Skip to content
Malpractice Center

Best Surgical Error Lawyers in Chicago, IL (2026)

Using evidence for this 2026 ranking, we compare Chicago surgical error law firms' malpractice focus and published results, alongside client feedback.

Sources checked

5 lawyers and firms

Chicago River tour boat passing in front of Trump Tower in Chicago
Photo: File:Chicago River ferry.jpg: John Picken derivative work: Georgfotoart, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Because of its published malpractice results and substantial client feedback, Levin & Perconti takes the lead on this list. Check who'll handle your file before calling, along with the firm's experience with your procedure. Who pays case costs is worth asking, too. For filing rules to discuss with a lawyer, see the Illinois malpractice guide.

At a glance

  1. 1Levin & PercontiFree consultation4.8 out of 5
  2. 2Malman LawFree consultation4.8 out of 5
  3. 3Zayed LawFree consultation4.8 out of 5
  4. 4Morgan & MorganFree consultation4.7 out of 5
  5. 5Ankin LawFree consultation4.8 out of 5

Best Surgical Error Lawyers in Chicago

  1. Open spot. Feature your firm in ChicagoFor lawyers
  2. Levin & Perconti logo1

    Levin & Perconti

    4.8605 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 605 reviews

    Best for: Hospital negligence and surgical injuries

    Among Levin & Perconti's published cases are injuries from a delayed C-section delivery, along with a life-altering brain injury attributed to nursing negligence at a Chicago hospital. Its place here reflects those results in part. With surgical and anesthesia errors expressly included in its practice, the firm lists Steve Levin and John Perconti among its Chicago attorneys.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    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

  3. Malman Law logo2

    Malman Law

    4.85,410 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 5410 reviews

    Best for: Postoperative misdiagnosis claims

    A $2 million verdict published by Malman Law concerns misdiagnosis after a hysterectomy, connecting that case directly to postoperative harm. It's under appeal, the firm says. When comparing results, don't overlook that qualification.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    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

  4. Zayed Law logo3

    Zayed Law

    4.8603 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 603 reviews

    Best for: Permanent injuries during surgery

    For a client left with a permanent injury during a surgical procedure, Zayed Law reports a $3 million settlement. Its place on this list reflects that result. After handling that case, Adam J. Zayed and Julian D. Hoshell also receive the firm's credit for a $5.1 million settlement involving an injury during admission to a Chicagoland hospital.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    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

  5. 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.

  6. 4

    Morgan & Morgan

    4.77,852 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 7852 reviews

    Best for: Delayed C-section injury claims

    After doctors delayed a needed C-section and a baby suffered severe brain injury, Morgan & Morgan's published malpractice case resulted in a $37.8 million jury award in 2007. Because it happened in Hillsborough County rather than Chicago, that case doesn't establish a local surgical trial record. Alongside an office in the Chicago area, the firm lists surgical errors among the claims it handles.

    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. Ankin Law logo5

    Ankin Law

    4.81,367 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 1367 reviews

    Best for: Anesthesia and surgical death claims

    Among Ankin Law's listed recoveries are an anesthesia death and a client's death from complications following hernia surgery. If your family is investigating risks after an operation, both may be relevant. Because the published descriptions leave out recovery amounts, you have less detail for comparing outcomes.

    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

Where they are in Chicago

A few minutes that might help

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

  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.File before the deadline

    Your lawyer starts the claim before the deadline.

  6. 6.Settlement or trial

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

Your deadline: 2 years from when you found outRead the Illinois law guide

Each step in more detail

  1. Initial review and deadline check

    To get started, the lawyer needs your account of the operation and the injury dates. Along with a 2-year discovery deadline, Illinois generally imposes a 4-year outer limit. Especially when a child is involved, ask the lawyer to check the deadline early.

  2. Records and medical assessment

    The operative report and related records then need to be reviewed. Before filing in Illinois, a qualified health professional must review the case and write a report finding a reasonable and meritorious cause for filing. Who arranges that review, and who pays, are questions to ask.

  3. Filing the complaint

    When filing the complaint (the document that starts the lawsuit), the attorney must attach the required affidavit along with the health professional's report. When the deadline is near, a 90-day extension is available. Whether that provision applies to you is worth asking your lawyer.

