Proven Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyers Representing Patients Across Chicago And Illinois

Last updated on May 11, 2026

At Dudley & Lake, we help patients and families after serious harm from medical malpractice in Chicago and across Illinois. Since 2001, we have built a strong reputation through careful case development, respected trial work and a history of success in complex injury litigation. We serve clients throughout Chicagoland, and we meet with families through our offices in Libertyville and Peoria.

When a doctor, nurse or hospital makes a preventable mistake, the impact can reach every part of your life. You may face more procedures, longer recovery time, lasting disability or the loss of someone you love. We take the time to understand what happened, explain your options clearly, and pursue accountability with focus and care.

What Counts As Medical Malpractice In Illinois?

Medical malpractice happens when a health care provider fails to follow the accepted standard of care and that failure causes harm. A bad outcome alone does not prove malpractice. A strong claim requires facts, expert review, and a clear link between the error and the injury.

At Dudley & Lake, we build every case around the required elements of proof. These elements shape how we investigate, which experts we consult and how we present the story of harm.

• Professional relationship: You must show that a provider accepted you as a patient and owed you a duty of care.
• Breach of the duty of care: You must show that the provider failed to act like a reasonably careful provider would act under similar circumstances.
• Causation: You must show that the breach caused the injury, not a separate medical condition or an unavoidable complication.
• Damages: You must show measurable harm such as added medical treatment, lost income, disability, pain or loss of life.

We use records, timelines, and qualified experts to connect these elements and present a complete and credible case.

Common Types Of Medical Malpractice We Handle

Medical errors can happen in any setting, from an emergency room to a surgical suite to a nursing unit. Below are common incidents that often lead to severe harm and long-term consequences.

• Birth injuries: Medical mistakes during pregnancy, labor or delivery can cause permanent harm to a child or serious injury to a mother.
• Delayed diagnosis: When a provider misses warning signs and delays testing or referral, the patient may lose critical time for effective treatment.
• Medication errors: A provider may give the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or a dangerous combination that causes overdose, organ damage or other complications.
• Surgical errors: A surgeon may operate on the wrong site, damage nearby structures or leave foreign objects behind, which can trigger infection and repeat procedures.
• Lab errors: A lab may mishandle a sample or report incorrect results, which can lead to wrong treatment choices and preventable decline.
• Prescription errors: A provider may write an unsafe prescription or fail to check interactions and allergies, which can cause severe side effects.
• Improper treatments: A provider may choose an unsafe plan of care or skip steps that protect a patient, which can lead to avoidable injury.
• Unnecessary procedures: A provider may recommend a procedure without medical need, which can expose a patient to avoidable risks and complications.
• Misdiagnosis: A provider may diagnose the wrong condition and send a patient down a harmful treatment path while the real condition worsens.
• Anesthesia errors: An anesthesiology mistake can cause brain injury, oxygen loss, cardiac events or awareness during surgery.

We coordinate medical review and case planning so we can prove what went wrong and how the injury changed your life.

How Can You File A Medical Malpractice Claim In Illinois?

To file a medical malpractice claim, you need a detailed understanding of the medical timeline and the accepted standard of care. We start by gathering records and building a clear sequence of events. We then work with qualified medical experts who can identify errors and explain how those errors caused harm. We also document the full damages, including ongoing care needs and the impact on work and daily life. When we file, we prepare the case to hold up in litigation because hospitals and insurers often fight hard from the start.

How Long Do You Have To File A Medical Malpractice Claim In Illinois?

Illinois time limits can depend on when you knew or should have known about the injury and how the malpractice occurred. In many situations, Illinois law gives you two years from the date you discover the injury, but the law can also set an outside deadline that limits how long you can wait. Special rules can apply in cases involving minors or wrongful death. Because records matter and timelines matter, you should speak with an attorney as soon as you suspect malpractice so you can protect evidence and preserve your right to file.

Illinois Medical Malpractice Case Results

$25.04 Million – Birth Injury

Matthew Dudley and Kevin Golden represented an eight year old boy who suffered from lack of oxygen prior to birth resulting in permanent and irreversible brain damage. The boy was awarded $24,000,400, one of the highest medical malpractice verdicts in the history of the State of Illinois. The jury concluded that the doctor failed to properly interpret a non-stress and an ultrasound both of which revealed very non reassuring findings. Dudley & Lake retained five highly credentialed medical experts in order to establish the defendant was guilty of medical malpractice and caretaking needs which would be needed.

$20.0 Million – Minor Malpractice

Matthew Dudley and Marisa Schostok represented a 14-year old girl who suffered from a lack of oxygen while in the emergency department of a hospital, resulting in permanent and irreversible brain damage. The girl was in the emergency department due to extreme lethargy, inability to control her secretions and vomiting. While in the radiology department for imaging studies, the hospital’s nurses removed her supplemental oxygen, pulse oximetry monitor and failed to protect her airway. Due to the lack of supplemental oxygen, monitoring device and airway protection, the girl was left alone, without oxygen, for over twenty minutes. As a result, she suffered cardiac arrest and permanent brain damage. Due to her catastrophic injuries, the girl now requires 24-hour nursing care for the rest of her life. Mr. Dudley and Ms. Schostok were able to obtain a personal injury settlement against the north suburban hospital for $20 million.

$13.5 Million – Delays And Miscommunication

David Pribyl and Alex Campos obtained a $13.5 million medical malpractice verdict against a Will County Hospital for injuries sustained to our 21 year old client. Due to preventable delays and miscommunications by ER staff, our client suffered a delay in receiving critical treatment that resulted in a permanent injury to his heart. This verdict was reported in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and can be read here.

Schedule A Consultation With A Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice lawyers must combine medical knowledge, legal skill and the resources to take on powerful systems. At Dudley & Lake, we bring a disciplined approach and a client-centered focus to every case we accept. Our medical malpractice attorneys will listen to your story, review the key facts and explain a path forward.

Call 847-504-8423 to schedule a consultation with a member of our team.