We were recently involved in a case where an older man died after his doctor failed to diagnose a pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.  The doctor who committed the error had an insurance policy for $1 million, but the negligence happened at a hospital so they were sued too.

After some wrangling, the defense attorney offered to settle the case for $1 million.  The top Chicago malpractice lawyer we referred this client to said no.  The defense then offered to kick in an extra $100,000.00 from the hospital to end the case.  The attorney, with approval from his client of course, again said no.

Fast forward and right before the trial the case settled for $2,500,000.00.  There wasn’t much of a defense and while no amount of money can compensate the widow for her loss, this money will make her life much easier.

The point of all of this is that most firms would have taken the policy limit offers and wouldn’t have the guts to say no.  It would be the easy move for them because it would put money in their pocket without having to take the time and expense of getting the case ready for trial.  But the best move for the client was to say no and get ready for trial.

The simple fact is that medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois are expensive, time intensive and difficult to win.  So the reality is that while many lawyers want these cases, there are really only 7-10 that deliver consistently great results and have a true track record of success.

A one man law firm will have challenges in handling all the work. A newer firm can have trouble funding these cases which can cost $100,000 or more to get to trial.  A firm without a track record doesn’t get the attention of insurance companies which makes them dig in more.

Getting one of these firms doesn’t guarantee a result, but it certainly gives you the best chance for a good result.  If you would like our help in finding the best malpractice attorney in Illinois for you, call us any time at 312-346-5320.  You can speak for our lawyers for free and we will answer any questions you have and guide you in the right direction.