Because of its published medical injury recoveries and long operating history, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm comes first on this list. Before calling, check whether it's handled deaths involving the kind of care your loved one received. Ask who'd take your file and what costs you'd face. If your loved one died following medical treatment, read the Illinois malpractice rules before asking a lawyer which filing deadline applies to your family.
4.81,737 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 1737 reviews
Best for: Families seeking established injury counsel
Since its founding in 1985, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has built a long operating history. Alongside medical malpractice and nursing home neglect, its site lists wrongful death as a practice area. One published birth injury result totaled $14 million.
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: Families facing delayed cancer diagnosis
After doctors failed to diagnose a woman's breast cancer in time, attorney Elise Blandin secured a $12.35 million settlement for her family, according to the site for Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, Ltd. You can discuss that specific delayed-diagnosis result. Since its founding in 1924, the Chicago firm has listed wrongful death and medical malpractice among its practice areas; its site also discusses medication errors and nursing home neglect. Read what clients say closely.
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: Deaths linked to nursing neglect
A mother who died following bedsores is the subject of Levin & Perconti's clearest published wrongful death result. According to its site, her Chicago family received a $12.2 million Cook County jury award for negligent nursing care. Among its other published cases are delayed cancer diagnosis and brain injury at a Chicago hospital.
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: Families considering broader injury counsel
With 3,516 Google reviews, Disparti Law Group gives you a large collection of public client feedback to read. Clients often mention professional service and support as their cases move forward. Among its published medical malpractice results is a $1.1 million verdict for bladder damage during a hysterectomy, while a listed case against a cardiologist and hospital has no recovery amount.
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 diagnosis and medication errors
After a boy died following a delayed tumor diagnosis, a $5 million settlement was reached, according to Malman Law's site. Another reported result, for $975,000, concerns an older client who died from a medication dosage error. Along with a pharmacy, a hospital and nursing home were held accountable.
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
When you speak with the lawyer, explain what happened and when your family learned about a possible medical injury. Besides a general 2-year discovery deadline, Illinois has a 4-year outer limit following the act or omission. Ask an Illinois lawyer which deadline applies to you.
Review the medical records
To assess the care you're questioning, the lawyer examines the chart. Before a malpractice complaint is filed, Illinois requires a qualified health professional's written report finding, after reviewing the case, a reasonable and meritorious cause for filing.
Prepare the complaint
Filing the complaint begins the lawsuit. Along with the medical review report, the plaintiff's attorney must attach an affidavit confirming that the required review happened. When the deadline is close, a 90-day extension is available. Does it apply to your claim?
Develop the case
Before proceeding, ask how the lawyer would examine the disputed care and show how it connects to the death. Ask who'd arrange medical opinions and stay in touch with your family. How long that work takes isn't set by filing rules.
Consider resolution
As the claim moves forward, settlement discussions or trial may follow. Before accepting a proposed resolution, have the lawyer explain it and any fee or expense deductions. No enforceable damage caps apply to Illinois medical malpractice cases. You can't recover punitive damages, though.
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.
If a claim fails, there's no lawyer fee, according to every listed firm; each says it works on contingency and takes a share of any recovery. Consultations are free at all firms. Medical records and professional medical opinions are separate case costs, and court fees fall into that category too. A free consultation doesn't mean those expenses are covered. Before proceeding, ask who fronts that money and who repays it if nothing is recovered. Before signing, get the lawyer's recovery share in writing, then ask whether expenses come out before that share is calculated or afterward.
According to all ten firms on this list, consultations are free and their fees are contingent.
What to bring to your first call
A timeline of the treatment and death, in writing
Dates showing when you learned about a possible medical error
Any hospital charts and discharge instructions you already have
Names of the doctors and nurses involved, plus the facilities
Medication lists showing the instructions for each dose
Records of related expenses, including medical bills
Any hospital or insurer messages or letters you received
Records or photos that help show what concerns you
Questions to ask a lawyer
1Have deaths involving treatment like my loved one's been among your cases?
2Which lawyer will take responsibility for handling our file?
3Given our family's situation, which filing deadline applies?
4What do you do to arrange the required medical review?
5If we recover money, what share would your firm take?
6Who pays the case expenses if we don't recover anything?
7How will you keep our family updated?
8What might you learn that would make you decline this case?
Choosing a Chicago lawyer after a medical death
First, identify the care that worries you. When someone dies, a missed cancer diagnosis raises questions that differ from those raised by a medication error. Before relying on a large recovery from an unrelated accident, ask whether the lawyer has handled the kind of claim you're considering. Alongside broader injury practices, this list includes firms that publish medical death results.
