Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Holding Power Accountable for Your Recovery

It is a specialized kind of betrayal. You placed your life—or the life of someone you love—into the hands of a medical professional. You trusted their years of schooling, their clinical expertise, and the sterile safety of a Chicago hospital. You went there to heal, but you left with a tragedy that should never have happened.

If you are reading this, you are likely in the middle of a storm. You may be facing mounting medical bills for a “fix” that didn’t work, a permanent disability that has stripped away your ability to provide for your family, or the devastating loss of a loved one due to a surgical error or misdiagnosis. Right now, the hospital’s risk management team might be giving you the runaround, or worse, meting out a cold, clinical silence.

At Paul Padda Law, we know that a medical malpractice case isn’t just a legal file. It is a story of broken trust. We aren’t here to simply “handle” your case; we are here to be your voice in a system designed to protect itself at your expense. We provide the high-level legal scrutiny and the compassionate, human-first support you need to reclaim your life.

The Leader of Your Recovery Team

"Being a lawyer allows me to be a voice for the voiceless."

- Paul Padda, J.D.

More About Paul

Why You Can Trust Paul Padda Law With Your Medical Malpractice Claim

In a city like Chicago, home to some of the largest medical systems in the world, you are fighting an uphill battle. These institutions have massive insurance policies and legal teams dedicated to denying claims. To win, you need a law firm that doesn’t just know the law—you need a team that knows how to prosecute a complex investigation.

The Federal Pedigree: A Prosecutor’s Eye for Detail

Our founding attorney, Paul Padda, brings a level of experience that sets our firm apart from the standard personal injury practice. As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Paul spent years handling high-stakes litigation for the federal government. He understands how to deconstruct complex systems and follow the paper trail that medical institutions often try to hide. When you hire Paul Padda Law, you aren’t just getting a lawyer; you are getting a team with a “federal-level” intensity that is rare in Chicago’s civil courts. We don’t just ask for justice; we build an undeniable case for it.

Proven Results for Chicago Families

Trust is earned through action. Our firm has recovered over $160 million for our clients across various personal injury and malpractice claims. In the realm of medical malpractice, these results are transformative. They represent the specialized care a child with a birth injury will need for the rest of their life, the replacement of a career lost to a botched surgery, and the closure that only comes from true accountability.

The Resources to Take on the Giants

Medical malpractice cases are incredibly expensive to litigate. They require hundreds of hours of work and the testimony of world-class medical experts who can stand up to the hospital’s “experts.” Many smaller firms are forced to settle early because they cannot afford the cost of a long-term battle. Paul Padda Law has the financial resources and the professional network to go the distance. We advance all costs for your case, ensuring that your pursuit of justice is never limited by your current financial situation.

Paul Padda explains how we handle cases like yours

How We Specifically Help You Navigate This Journey

Navigating a medical malpractice claim in Cook County is a multi-layered process. We don’t expect you to know the legal or medical nuances—that is our job. Here is how we stand by you from day one:

1. Deconstructing the “Medical Standard of Care”

Not every bad medical outcome is malpractice. To win, we must prove that a doctor or nurse deviated from the “standard of care”—meaning they failed to do what a reasonably competent professional would have done in the same situation. We work with board-certified medical experts to analyze your records and identify exactly where the protocol was broken. Whether it was a failure to read a lab report or a slip of the scalpel, we find the evidence.

2. Managing the Insurance and Hospital Red Tape

Hospital “Risk Management” departments are trained to minimize the facility’s financial exposure. They may try to get you to sign releases or accept a “settlement” that doesn’t even cover your future medical needs. We take over all communication. Once we are on your side, the hospital and their insurance adjusters talk to us, not you. This gives you the emotional space to focus on your recovery.

3. Valuing Your Total Future Needs

A medical error often has a “ripple effect” that lasts a lifetime. We don’t just look at the bills you have today; we look at the life you will have to live tomorrow. We work with life-care planners and economic experts to calculate:

• Future surgeries and rehabilitative therapies.
• Specialized medical equipment or home modifications.
• Lost wages and the loss of future earning potential.
• The “human cost”—your physical pain, emotional trauma, and the loss of your quality of life.

