If you’re a victim of medical malpractice, it may seem obvious to you where the fault lies. You received medical attention for relief, but instead are suffering from more pain as a result. Open and shut case, right?
However, on the other side are highly experienced legal teams who are skilled in defending their clients. Our lawyers have handled thousands of personal injury claims. We take care of the heavy lifting and keep you informed so you’ll always know where your case stands.
When you hire Staver, you’re not getting a lawyer who picks up your case with no care. In fact, you’re getting an advocate. A passionate lawyer who will speak on your behalf, with insurance companies, and in court.
We’ve done it for thousands of clients who were in your shoes, and we’ll do it for you.
We dedicate ourselves to client success and satisfaction. This shows in our 4.95 star Google rating 185+ reviews left by clients on Google.
Simply amazing. First time dealing with something like this and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Everyone I spoke to was very kind and genuine. My career requires me to be out of town a lot but they were very understanding and were able to work with me. Everything was taken care of much quicker than I originally anticipated. All around from everyone at the firm to the doctors and physical therapist they are associated with are excellent. A+.
Juan Cisneros
settlement for Airplane Employee who was struck on the head while working.
settlement for a driver who was involved in a head-on collision while returning home from work.
settlement for a passenger in a vehicle that was struck head-on by a senior citizen who lost control of her vehicle.
At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we fight hard for our clients. And our case history shows this. Over the years, we’ve seen just about every type of accident and injury there is. Sure, it feels like unfamiliar territory to you, but it’s all too familiar to us.
The outcome of an individual case depends on a variety of factors unique to that case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any similar or future case.
We’ve won awards for over 3,500 clients. And with every award we get, the more it proves our quality. Years of credibility, glowing ratings from the BBB and a place on the top 100 trial lawyers of America.
The recognition we’ve accumulated speaks for itself.
Attempting to represent yourself in a medical malpractice case is a mistake. Even if you think you have an open and shut case, you’ll find yourself going up against a team of attorneys representing the health care providers and insurance provider who have decades of experience.
That’s why you need an experienced lawyer who knows exactly how to fight on your behalf. And we’ll start by helping to remove the financial burden that’s resulted from your accident.
If you choose to hire us, rest easy knowing that we work based on a contingency fee. Put simply, if you don’t receive compensation, you won’t owe us anything. We know that many victims are concerned about finances after an accident, and we don’t want those concerns to keep you from getting the legal representation you deserve.
Average Payout Amount*
w/attorney $1,600 on your own $1,600 Difference of $1,000.00*According to the 2017 Martindale-Nolo Research.
Our years of experience mean we can get you more money, in the quickest time. It all boils down to efficiency. And we’ve been honing that for years. With legal representation, the average payout is $77,600, while the average is $17,600 without.
If the first offer is not enough, your Staver lawyer will participate in negotiations on your behalf to reach a fair and equitable solution. And if this is not reached, your lawyer won’t hesitate to fight for your case in court.
Our process is people-focussed. It’s designed not only to win but to reduce stress levels and make the whole process easier.
The initial consultation is a chance to discuss your case with one of our attorneys and figure out what your next step is. Use this time to figure out if an attorney is a good fit for your case and how you want to handle it.
When you meet with a personal injury lawyer, you should bring several things to help tell the story of your car accident. These will essentially be used as evidence to determine the value of your case.
What We’ll Need from You
When you decide to work with us, we won’t waste time.
Staver will get straight to work. We’ll help with medical bills and insurance claims so you can rest easy and focus on healing.
We look to the long-term, assessing all types of damages to determine the value of your case. There are three types of damages that you may be entitled to, depending on the circumstances you’ve experienced after your injury: special damages, general damages, and survival damages. There are also punitive damages, however they are prohibited for medical malpractice cases under Illinois law.
One thing to note, for special damages in medical malpractice cases you may be entitled to medical bills resulting from the provider’s negligence.
