Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Lansing MI

Surgical mistakes can have devastating, life-altering consequences. These errors include operating on the wrong body part or wrong patient, leaving surgical instruments or sponges inside the body, damaging nerves or organs during surgery, performing unnecessary procedures, or making technical errors during the operation. Many surgical errors result from poor communication among surgical team members, inadequate pre-operative planning, or surgeon fatigue. If you suffered complications from a surgery that shouldn’t have happened, you may have grounds for a surgical malpractice claim.

When doctors fail to diagnose serious conditions like cancer, heart disease, stroke, or infections in a timely manner, the delay can allow the condition to progress to a more dangerous stage. Similarly, misdiagnosing one condition as another can lead to improper treatment that wastes valuable time while the real problem worsens. These diagnostic failures often stem from inadequate testing, failure to review test results properly, ignoring patient symptoms, or failing to refer patients to specialists when needed.

Medical negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery can cause permanent harm to newborns and mothers. Common birth injuries include cerebral palsy from oxygen deprivation, Erb’s palsy from improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors, and brain damage from delayed emergency cesarean sections. Failure to monitor fetal distress, mismanaging high-risk pregnancies, and medication errors during delivery can all constitute medical malpractice. These cases are particularly heartbreaking because they affect the most vulnerable patients and can result in lifelong disabilities.

Prescription mistakes kill thousands of Americans each year and injure countless more. These errors include prescribing the wrong medication, prescribing incorrect dosages, failing to recognize dangerous drug interactions, administering medications improperly in hospitals, or failing to monitor patients for adverse reactions. Pharmacists and nurses can also commit medication errors when they misread prescriptions or give patients the wrong drugs. Even seemingly minor medication mistakes can have serious consequences, especially for elderly patients or those with multiple health conditions.

Anesthesiologists must carefully calculate dosages and monitor patients throughout surgical procedures. Errors in administering anesthesia can cause brain damage, stroke, heart attack, or death. Common anesthesia mistakes include giving too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor vital signs during surgery, using defective equipment, or failing to review patient medical history for potential complications. Because anesthesia errors often happen quickly and have immediate severe consequences, these cases require rapid investigation and preservation of medical records.

Hospitals themselves can be liable for medical malpractice when they fail to maintain proper staffing levels, hire incompetent medical personnel, fail to credential doctors properly, or maintain unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Hospital negligence also includes failures in hospital systems and protocols, such as inadequate patient monitoring, poor infection control, or communication breakdowns between healthcare providers. Major hospitals in the Greater Lansing area, including Sparrow Hospital and McLaren Greater Lansing, have sophisticated systems in place, but errors still occur when those systems fail or staff don’t follow proper procedures.

Elderly and disabled residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities deserve compassionate, competent care. When nursing home staff fail to provide adequate medical attention, allow bedsores to develop, fail to prevent falls, or administer medications improperly, they commit medical negligence. These cases often overlap with elder abuse claims and may require additional legal strategies.

We listen to your story, review your medical records, and assess whether you have a viable claim. This initial consultation costs you nothing, and we provide honest feedback about your case’s strengths and potential challenges.

We obtain all relevant medical records, imaging studies, lab results, and other documentation related to your treatment. This comprehensive record review helps us identify exactly where the standard of care was breached.

Michigan law requires qualified medical experts to support malpractice claims. We work with respected physicians in the relevant specialty who can explain how your provider’s actions fell below acceptable standards. These experts review your records, provide detailed opinions, and testify if necessary.

Before filing a lawsuit in Michigan, we must send a Notice of Intent to the healthcare provider at least 182 days before filing. This notice triggers Michigan’s mandatory mediation process and gives the provider time to investigate the claim.

During the notice period, we conduct extensive investigation, interview witnesses, consult additional experts, and develop a comprehensive legal strategy. We also begin calculating the full extent of your damages, including future medical needs and lost earning capacity.