4. Navigating Local Knowledge and Local Courts

Chicago’s medical landscape is unique. From the massive complexes of Northwestern and UChicago to local community hospitals, we understand how these institutions operate. We are intimately familiar with the Cook County court system and the specific procedural requirements of Illinois medical malpractice law. We know the local experts and the local judges, and we know how to present a case that resonates with a Chicago jury.

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Understanding Medical Malpractice in Illinois

While we lead with empathy, our strategy is built on the bedrock of Illinois law. There are several key legal concepts that will define your case:

The Certificate of Merit (735 ILCS 5/2-622)

In Illinois, you cannot simply file a medical malpractice lawsuit based on a hunch. State law requires us to file a “Certificate of Merit.” This means we must consult with a health professional who practiced or taught in the same area of medicine as the defendant. That professional must provide a written report stating that there is a “reasonable and meritorious cause” for filing the lawsuit. This is why our network of medical experts is so critical—they are the gatekeepers to your case.

Common Types of Malpractice We Handle

Medical negligence takes many forms. We represent Chicagoans in cases involving:

• Diagnosis Errors: Failure to diagnose cancer, heart attacks, or strokes when the symptoms were present.
• Surgical Mistakes: Operating on the wrong site, leaving instruments inside a patient, or damaging surrounding organs.
• Birth Injuries: Cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, or maternal injuries caused by a failure to monitor fetal distress or improper use of delivery tools.
• Medication Errors: Prescribing the wrong drug, the wrong dosage, or failing to check for dangerous interactions.
• Nursing Home Neglect: Pressure sores, falls, and medication errors in Chicago-area long-term care facilities.

The Statute of Limitations: Your Timeline for Justice

Illinois has strict deadlines for filing a medical malpractice claim. Generally, you have two years from the date you knew, or should have known, that the injury occurred. However, you cannot file more than four years after the date the act of negligence actually took place (this is known as the “Statute of Repose”).

For minor children, the rules are different, typically allowing a longer window to file. However, because these cases require extensive investigation and the procurement of medical records, you should never wait. The sooner we can begin, the better we can preserve the evidence and the memory of witnesses.

The “No-Fee” Guarantee: Access to Justice for Everyone

One of the biggest reasons victims of medical malpractice don’t seek help is the fear of legal costs. We believe that a doctor’s mistake shouldn’t bankrupt a family twice. This is why we operate on a contingency fee basis.

• Zero Upfront Costs: You do not pay us a retainer or any hourly fees.
• We Fund the Litigation: We pay for the medical records, the expert witnesses, the filing fees, and the investigative costs.
• We Only Get Paid if You Do: Our fee is a percentage of the final settlement or court award. If we are not successful in recovering money for you, you owe us nothing for our time or the costs we advanced.

The Experience of Being a Paul Padda Law Client

When you call our Chicago office, you won’t be treated like just another file in a cabinet. We know that you are going through one of the most stressful periods of your life.We prioritize clear, honest communication. You will be kept informed at every stage of the process—from the initial records review to the final settlement negotiations. We are here to answer your questions, calm your fears, and provide a clear roadmap for what comes next. Our goal is to make the legal process as transparent and stress-free as possible, so you can put your energy where it belongs: on your health and your family.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Justice for Chicago Neighbors

Chicago is a city built on hard work and community. At Paul Padda Law, we are proud to be part of that community. We believe that by holding medical institutions accountable, we aren’t just helping one person—we are making healthcare safer for every Chicagoan. When a hospital is forced to change a dangerous policy because of a lawsuit, it prevents the next family from suffering the same tragedy.

We serve clients throughout the Chicago area, including Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties. Whether you are in the city or the suburbs, we are ready to listen to your story.

Take the First Step Toward Your Recovery

If your life has been derailed by medical negligence, you don’t have to navigate the path to justice alone. You deserve an advocate who has the technical skill of a federal prosecutor and the heart of a local neighbor.

The first step is a simple, no-pressure conversation. We will listen to what happened, explain your legal rights, and help you understand if you have a case.

Call Paul Padda Law today at (312) 702-7000 or contact us through our website to schedule your free, confidential consultation. Let us handle the legal battle so you can focus on your life. You have been through enough, let us take it from here.