For a full run-down of damages, take a look here.
| Next Step: EvidenceYou can back up damages with a variety of evidence, including bills, photographs, or expert testimony asserting expected future damages.
After your initial meeting, we’ll begin the sizable task of researching your medical malpractice case. There is a substantial burden of proof in medical malpractice cases. And we will want to research every aspect of your case to prepare for any issues that may prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve.
| Next Step: SettlementAfter we’ve looked over the damages and collected all the evidence, we’ll go to the negotiation table with the legal teams and insurance companies to pursue a settlement.
This can go one of two ways (and in some cases, both). We negotiate back and forth during mediation until we feel that we have reached a fair settlement for you. Or, we go into what’s called ‘Arbitration’. This is where the sides meet with a third-party (an arbitrator), who listens to each sides’ argument and looks at all the evidence to determine a fair settlement amount.
| Next Step: TrialWe want to get the most out of your case. That’s why we’ll pull in expert witnesses and all the evidence we can to get the compensation for you that you deserve.
| Next Step: ConsultationIt all starts with a free consultation.
Every type of personal injury case is different. And although we have the legal side covered, it can be helpful to have a general understanding of some of the unique laws and guidelines, the obstacles and opportunities we may face along the way, and some of the additional details that may impact the outcome of your case.
An insurance company’s sole goal is to limit their expenses and protect their shareholders. They will use a number of underhanded and ethically ambiguous tricks to weaken your case and prevent you from collecting a fair settlement. Watch out for these power plays:
If you’re considering hiring an attorney for medical malpractice, there are a number of defenses you should first consider that are available to doctors, other professionals, and institutions. For example, they might not be held liable if you refused medical treatment on religious grounds, or refused to follow a doctor’s recommendations following a procedure.
In a medical malpractice case, parties who are commonly held liable are institutions such as clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), and anyone defined as a ‘healthcare professional’ such as a physician or a dentist.
Liability in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
‘Standard of Care’ is used in court to look at a professional’s medical decisions and compare them to what professionals with the same skill level, abilities, and level of knowledge would have done in similar circumstances.
Causation is one area in which it’s important to understand how Illinois law differs from laws in other states. In some states, a plaintiff must prove that proper treatment would have led to a better result. In Illinois, a plaintiff only needs to demonstrate that the defendant’s care was the proximate cause of the injury. They must prove their case by a preponderance of evidence.
In Illinois, the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice case is two years from the date you became aware of the negligent action. Regardless of when you become aware of the negligent care, you cannot file a case more than four years from the alleged malpractice.
If your relative passed away due to the harm caused by a health care provider, then you may have a valid wrongful death claim. These claims are slightly different than typical personal injury lawsuit. However, you can still win money to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering your loved one experienced, estate administration costs, funeral and burial expenses, and more.
You may seek medical treatment for a number of injuries and illnesses, and negligence of a health care provider can both make those conditions worse and cause new injuries and illnesses. Common claims we have represented include birth injuries, brain injuries, nursing home injuries, surgical errors, misdiagnosis, and more. Our law firm has experience with all types of medical malpractice injuries, so we will know how to handle your case.
Medical malpractice is common in healthcare institutions, such as hospitals, surgery centers, trauma centers, nursing homes, and even in-office procedures at doctor offices. We can handle your case, even if it’s against an insurance company protecting a large hospital, such as Methodist Hospital of Chicago or AMITA Health.
Surgical centers are also a common place for medical malpractice. Sometimes those locations do not have the procedures in place to prevent negligence by health care providers. Some surgical centers in Chicago include Belmont Harlem Surgery Center and River North Sameday Surgery.
If you think that medical malpractice has caused your injuries or those of a love one, you should immediately contact a Chicago medical malpractice attorney. We may also report the situation to the Illinois Health Care Bureau, which offers online complaint forms or you can call 1-877-305-5145 to report a problem.
Here are some additional resources that may be of help.
Types of Malpractice Cases We Handle
Additional Information
When you’re fighting for maximum compensation, we know what it takes to get it.