  4. Developing the claim

    Even after filing, the lawyer needs a medical record and professional assessment that support the allegations in the complaint. Before supplying more information, ask what's needed and how the lawyer will update you. There's no date for completing the case in the filing rules.

  5. Possible resolution

    Alongside settlements, the firms also publish jury verdicts. Your case carries no promise of either. Although Illinois has no enforceable medical malpractice damage caps, it doesn't allow punitive damages. Before agreeing to a proposed resolution, ask how it affects fees and outstanding case expenses.

Malpractice claims in Chicago: the rules that matter

The filing deadline in Illinois
  1. The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
  2. Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
  3. 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.

Read the Illinois 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 Illinois
2 years
Source
Outer limit (statute of repose)
4 years
Source
Hospitals near Chicago with a CMS star rating
6
Source

What a malpractice lawyer costs in Chicago

  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.
When several listed firms describe working on contingency, they mean taking a share of any recovery, with no attorney fee charged if the claim fails. A free consultation is available from all. Separate from attorney fees, case expenses can cover obtaining records and medical opinions, along with fees charged by the court. Who carries those expenses isn't explained in the listed fee information. If the firm advances them, ask when it deducts them. If you recover nothing, would you still have to repay them? Before you sign, ask for the fee calculation in writing and have the firm explain how it handles case costs.

Although all nine firms listed say a consultation is free, only five expressly describe their fees as contingency fees.

What to bring to your first call

  • When the operation happened and when you first learned of the injury, in a written timeline
  • Copies, if available, of your operative report and hospital chart
  • Discharge instructions, along with your anesthesia records
  • Names of the surgeon and any other clinicians who treated you
  • Records of follow-up treatment, along with your medical bills
  • Letters or notices in writing that the hospital or insurer sent
  • Photos showing the injury or recovery, if relevant
  • For a child's claim, the date the patient was born

Questions to ask a lawyer

  1. 1Which surgical error cases have you handled that involved this procedure?
  2. 2After this first call, which lawyer will be responsible for my file?
  3. 3Given these dates, when do I need to file?
  4. 4Who'll arrange for a health professional to review and report?
  5. 5What's the calculation for your contingency fee?
  6. 6Who covers case expenses if we don't recover anything?
  7. 7During the records review, how will I get updates from you?
  8. 8When I sign the agreement, which firm will it name?

Choosing a surgical error lawyer in Chicago

Your operation comes first, before the rating. After explaining which procedure you had and what changed afterward, ask the lawyer whether they've handled a case involving that kind of injury. Compared with an anesthesia injury, a delayed diagnosis after surgery may call for a different review. To frame that conversation, look at published results. What someone else received in a settlement doesn't establish what your own claim is worth.

Check what actually happened in each published result. While Zayed Law reports a permanent injury during surgery, Ankin Law's listed cases involve an anesthesia death and complications after hernia surgery. Mostly diagnostic or birth injury results appear in other entries. Before drawing a connection to your case, ask about those cases; the general medical malpractice label doesn't establish one on its own.

Before discussing a possible recovery, talk about the medical review. To support filing in Illinois, an attorney must provide an affidavit with an attached written report from a qualified health professional. Who'll obtain the operative report and arrange the review is worth asking. When the deadline is near, the law allows a 90-day extension. Rather than counting on that extra time automatically, ask a lawyer to explain whether the extension applies to your case.

  • After intake, who'll work on your file, and who can answer your questions while the chart is reviewed?
  • When asking for examples involving your procedure, also check whether a published verdict remains under appeal.
  • Before you sign, read the fee agreement. If the firm advances medical review expenses, ask whether you'll owe those costs if your claim fails.
  • If attorneys or published results repeat across entries, confirm which firm you're actually hiring for your case.

With a free consultation, you can talk about the claim without paying for the first conversation. By offering it, the firm hasn't accepted your case. Although all listed firms say they offer one, only some expressly identify contingency fees. If someone promises recoveries or pressures you to sign before explaining fees, be wary. If getting updates matters to you, bring up the complaints about communication that appear in some firms' reviews.