If settlement negotiations during the notice period don’t produce fair compensation, we file a formal lawsuit in Ingham County Circuit Court or the appropriate Michigan venue. This begins the litigation process, including discovery, depositions, and motion practice.

Most medical malpractice cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. Our thorough preparation often leads to better settlement offers because defendants know we’re ready to try the case. If trial is necessary, we present compelling evidence and expert testimony to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.

Economic Damages include all your financial losses resulting from the malpractice. This covers past and future medical expenses for corrective treatments, rehabilitation, medications, medical equipment, and ongoing care. It also includes lost wages from time away from work, loss of earning capacity if you can’t return to your previous employment, and other out-of-pocket expenses directly caused by the medical error.

Non-Economic Damages compensate you for the physical and emotional harm you’ve suffered. This includes compensation for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement or scarring, and loss of consortium for spouses. These damages recognize that medical malpractice causes suffering that can’t be measured in medical bills and paychecks alone.

Under MCL 600.1483, Michigan law places caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, with annual adjustments for inflation. As of 2025, the cap is $586,300 for most cases, and $1,047,000 for cases involving permanent and significant impairment of body functions or permanent serious disfigurement. Your medical malpractice lawyer in Lansing should understand the current state of Michigan law regarding damage caps and how they may affect your case.

Punitive Damages are rarely available in Michigan medical malpractice cases. Michigan law generally doesn’t allow punitive damages designed to punish defendants, except in very limited circumstances. However, when medical negligence is particularly egregious or involves intentional misconduct, other legal theories might allow for additional compensation.

Michigan law generally gives you two years from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) the malpractice to file a lawsuit. Additionally, MCL 600.5838a allows a claim to be filed within six months of the date you discovered the malpractice, even if the two-year window has passed, as long as the claim is filed within six years of the negligent act. For minors, different rules apply. These deadlines are strict, and missing them usually means losing your right to compensation forever, regardless of how strong your case is.

Before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Michigan, you must send a Notice of Intent to each healthcare provider you plan to sue. This notice must include details about your claim and must be sent at least 182 days before filing the lawsuit. This waiting period is designed to encourage early settlement discussions and give providers time to investigate claims.

When you file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Michigan, you must include an Affidavit of Merit from a qualified medical expert. This affidavit must state that the expert has reviewed your case and believes the standard of care was breached. The expert must practice in the same specialty as the defendant and meet other specific qualifications. This requirement helps prevent frivolous lawsuits but adds complexity and expense to legitimate claims.

Michigan law defines the applicable standard of care as the care that a reasonably prudent healthcare professional would provide under similar circumstances. The standard isn’t perfection—it’s competence. Your attorney must prove that the defendant’s care fell below this standard and directly caused your injuries.

Healthcare providers must obtain your informed consent before performing medical procedures. This means explaining the procedure, its risks and benefits, and alternative treatments so you can make an educated decision. If a provider fails to obtain proper informed consent and you suffer harm from the procedure, you may have a claim even if the provider didn’t technically make a mistake during the procedure itself.

If you contributed to your own injuries by failing to follow medical advice or providing inaccurate medical history, Michigan’s comparative negligence law may reduce your compensation. Under MCL 600.6304, if you are more than 50% at fault, you are barred from recovering non-economic damages (pain and suffering), but you can still recover economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) under a pure comparative negligence theory.

Medical malpractice lawyers at Monument Legal work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.

We advance all case expenses, including expert witness fees, medical record costs, and court filing fees. You owe us nothing if we don’t secure compensation for you. This arrangement makes quality legal representation accessible to everyone, regardless of financial situation, and aligns our interests with yours, we only get paid when you do.

Michigan’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the malpractice to file a lawsuit.

However, MCL 600.5838a also allows you to file within six months of discovering the malpractice if the discovery happens more than two years after the negligent act, as long as the claim is filed within six years of the negligent act. If you discover the malpractice more than six years after it occurred, you must file within six months of discovery. For cases involving foreign objects left in the body, different rules may apply.

