Compassionate Medical Negligence Attorneys
Last updated on October 14, 2026
At Shapiro, Cohen & Basinger Trial Lawyers, we provide skilled, caring and determined representation to patients who have suffered injuries as a result of negligent medical treatment throughout Chicago and all of Illinois. Our firm was established in 1978, and the attorneys on our team have 100 years of combined courtroom experience.
Once you choose our firm, you will work directly with a senior partner, not an associate, paralegal or case manager. Our trial lawyers are experienced litigators who prepare each case for submission to a judge and jury and don’t accept quick, reduced insurance settlements.
We are dedicated to combating powerful medical organizations and securing the full financial recovery you deserve if you need an experienced attorney who handles medical malpractice or handles hospital-related cases.
Investigating Individual Mistakes And Institutional Failures
Medical harm usually results from a combination of mistakes by individual doctors and shortcomings in the hospital system as a whole. Our legal team carefully looks at the errors made by individual providers — such as surgical negligence, incorrect dosing of medication, a diagnosis being missed, or a delay in diagnosing conditions like cancer or a stroke — and also examines the systemic institutional failures, for example, serious understaffing in hospitals, inadequate staff training, poor sanitation procedures, or slow emergency response times.
Our attorneys provide invaluable assistance throughout this complex process by:
- Serving a subpoena for electronic medical records, audit trails and internal hospital communications
- Consulting with leading medical experts to identify specific deviations from established clinical guidelines
- Calculating the total financial and personal impact your injuries will have over your lifetime
- Representing your interests against malpractice insurance companies in high-stakes negotiations or in court
These detailed technical investigations require extensive legal knowledge and strong litigation skills. Because our trial lawyers handle every stage of building the case, we can hold both individual negligent clinicians and corporate healthcare systems fully accountable.
What Is The Difference Between Medical Malpractice And Medical Negligence?
Medical negligence and medical malpractice both refer to instances where a healthcare provider breaches the professional standard of care, directly causing injury or death to a patient. A medical malpractice lawsuit is the formal court proceeding filed to recover damages resulting from that negligence.
Under Illinois law, medical malpractice complaints generally must include an affidavit stating that a qualified health professional reviewed the case and wrote a report finding reasonable cause for the action. However, a 90-day post-filing extension is permitted under specific statutory circumstances.
Adult medical malpractice claims must generally be brought within two years of when the patient knew or should have known of the injury, but no later than four years from the underlying incident, with longer statutory timeframes available for minors and disabled individuals.
How Do You Prove Medical Negligence?
To win a medical negligence case, you must prove a direct chain of legal and medical liability. To successfully build a compelling claim, key evidence and information must be gathered and analyzed, including:
- Full medical records: Complete clinical charts, doctor’s notes, nursing logs, diagnostic imaging, and lab test results.
- Expert physician review: Sworn statements and testimony from medically qualified specialists board-certified in the same field.
- Evidence of economic damage: records of past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost earning capacity.
- Proof of non-economic loss: Evidence documenting severe physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of normal life enjoyment.
Our lawyers must prove that a professional relationship existed, that the provider failed in his duty, and that this specific error directly caused the physical injuries you have suffered and the financial losses you have incurred.
Contact Our Medical Negligence Lawyers
If you or a near relative has suffered an injury due to poor medical treatment, don’t settle for a quick insurance settlement. Our lawyers work hard to secure the maximum possible compensation, covering not only pain and suffering but also the loss of a normal way of life and the long-term financial losses from future medical bills and your inability to earn a living.
By consulting medical specialists to establish the true total cost of the injury over a lifetime, our attorneys clearly demonstrate their dedication to your complete recovery. Call us now at 312-957-8807 or fill out our online form to arrange a free, confidential consultation.