Questions people ask

How long do I have to file a surgical error claim in Chicago?
When you knew or reasonably should have known of the injury, or received written notice of it, Illinois generally gives you 2 years from that point to file. After the act or omission, there's also a 4-year outer limit. The Illinois statute is where you'll find both rules. Given your operation and discovery dates, ask an Illinois lawyer how those rules apply.
What should I do before calling a malpractice lawyer?
Start a written timeline with the surgery date and when you first noticed or learned about the injury. Gather your discharge instructions and follow-up records, along with the operative report if you have a copy. A free consultation is available from every listed firm. When you call, find out which records the lawyer needs for the medical review, and ask about your filing deadline.
Can I speak with a Chicago surgical error lawyer without paying upfront?
For all nine listed firms, the initial consultation is described as free. When five expressly describe contingency fees, they mean the attorney takes a share of a recovery, with no attorney fee charged if the claim fails. That's separate from expenses. Before assuming the claim won't require any upfront payment, find out who pays to obtain records and arrange the medical review.
What medical support does an Illinois malpractice complaint need?
To file, the attorney must attach an affidavit saying a qualified health professional has reviewed the case. After reviewing it, that professional must write a report finding a reasonable and meritorious cause for filing. Attaching that report is also required. When the deadline is near, Illinois allows a 90-day extension; ask your lawyer how that possibility and the required review apply to your circumstances.
Does a child have the same filing deadline as an adult?
No. Under Illinois's rule for children's malpractice claims, a child must sue within 8 years of the act or omission, but never after the 22nd birthday. The deadline depends on the patient's age as well as the treatment date. When you meet with an Illinois lawyer, bring the birth date and surgery records so they can check the deadline rather than rely on the adult rule.
How long will a surgical error claim take?
There's no deadline for finishing a case in Illinois's filing rules. Nor can the listed results give you a reliable timetable for your case. During the records review, ask what has to happen and how you'll hear from the lawyer about progress. Don't confuse the deadline for filing with the time it will take to reach a settlement or verdict in your case.
Are damages capped in Illinois medical malpractice cases?
For medical malpractice cases in Illinois, no enforceable damage caps apply. You can't receive punitive damages. Although there's no cap, that doesn't establish what your surgical injury claim is worth; the substantial settlements or verdicts published by some firms come from other cases. Based on your medical record and circumstances, an Illinois lawyer can explain what they may support.
Can a lawyer review a case if my loved one died after surgery?
Wrongful death claims are among several listed firms' practice areas. Among Ankin Law's listed recoveries is a client's death from complications following hernia surgery. While that case gives you somewhere to start a call, it doesn't establish what happened to your loved one. To find out who can bring the claim and which filing rules apply, ask an Illinois lawyer.
Why do some entries show the same lawyers and case results?
Under Zayed Law and Chicago Surgical Error Lawyer, as well as Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyers, you'll find Adam J. Zayed and Julian D. Hoshell. Between entries, you'll also see some settlements repeated. Repeating a result doesn't add another case. When you speak at intake, find out which firm would represent you and whose name the agreement would carry. Who would handle your file also needs confirming.

Sources

  1. 735 ILCS 5/13-212, Illinois General Assembly
  2. 735 ILCS 5/2-622, Illinois General Assembly
  3. State Enactments of Selected Medical Liability Reforms (as of 8/27/2026), Medical Professional Liability Association
  4. Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States (updated 6/10/2026), Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.
  5. Medical Liability/Malpractice Merit Affidavits and Expert Witnesses, National Conference of State Legislatures
  6. Hospital General Information, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  7. Malpractice Center methodology, Malpractice Center

Nearby cities

Other lists in Chicago

Hurt by medical care in Chicago? Let's talk it through.

Most people who reach out aren't sure yet, and that's fine. Share a few lines and a malpractice lawyer near you can look at it with you, at no cost.

  • It's free, and talking to a lawyer doesn't commit you to anything.
  • Where we know the local rules, you'll see your likely filing deadline right away.
  • Your answers are encrypted and never sold or used for ads.

Start with one question

Get the top spot for surgical error lawyers in Chicago

The featured spot on this page is open. Whoever takes it is the first lawyer people see when they come here looking for help.

  • One featured spot per list, so you're never one of several
  • Shown first and labeled Featured, for a year
  • Your photo, your bio, a call button and case review requests

From $1,800a year, practice area list

Every plan and market or ask to be considered for the list itself, which is free.

Ask about this spot

  • Best Surgical Error Lawyers in Chicago, IL (2026)

A flat yearly fee, labeled Featured on the page. Never a share of any case.

Hurt by medical care?Talk it through with a lawyer, free.