Serving Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, and all surrounding counties of DuPage, Will & Lake.
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Surgery requires trust. You rely on the surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses, and hospital staff to follow accepted medical standards while you are unable to protect yourself. When a preventable mistake happens in the operating room, the consequences can include added pain, infections, more procedures, longer recovery, permanent injury, or the loss of a loved one.
Sklare Law Group helps patients and families in Chicago pursue accountability after surgical errors and other forms of medical malpractice. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys bring decades of combined experience, strong case preparation, and personal support to clients facing life-changing medical harm.
What Is a Surgical Error?
A surgical error is a preventable mistake that occurs before, during, or after surgery. Not every poor outcome is malpractice, since surgery carries known risks. However, if a medical provider fails to follow the accepted standard of care and that failure causes harm, the injured patient may have a medical malpractice claim.
These cases often require a careful review of medical records, surgical notes, imaging, witness statements, and the patient’s postoperative outcome. A surgical error attorney can help determine whether the harm was caused by negligence rather than an unavoidable complication.
Common Types of Surgical Errors
Surgical errors can happen in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, emergency settings, and specialty practices. Some mistakes are obvious right away, while others are discovered only after symptoms worsen or a second medical opinion reveals the problem.
Common examples of surgical errors include:
- Surgical instruments or sponges left inside the body
- Wrong-site surgery
- Wrong-patient surgery
- Removal of the wrong limb or organ
- Anesthesia errors
- Accidental damage to nearby tissue or organs
- Avoidable infections
- Poor sterilization of instruments
- Unnecessary surgery
- Failure to monitor the patient after surgery
These mistakes can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating for patients and their families.
How Do You Prove a Surgical Error Case?
To prove a surgical error claim, you generally must show that a medical provider owed you a duty of care, failed to meet the accepted standard of care, caused your injury, and led to damages. Damages may include medical bills, lost wages, pain, emotional suffering, disability, or the need for more treatment.
One of the hardest parts of a medical malpractice case is proving that the error directly caused harm. For example, a mistake must be more than a technical issue with no injury. Sklare Law Group can review the facts, examine medical documents, and help determine whether your case meets the legal requirements for a claim.
What Should You Do if You Suspect a Surgical Mistake?
If you believe something went wrong during surgery, your first priority should be your health. Seek follow-up care right away, especially if you have severe pain, signs of infection, unexpected swelling, fever, bleeding, weakness, or worsening symptoms.
It may also help to gather:
- Medical records and discharge papers
- Surgical notes, if available
- Imaging results or lab reports
- Medication lists
- Photos of visible injuries
- Bills and insurance documents
- A written timeline of what happened
- Names of doctors, nurses, and facilities involved
Avoid signing releases or giving detailed statements before speaking with an attorney. Hospitals and insurance companies may act quickly to protect their interests.
What Compensation May Be Available?
A surgical error can lead to costs far beyond the initial procedure. You may need corrective surgery, hospital care, therapy, medication, home assistance, or time away from work.
Depending on your case, compensation may include medical expenses, future treatment costs, lost income, reduced earning ability, pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, and loss of quality of life. If a surgical error caused a fatal injury, surviving family members may also have a wrongful death claim.
Sklare Law Group handles related personal injury cases, including medical malpractice, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, head and brain injuries, workers’ compensation, and motor vehicle accidents.
Why Choose Sklare Law Group for a Surgical Error Attorney in Chicago, IL?
Sklare Law Group helps patients and families seek accountability after preventable surgical mistakes. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand how a surgical error can lead to added pain, longer recovery, extra medical bills, and lasting harm. We take the time to review what happened, identify potential negligence, and clearly explain your legal options.
As a family-founded firm, we value open communication and personal attention throughout the process. Our partners have more than 50 years of combined experience handling serious injury cases, including medical malpractice claims. We offer free consultations, home or hospital visits when needed, and no fee unless we win.
Speak With a Chicago Surgical Error Attorney
If a surgical error changed your life or harmed someone you love, Sklare Law Group can help you understand whether you may have a medical malpractice claim. Our attorneys serve clients in Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, and the surrounding counties of DuPage, Will, and Lake.
To speak with an experienced surgical error attorney in Chicago, IL, call Sklare Law Group at 312-759-1616 for a free consultation.