Before comparing results, read what each one describes. A boy's death following delayed tumor diagnosis led to a settlement published by Malman Law; Levin & Perconti publishes a verdict concerning fatal bedsores. In some other listed results, the injured people survived. When discussing a comparable case, ask what work the firm did and whether a settlement or jury verdict ended it.
Use the consultation to test the fit
Ask which person will examine the hospital chart and talk with your family. Have the firm name the lawyer who'll be responsible for your file.
When you talk to the lawyer, give the treatment dates and when you first suspected something went wrong. Which filing deadline applies?
Before proceeding, ask how the firm gets a qualified health professional to review the case and handles a review that doesn't support filing.
Before signing, discuss how you'll stay in touch. Ask whom you should contact for updates and how the firm explains why it won't take a case.
According to every listed firm, consultations are free and fees are contingent. Although you won't pay a consultation charge to discuss representation, that conversation doesn't mean the firm has agreed to take your claim. If there's a recovery under a contingency arrangement, the lawyer gets a share. If the claim fails, there's no lawyer fee. Separately, ask what happens with case expenses.
If someone promises a recovery before reviewing the medical facts, treat that as a warning. When fees and expenses aren't explained clearly, request a written explanation of them. Communication problems may surface in reviews. Even with a high rating, a firm hasn't necessarily handled cases like yours. This isn't legal advice, just general information.
Questions people ask
Which Chicago firm leads this list?
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm ranks highest because of its operating history and published medical injury results, along with substantial client feedback. Its site covers wrongful death. The identified recoveries, though, aren't described as death cases. For a closer match, look at Malman Law's published fatal diagnosis results or Levin & Perconti's published verdict involving fatal nursing care.
How soon should I contact a lawyer after a death involving medical care?
Have an Illinois lawyer check your dates promptly. For medical malpractice claims, you generally have 2 years to file after discovering the injury, reasonably being expected to discover it, or receiving written notice. After the act or omission, a 4-year outer limit also applies. A death doesn't necessarily start a fresh filing period. Ask which rule applies in your particular circumstances.
Does a free consultation mean the firm will take our case?
No. Because every listed firm offers free consultations, you can talk with them about possible representation. In some reviews, clients describe cases the firms evaluated and then declined. Before relying on the firm, ask what the lawyer needs to decide and whether it has taken responsibility for your file. Until you have representation, be sure you understand your filing deadline.
What does a contingency fee mean for our family?
If the claim fails, there's no lawyer fee, each listed firm says; under their contingency arrangements, the lawyer takes a share of any recovery. Expenses aren't included. Before proceeding, ask the cost of records and medical opinions, who fronts that money, and what you'd owe if nothing is recovered. Before signing, have those terms put in writing.
What medical review does Illinois require before filing?
To file, the plaintiff's attorney must attach an affidavit confirming a qualified health professional's review of the case and finding of a reasonable and meritorious cause for filing. Alongside it must be the professional's written report. Although a 90-day extension is available when the deadline is close, you shouldn't assume you automatically get that extra time. Does it apply? Ask your lawyer.
How long will a medical wrongful death case take?
How long a claim takes to resolve isn't set by Illinois filing rules. You can't reliably work out your case's timeline from these firms' published results, either. Before proceeding, ask the lawyer about the next steps and possible delays. Even if a review describes a quick resolution, it doesn't show how quickly a claim disputing medical care will move.
Are the filing rules different when the patient was a child?
Although Illinois gives a child up to 8 years after the act or omission to sue, filing can never extend beyond the 22nd birthday. If your child died, ask an Illinois lawyer how that rule fits with the claim your family may be able to bring. Claims connected to a child's treatment don't necessarily all follow the same filing clock.
Is there a limit on damages in an Illinois medical malpractice case?
No enforceable damage caps apply to Illinois medical malpractice cases. You can't recover punitive damages. Because published verdicts and settlements involve other families, they don't show what you can expect to recover; neither rule tells you what your particular claim is worth. When discussing your case, ask which losses could count and what evidence you'd need to support them.
What should we do first if we think medical care caused a loved one's death?
When making your notes, include treatment dates and when you learned about a possible error. Before contacting an Illinois lawyer to check the deadline, gather whatever records you have, including messages from the hospital. Explain exactly which care has you concerned. Given your family's circumstances, ask who can bring the claim and how the lawyer would get the required medical review arranged.
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