Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Cleveland

Helping Clients in Cuyahoga County Financially Recover Since 1946

Medically negligent mistakes by doctors, nurses, and hospital personnel can be devastating, resulting in permanent injury or death. For over 70 years, the Cleveland medical malpractice lawyers at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP have represented many families, just like yours, for injuries resulting from medical malpractice.

Our team has a preeminent reputation in the field of medical malpractice litigation. Several of our verdicts and settlements are among the largest ever awarded in Ohio. Because understanding the medical evidence is critical in cases involving medical malpractice, we employ two registered nurses on our staff.

SS&L maintains a current medical library, with access to the most up-to-date medical journals and publications, as well as online services, to ensure that we know the medicine and any doctor involved in the case. Based upon their confidence in our professional integrity, many leading medical specialists have testified as expert witnesses against negligent doctors and hospitals in our cases.

Our medical malpractice attorneys are experienced in many areas of medical malpractice, including:

• Hospital negligence
• Failure or delay in diagnosis
• Childbirth injuries
• Medication errors
• Surgical errors
• Emergency room errors
• Infections
• Psychiatric malpractice
• Pulmonary embolism
• Nursing negligence

Are you or a loved one suffering from an injury as a result of medical malpractice? Call Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP today at (216) 600-0114 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our Cleveland medical malpractice attorney!

Do I Have a Medical Malpractice Case?

We all want to believe that our doctors and medical providers have our best interests, but mistakes can still be made. There are several indications that you may have a medical malpractice case, but only working with a knowledgeable attorney can give you complete confidence in the validity of your case. Here are some examples of when a mistake is an act of malpractice, and the victim may be entitled to compensation through a malpractice claim:

• Surgeries always pose risks, but if you suffer an infection from a tool that was not properly sterilized, you may be a victim of malpractice
• You were prescribed treatment for the wrong ailment and are experiencing negative side effects
• Mistakes with anesthesia, such as not controlling an IV flow which results in harm to the patient
• Your needs as a patient were ignored, and as a result, they worsened from lack of care

Medical malpractice cases are often hard to prove because of patient consent when undergoing a medical procedure. For a case to be successful, an attorney must demonstrate the following elements:

• They breached the standard of care or took action/failed to take an action that a similarly trained physician would have done correctly
• The breach of duty resulted in harm to the patient
• The healthcare provider had a duty of care to the patient

Ohio Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations

Please be aware that a statute of limitations clock is running, after which you won't have the right to file a lawsuit. In Ohio, a plaintiff must file a medical malpractice lawsuit within one year after the malpractice occurred. However, there are a couple of exceptions to this law:

1. If the injury was not detected immediately, a plaintiff might file a malpractice claim within one year of the injury.
2. The one-year deadline may be extended if a formal notice of intent to file a claim is sent to the prospective defendant.

Do not hesitate because of financial concerns; we provide legal representation on a contingency basis, and if we can't help you recover monetary damages, there are no fees. We urge you to protect your rights by contacting a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney today.

Medical Malpractice FAQs

What types of damages can I recover in a medical malpractice lawsuit?

You may be able to recover:

• Economic damages (e.g., medical bills, future medical costs, lost wages)
• Non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering, emotional distress)
• Punitive damages (in rare cases of gross negligence)

Ohio caps non-economic damages at $250,000 or three times the economic damages, up to a maximum of $350,000 per plaintiff or $500,000 per occurrence.

Can I sue a hospital for malpractice in Cleveland?

Yes, if the hospital or its employees were negligent or if they failed to supervise medical staff properly. However, some doctors are independent contractors, not hospital employees, which can complicate liability.

What should I do if I suspect malpractice?

1. Seek medical attention immediately to prevent further harm.
2. Request your medical records.
3. Document everything, including dates, symptoms, and conversations.
4. Contact a medical malpractice attorney in Cleveland to review your case.

Do I need expert testimony to pursue a malpractice claim?

Yes. Ohio law requires a “certificate of merit” from a qualified medical expert to accompany your claim. This expert must state that they believe the standard of care was violated and that the negligence likely caused your injury.

Voted "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News

For our efforts in the field of personal injury law, our firm has been voted "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News. Our Cleveland medical malpractice lawyers can offer you a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of your needs and your situation during such a difficult time. When the insurance company lawyers see our name on the lawsuit, they know the case has been methodically and meticulously researched, investigated, and prepared.

We are thoroughly convinced the case has merit. We have put our considerable resources behind it. For you, that means insurance company lawyers come to the table prepared to discuss a full and fair settlement—or they know we'll see them in court.

Our team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP is here to discover the truth of what happened to your baby and ensure that if healthcare practitioners' errors or omissions were to blame, you would be able to receive substantial compensation.

Contact Our Cleveland Medical Malpractice Attorney Today

Our Cleveland medical malpractice attorneys at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP are fighting the defendants' efforts to deprive the plaintiff of her full measure of damages by challenging the statute's constitutionality as it applies to the plaintiff in this case. We are prepared to protect the plaintiff's constitutional rights and ensure that she receives the total recovery to which she is entitled.

There are many reasons why you should choose our firm to represent your claim:

• We have access to the most sophisticated technology and resources available.
• Our team includes top-rated attorneys, an in-house nurse, and medical experts.
• We fully comprehend the complexities of the law, medicine, medical techniques, procedures, timelines, and appropriate standards of care.

We have served this area for years, winning serious injury lawsuits in Ohio and nationwide since 1946. Our total verdicts and settlements won for our clients are over $1 billion.

Contact Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP today to schedule a FREE consultation with one of our medical malpractice attorneys in Cleveland!

Recommended Reading

• A Patient's Guide to Medical Malpractice
• Does Ohio Have a Medical Malpractice Cap?
• Handling Your Own Medical Malpractice Matter
• How Long Will My Medical Malpractice Case Take?
• Medical Errors Considered Third Leading Cause of Death
• Determining Negligence in a Medical Malpractice Case