Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Orleans, LA (2026)
To build this evidence-based 2026 list of New Orleans malpractice lawyers, we weigh practice focus against published results, client reviews and experience.
With published medical malpractice results and a firm history dating to 1942, Herman Katz Gisleson & Cain, LLC leads this list. Check whether the firm handles your kind of medical injury before you call. Along with fees, ask who'll work on your case. Because Louisiana gives you a short filing window, it pays to talk early: read the Louisiana malpractice guide.
4.9187 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 187 reviews
Best for: Serious medical injury claims
For a child who suffered a brain injury during a medical procedure, Herman Katz Gisleson & Cain, LLC publishes a $24,227,916 result. Another medical malpractice result it publishes is for $24 million. Its place on this list rests on those results and a firm history that goes back to 1942.
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
3.614 Google reviewsRated 3.6 out of 5 on Google from 14 reviews
Best for: Missed diagnoses and birth injuries
Medical malpractice anchors Sangisetty Law Firm's practice, which also covers hospital negligence and birth injury. For missed spinal cord compression causing permanent neurological injury, it publishes a $14.25 million jury verdict; a failure to diagnose an ischemic stroke led to a published $2.5 million settlement. With an office in New Orleans, the firm lists Ravi Sangisetty and William Boyles as attorneys.
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
4.9233 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 233 reviews
Best for: English- and Spanish-speaking families
If your family wants to discuss care in English or Spanish, Laborde Earles lists both languages (a useful starting point). You can find its office in New Orleans. For a surgeon leaving a guide wire in a patient, the firm publishes a $400,000 result; it also publishes a $500,000 result for a death caused by medical negligence.
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
Not sure who to call first?
Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves New Orleans can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.
4.9461 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 461 reviews
Best for: Hospital stroke negligence claims
The Chopin Law Firm LLC's clearest published medical malpractice result is a $12,550,000 settlement for a hospital's failure to recognize and treat a stroke. Justin Chopin and Adam Sanderson are part of its New Orleans team. The firm has 461 Google reviews and a 4.9 rating.
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
5.0783 Google reviewsRated 5.0 out of 5 on Google from 783 reviews
Best for: Families prioritizing clear communication
When Kiefer & Kiefer clients describe service, clear explanations and regular updates come up repeatedly. With 783 reviews behind it, the firm's 5.0 Google rating gives those service comments a substantial base. That doesn't establish what it's achieved in medical malpractice cases, though.
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
Where they are in New Orleans
What clients say about these New Orleans lawyers
Google reviews of the firms on our lists, quoted as their clients wrote them and linked to where they were posted. We don't write, edit or pick reviews for pay.
JP
John P.
October 2026 · New Orleans, Louisiana
“I have a deep relationship with many of the staff here at H,K,G&C Their Attention detail is on parallel when I truly needed them for more than their expertise show their to lean on they were there. It was personal and the work was brilliant. I’m so pleased that I was recommended to them by a friend a stand out came...”
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Laborde Law Firm for their outstanding service and support. This is my second time working with the firm, and once again, I am truly grateful for their professionalism, communication, and dedication to helping me through the process. They made me feel supported and...”
“Ms. Megan did a wonderful job handling my car accident case! She communicated with me throughout the process, kept me informed, and worked quickly to make sure I received what I deserved. I truly appreciate her hard work, professionalism, and dedication to my case. If you’re looking for a lawyer who cares about her...”
When you speak with the lawyer, explain what happened and when you discovered the possible error. Although Louisiana generally allows 1 year from the act or discovery, there's a 3-year outer limit. To check how those rules apply to you, speak with a Louisiana lawyer.
Records and medical assessment
Before gathering treatment records, ask which ones the lawyer needs and how they'll get a medical opinion. If you have discharge papers or delivery notes, bring those along. To assess the possible claim, what else does the lawyer need? Find out.
Medical review panel
Rather than requiring an affidavit of merit (a medical statement supporting a claim), Louisiana uses a medical review panel. When you file a panel request, the filing period is suspended. To understand how the panel process applies to your case, ask your lawyer.
Claim and recovery assessment
Before reviewing the injuries and expenses involved, talk with your lawyer about the next filing steps. Although Louisiana caps total damages for qualified health care providers, future medical care isn't included. Does the provider involved fall under that rule? Ask your lawyer.
Settlement or trial
Alongside jury verdicts, these firms publish settlements in medical malpractice cases. Don't expect a promised recovery. Before any resolution, ask how your lawyer will explain fees and costs, as well as how they'd evaluate an offer and prepare for trial.
Malpractice claims in New Orleans: the rules that matter
The filing deadline in Louisiana
The clock startsOn the day of the treatment
Time to start a claim1 yearMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
At the very most3 yearsafter the treatment, with a few exceptions
Expert paperworkNo affidavit of merit; the medical review panel takes its place.
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.
Contingency fees are available at several firms listed here. If the claim fails, there's no legal fee; otherwise, the lawyer receives a share of any recovery. Beyond that fee, case costs can include obtaining records and medical opinions, with court fees also charged separately. If there's no recovery, the firms' listed terms don't explain who owes those expenses, nor do they say who advances them. Don't sign without asking. Before agreeing, ask the lawyer what share they take and how costs come out of a recovery. Even when a consultation is free, later representation isn't necessarily free, and the firm hasn't necessarily agreed to take your claim.
Of the seven firms listed here, six say you can have a free consultation. Contingency work is listed by four.