These deadlines are strict and rarely extended, so contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Lansing as soon as you suspect negligence to protect your rights.

The value of your case depends on multiple factors including the severity of your injuries, the extent of medical treatment needed, your lost income and future earning capacity, your age and life expectancy, and the strength of evidence proving negligence.

Cases involving permanent disability, brain injury, or wrongful death typically have higher values than cases with temporary injuries. Economic damages like medical bills and lost wages are easier to calculate, while non-economic damages for pain and suffering require experienced legal judgment.

We evaluate each case individually and won’t make unrealistic promises, but we’ll give you an honest assessment of what fair compensation looks like for your situation.

Most medical malpractice cases in Michigan take between 18 and 30 months from initial consultation to resolution, though complex cases can take longer. Michigan’s pre-suit notice requirements add six months before you can even file a lawsuit.

After filing, the discovery process, expert depositions, and motion practice typically take another year or more. Cases that settle during mediation resolve faster than cases that go to trial. While this timeframe might seem long, thorough case preparation is essential for achieving maximum compensation, and rushing rarely benefits the client.

Yes, attempting to handle a medical malpractice claim without an attorney is extremely difficult and usually unsuccessful.

Michigan law requires expert medical testimony to prove your case, and healthcare providers employ experienced defense attorneys who know how to challenge these claims. You’ll need to navigate complex procedural requirements like the Notice of Intent and Affidavit of Merit, comply with strict filing deadlines, and counter aggressive defense tactics. Insurance companies routinely deny or lowball claims from unrepresented individuals.

Our medical malpractice lawyers in Lansing Michigan have the medical knowledge, legal expertise, and resources to build compelling cases and secure fair compensation.

First, seek appropriate medical care to address any ongoing health issues resulting from the suspected negligence. Get a second opinion about your condition and treatment options. Collect and preserve all medical records, bills, prescriptions, and other documentation related to your care. Write down everything you remember about the treatment, including dates, conversations with providers, and symptoms you experienced. Do not sign any settlement releases or give recorded statements to insurance companies.

Contact a medical malpractice attorney in Lansing as soon as possible to evaluate your case while evidence is still fresh and deadlines haven’t passed.

Yes, Michigan law allows certain family members to file wrongful death claims when medical negligence causes a loved one’s death.

The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate typically files the claim on behalf of surviving family members. These cases seek compensation for the family’s loss of financial support, loss of companionship and services, funeral expenses, and the deceased person’s pain and suffering before death. Wrongful death claims have the same two-year statute of limitations as other medical malpractice cases, running from the date of death or discovery of the malpractice.

Signing a consent form doesn’t prevent you from pursuing a medical malpractice claim if negligence occurred.

Consent forms acknowledge that you understand the risks and benefits of a procedure, but they don’t authorize providers to deliver substandard care or make preventable errors. If the provider failed to disclose important risks, performed a different procedure than discussed, or made negligent mistakes during treatment, you may still have a valid claim regardless of what forms you signed.

We review consent forms carefully to determine whether you received adequate information to make an informed decision about your medical care.

Proving medical malpractice requires showing four elements: the healthcare provider owed you a duty of care, the provider breached that duty by falling below the accepted standard of care, this breach directly caused your injury, and you suffered damages as a result.

You’ll need expert testimony from medical professionals in the same specialty who can explain what the proper standard of care was and how the defendant failed to meet it. You’ll also need medical records, imaging studies, lab results, and other documentation showing the connection between the negligent care and your injuries.

Monument Legal handles all evidence gathering, expert coordination, and legal strategy to build the strongest possible case.

Yes, you have the right to change attorneys at any point during your case. If you’re dissatisfied with your current lawyer’s communication, case strategy, or results, contact us for a confidential consultation.

We’ll review your case, explain your options, and discuss whether transferring representation makes sense for your situation. Any attorney fees owed to your previous lawyer will be resolved between the attorneys without additional cost to you. Don’t stay with an attorney who isn’t meeting your needs, effective representation is critical in medical malpractice cases.