About MedLaw Patient Advocacy — Medical Malpractice Park Ridge Illinois

MedLaw Patient Advocacy handles medical malpractice Park Ridge Illinois and greater Cook County patients bring when medical negligence causes serious harm. Attorney Richard E. Sexner leads a practice built exclusively around patient advocacy — representing victims of surgical errors, missed diagnoses, birth injuries, anesthesia mistakes, and nursing home abuse across the Chicago metropolitan area. The firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless compensation is recovered — a critical access point for patients who have already suffered financially from their injuries.

Illinois ranks fifth in the nation for total medical malpractice claim payments, with $318.86 million paid to resolve malpractice claims in 2023 alone. In Cook County — home to some of the country’s largest hospital systems — the volume of complex medical malpractice litigation demands attorneys with both medical literacy and courtroom capability. MedLaw Patient Advocacy’s track record includes verdicts and settlements reaching into the tens of millions on behalf of seriously injured patients. For additional medical malpractice resources serving the Chicago area, visit /lawyers/category/medical-malpractice/.

What Clients Say

Clients of MedLaw Patient Advocacy describe the firm’s responsiveness and the thorough preparation that goes into each case. Patients and families dealing with the aftermath of medical errors — physical, emotional, and financial — consistently highlight the firm’s commitment to building the strongest possible record of negligence and harm, not settling quickly for less than the case is worth.

Medical Malpractice Park Ridge — Practice Areas & Services

• Birth Injuries: Represents families whose infants suffered cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, brain damage, or other birth injuries due to delivery room negligence at hospitals serving the Park Ridge and Chicago metro area.
• Surgical Errors: Pursues claims arising from unauthorized surgeries, wrong-site procedures, retained surgical instruments, and post-operative negligence.
• Missed Diagnoses: Handles cases where delayed or missed diagnoses of heart attacks, cancer, appendicitis, or other conditions caused preventable harm.
• Anesthesia Mistakes: Represents patients harmed by improper anesthesia administration or monitoring failures during surgical procedures.
• Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect: Pursues claims against Cook County nursing facilities where residents suffered harm from understaffing, medication errors, or physical abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a medical malpractice claim in Illinois?

Illinois medical malpractice claims must generally be filed within two years of the date the patient knew or should have known about the injury and its connection to medical negligence — but no later than four years from the date of the negligent act under the statute of repose. For cases involving minors, different rules apply. Because gathering medical records, retaining expert witnesses, and building a case takes substantial time, contacting an attorney immediately after discovering possible negligence is essential.

What does a contingency fee arrangement mean for a Park Ridge malpractice claim?

Under a contingency fee agreement, the attorney receives a percentage of the recovery — typically one-third in Illinois malpractice cases — only if the case succeeds. The client pays no upfront attorney fees. Case expenses — medical record retrieval, expert witness fees, court filing costs — are typically advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the settlement or verdict. If the case does not result in a recovery, the client owes nothing for attorney fees.

Does Illinois require an expert affidavit to file a medical malpractice lawsuit?

Yes — Illinois law requires a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case to file an affidavit by a qualified health professional certifying that the case has merit, attached to or filed within 90 days of the complaint. This affidavit of merit requirement is designed to screen out meritless claims. An experienced malpractice attorney will identify and retain the appropriate expert before filing to ensure this requirement is properly met.