What to bring to your first call
A short timeline in writing that shows your treatment and when you noticed the possible error
Whatever medical records you have, with discharge papers included
If the claim involves a birth injury, your delivery notes
Names of the hospitals and doctors that treated you
Records of related expenses, along with your medical bills
Letters you've received from the insurer or hospital
If you have photos of visible injuries, those pictures
Notes about what's changed in daily life and the care you need now
Questions to ask a lawyer
1Have you handled medical malpractice cases like mine, and which ones?
2Who'll take responsibility for my file as the lawyer?
3When reviewing my medical records, how will you get a medical opinion?
4When does the filing deadline fall for me?
5When my claim goes through Louisiana's medical review panel, what changes?
6What will paying your legal fee and case costs involve?
7If there's no recovery, could I still owe case costs?
8When I need updates, who should I contact, and how will I hear from you?
Choose for your medical issue, then check the working relationship
Let the treatment that went wrong guide you. If a stroke diagnosis was missed, the conversation differs from one about an injury during delivery. While Sangisetty Law Firm publishes missed-diagnosis results, The Chopin Law Firm LLC describes a settlement involving a hospital stroke. Use those details to ask about comparable cases, rather than assuming every injury lawyer handles the same medical problems.
Treat published results as a place to start, not a forecast. If you hired the firm, would that case's lawyer work on yours? Don't guess. Because several firms here handle many kinds of injuries, a favorable car accident review won't tell you how the firm handles a medical review panel.
If delivery notes matter, ask who'll read them along with the chart. Ask how the firm gets a medical opinion before proceeding.
When you need an update, will you speak with the lawyer or another team member? Find out.
Use plain terms to explain the medical error. Before the firm decides whether to accept your case, ask what information it needs from you.
Spanish is listed by Laborde Earles. Confirm who can discuss your file in that language if you need it.
Although a free consultation costs nothing for that discussion, it doesn't mean the firm has accepted your case. You can get one at six firms here. If you use a contingency fee, the lawyer receives a share of a recovery but no legal fee when the claim fails. Along with court costs, ask separately what you'll pay for records and medical opinions.
Before you sign
1
Check the fee agreement
Before agreeing, ask what share the lawyer takes and who advances case costs. If there's no recovery, could those costs fall to you? Have those answers put in writing.
2
Set a contact plan
Before proceeding, agree on how you'll get updates and who'll answer questions. If you're already managing medical care, discuss mixed communication reviews directly rather than leaving them unaddressed.
3
Watch for promises
If a firm promises a payout or won't explain costs, be wary. Ask for time to read the agreement and get your questions answered if you're being rushed to sign it.
Questions people ask
How long do I have to file a medical malpractice claim in New Orleans?
Although Louisiana generally requires filing within 1 year of the act or neglect, or within 1 year of discovering it, you face an outer limit of 3 years after the act. When you request a medical review panel, the period is suspended. Don't rely on a brief summary alone to calculate your deadline. Before you file, a Louisiana lawyer can check your dates and explain the filings you need to make.
Does a child have more time to bring a malpractice claim?
Being a child doesn't, by itself, extend the deadline. Children face Louisiana's same limits of 1-year and 3-year. If an injury during delivery or pediatric treatment worries you, don't wait to speak with a Louisiana lawyer. On their sites, Sangisetty Law Firm and several other firms on this list describe work involving birth injury.
Can I speak with a New Orleans malpractice lawyer for free?
You can get a free consultation, according to six listed firms. Those offering it include Sangisetty Law Firm and Laborde Earles, along with The Chopin Law Firm LLC, Kiefer & Kiefer, Morgan & Morgan and The Law Offices of Chip Forstall. When booking, check the terms. Even though that conversation is free, the firm hasn't necessarily accepted your case, and later legal work or case expenses won't necessarily be free.
Will I owe money if my malpractice claim fails?
Contingency fees are listed by Laborde Earles and Kiefer & Kiefer, along with Morgan & Morgan and The Law Offices of Chip Forstall. If the claim fails under that arrangement, there's no legal fee; the lawyer otherwise gets a share of a recovery. That excludes expenses. Before signing, get a clear answer in the agreement about whether you could still owe for records and medical opinions, or for court fees.
Do I need an affidavit of merit in Louisiana?
An affidavit of merit, a medical statement supporting a malpractice claim, isn't required in Louisiana. Instead, your claim uses a medical review panel. When a panel request is filed, the filing period is also suspended. Before gathering records or medical opinions, ask a Louisiana lawyer which ones they need to assess your claim and how the panel requirement applies to the provider involved.
How long will a medical malpractice case take?
You can't get a fixed case length from Louisiana's filing rules or from these firms' published results. Although the deadline tells you when to act, it doesn't tell you when your claim will end. To understand what could affect your case's progress, ask the lawyer to walk you through the medical review panel process and what the path to settlement or trial might involve.
Is there a limit on malpractice compensation in Louisiana?
For qualified health care providers, Louisiana puts a cap on total damages. Both economic and non-economic damages fall under it, meaning financial losses and harm that doesn't come with a bill. It excludes future medical care. To learn whether the provider qualifies and how the cap applies, speak with a Louisiana lawyer. When reading a firm's published settlement or verdict, don't treat it as a prediction of what you'll recover.
What should I do if a loved one died after medical treatment?
Along with writing down treatment dates, gather any records and hospital letters you have. To find out whether the circumstances support a medical malpractice or wrongful death claim, ask a Louisiana lawyer. Before proceeding, you'll also need to ask who may bring the claim and which deadlines apply. For a fatal hospital air embolism, Sangisetty Law Firm publishes a settlement; a medical-negligence death result is published by Laborde Earles. Another family's case can't be predicted by either outcome.
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