work on contingency and offer a free consultation. If the claim fails, there's no attorney fee; if there's a recovery, the attorney receives a share of it. You'll handle expenses separately. Along with asking what the consultation covers, find out who would pay for records and medical opinions, including court fees.
What does an Illinois medical malpractice case need before filing?
To file, the plaintiff's attorney must attach an affidavit stating that a qualified health professional reviewed the case and, in a written report, found reasonable and meritorious cause for filing. That report needs to be attached, too. You can get a 90-day extension when the deadline is near. Whether this requirement covers the nursing home neglect you suspect is a question for the lawyer.
How long will a nursing home neglect case take?
There's no fixed length for these cases under Illinois rules. Though the listed firms publish settlements and verdicts, you can't tell from either how long your claim might take. Before the lawyer assesses the case, ask which records and medical review are needed. While that work is underway, find out how they'll keep you updated.
Which listed firms publish results involving bedsores?
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm publishes a $1 million settlement for a nursing home resident whose bedsore required surgery. Levin & Perconti's published results include a $12.2 million Cook County jury award for bedsores that led to a mother's death. These cases show relevant work. They aren't estimates of what another family's claim might recover.
What if my loved one died after suspected neglect?
To check for a possible wrongful death claim and its deadline, speak with a lawyer. For a fatal bedsore case, Levin & Perconti publishes a verdict. In a case involving a nursing home and a fatal medication dosage error, Malman Law publishes a result. Who may bring a claim in your circumstances is something a lawyer can explain. Hold on to correspondence about the death, along with the care records.
Are there different deadlines if the injured resident is a child?
A child has 8 years from the act or omission to sue under Illinois medical malpractice rules, but can't sue after the 22nd birthday. For a child's long-term care injury, that doesn't settle every question about deadlines. To determine which claim and filing rules apply, an Illinois lawyer can examine the child's age along with the dates of care.
Does Illinois limit damages in a medical malpractice case?
For medical malpractice cases in Illinois, no damage caps are enforceable. You can't recover punitive damages. Neither a case's value nor a promised recovery follows from those rules. To understand how they affect the particular claims involving the nursing home care, ask a lawyer. Different injuries and circumstances lie behind the settlements and verdicts the firms publish.
Should I choose the firm with the largest published verdict?
Start with a published result, but don't make it your whole decision. Though some firms listed here publish nursing home outcomes, others show results from hospital or birth injury cases. Find out who would handle your file, including whether they've worked on the resident's particular injury. When reviews mention missed updates or unclear decisions about taking a case, pay close attention to how the firm communicates.
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