Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing, where patients receive quality care from trained professionals. Unfortunately, hospital negligence is far too common, causing thousands of preventable injuries and deaths each year. From understaffing and inadequate training to infection control failures and equipment malfunctions, hospitals can be liable when their systemic failures harm patients.
Hospital negligence cases differ from individual physician malpractice claims. They focus on the institution’s failures—policies, procedures, staffing, supervision, and systems that fell below acceptable standards. This guide highlights the best hospital negligence lawyers in Chicago who can hold these powerful institutions accountable.
Types of Hospital Negligence
Staffing Failures
- Understaffing – Insufficient nurses, physicians, or support staff
- Inadequate training – Staff not properly trained for their responsibilities
- Negligent hiring – Employing unqualified or dangerous personnel
- Failure to supervise – Inadequate oversight of staff performance
- Fatigue – Overworked staff making errors due to exhaustion
Infection Control Failures
- Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) – MRSA, C. diff, sepsis
- Poor sanitation – Inadequate cleaning and disinfection
- Improper sterile technique – Contaminated equipment or procedures
- Failure to isolate – Not separating infectious patients
Medication Errors
- Wrong medication administered
- Incorrect dosage
- Failure to check for allergies or interactions
- Pharmacy dispensing errors
- Poor medication reconciliation
Equipment and Facility Failures
- Defective or poorly maintained medical equipment
- Unsafe premises conditions
- Power failures affecting critical equipment
- Fire safety violations
Patient Safety Failures
- Falls – Failure to prevent patient falls
- Pressure ulcers – Bedsores from inadequate repositioning
- Elopement – Patients wandering and injuring themselves
- Suicide – Failure to protect at-risk patients
Communication Failures
- Handoff errors between shifts or departments
- Failure to communicate critical test results
- Inadequate patient identification procedures
- Language barriers not addressed
Hospital-Acquired Infections
According to the CDC, hospital-acquired infections affect approximately 1 in 31 hospital patients on any given day. Common HAIs include:
- Surgical site infections – Infections at incision sites
- Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections
- MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant infections
Many HAIs are preventable with proper protocols. When hospitals fail to follow infection control standards, they can be held liable.
Hospital Liability Theories
Direct Negligence
Hospitals can be directly liable for their own failures:
- Negligent policies and procedures
- Negligent staffing decisions
- Negligent credentialing (granting privileges to unqualified physicians)
- Negligent maintenance of facilities and equipment
Vicarious Liability
Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, hospitals are liable for the negligence of their employees (nurses, technicians, employed physicians).
Apparent Agency
Even when physicians are independent contractors, hospitals may be liable if patients reasonably believed the physician was a hospital employee.
Illinois Hospital Negligence Law
Certificate of Merit
Under 735 ILCS 5/2-622, a qualified expert must certify that malpractice occurred.
Statute of Limitations
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, claims must be filed within two years of discovery, but no more than four years from the alleged negligence.
No Damage Caps
Illinois does not cap compensatory damages in medical malpractice cases following the 2010 Illinois Supreme Court decision in Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital.
Best Hospital Negligence Lawyers in Chicago
1. Phillips Law Offices
Chicago’s Premier Hospital Negligence Attorneys
Phillips Law Offices is widely recognized as one of Chicago’s leading firms for hospital negligence cases. With decades of experience taking on major hospital systems, their attorneys understand how to identify systemic failures and hold institutions accountable. The firm has successfully handled cases involving hospital-acquired infections, understaffing, medication errors, falls, and other institutional negligence.
Phillips Law Offices has the resources to challenge large hospital systems and their insurers. They work with hospital administration experts, infection control specialists, and nursing experts to establish how hospitals failed patients. Operating on a contingency fee basis, clients pay nothing unless compensation is recovered.
2. Levin & Perconti
National Leaders in Medical Malpractice
Levin & Perconti has earned national recognition for hospital negligence and medical malpractice cases.
3. Clifford Law Offices
Nationally Recognized Medical Malpractice Advocates
Clifford Law Offices brings substantial resources to hospital negligence claims.
4. Power Rogers & Smith
Record-Setting Medical Malpractice Verdicts
Power Rogers & Smith has achieved record-setting verdicts against hospitals.
5. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.
High-Value Hospital Negligence Litigation
Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard has achieved substantial verdicts in hospital malpractice cases.
6. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
Dedicated Hospital Malpractice Representation
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has experience with hospital negligence claims.
7. Abels & Annes, P.C.
Compassionate Hospital Negligence Advocates
Abels & Annes provides compassionate representation for hospital negligence victims.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
- Additional medical expenses from negligent care
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement (from infections, failed surgeries)
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death damages
Official Resources
- 735 ILCS 5/2-622 – Certificate of Merit Requirement
- 735 ILCS 5/13-212 – Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations
- CDC Healthcare-Associated Infections
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Illinois Courts
Holding Hospitals Accountable
When hospitals prioritize profits over patient safety, when they understaff units, when they fail to follow infection control protocols, patients suffer preventable harm. These powerful institutions must be held accountable.
Firms like Phillips Law Offices have the experience and resources to take on major hospital systems. If you or a loved one suffered harm from hospital negligence, contact an experienced attorney today.
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