Detroit Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Goodman Acker. Good Choice.

Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Detroit Have a Proven Record

Medical malpractice lawsuits are complex and require detailed understanding of Michigan laws. They need attorneys who have experience with past cases and have the skills to negotiate with insurers or litigate in court. Our Detroit medical malpractice attorneys know Michigan laws inside and out. We also know how to mount a winning strategy, and our track record shows it. Here are some examples of significant results for clients our Detroit medical malpractice attorneys have obtained:

• $1.2 million in a Wayne County medical malpractice case
• $1 million for a client who suffered brain damage as a result of medical malpractice
• $735,000 in a Wayne County medical malpractice case
• $700,000 for a client who suffered spinal injury caused by negligent care of a hospital
• $592,500 for failure to diagnose and treat an infection
• $337,500 for a client whose tongue cancer did not receive a timely diagnosis
• $137,500 for a woman who fractured her hip when the nursing home she was living in failed to provide adequate supervision.

How Our Detroit Medical Malpractice Attorneys Are Different

Unparalleled 99% Success Rate

Goodman Acker is not your ordinary law firm. Our Detroit medical malpractice attorneys are empowered with legal insight that only comes from experience, and experience is what we have. We focus solely on personal injury law and have won significant medical malpractice cases. With a combined 150+ years of experience, we have heard and seen just about every type of medical malpractice case.

We have built relationships in the Detroit community and developed extensive resources who can help us in legal battles. From our experience, we know strategies insurance companies may try to employ to minimize or avoid a payout. Our experience with medical malpractice cases also means we are your best choice when you have a complex situation. We handle the types of cases other medical malpractice attorneys in Detroit do not handle because they do not have the talent or resources to handle them.

Our winning team has a 99% success rate. Our 99% success rate speaks for itself. You make a good choice when you work with our medical malpractice lawyers in Detroit. We rise to the challenge and use our collective knowledge, skills, and resources to make sure our Detroit community members recover what’s fair and just. Our reputation testifies to our commitment.

• We are available 24/7 for client emergencies, which is just another reason why we are trusted and respected in Detroit and throughout Michigan.
• Our winning record in medical malpractice cases is strong, shown by the millions of dollars we have recovered for our clients.
• Our team of seasoned Detroit medical malpractice lawyers like Tim Sulolli fight tirelessly for our clients and get winning results.
• Our reputation is backed by awards and recognition, like inclusion on the Super Lawyers list, an AV Martindale-Hubbell Rating, and a spot on the list of Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
• News groups, like FOX 17, feature our law firm regularly –– we are a trusted name in our communities.
• Former and current clients thank us for our help. See our client testimonials to get a better understanding of how our work has impacted their lives.

Get Help with Your Claim from Our Detroit Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Find Out if You Have a Case

If you believe that you or someone you care about has been a victim of medical malpractice and have a case against a doctor, it is important to talk to our Detroit medical malpractice attorney. The courts view medicine as more of an art than an exact science, so providers are often not found negligent, even if they did make a mistake. Given the complexities of a medical malpractice case, it is important that you work with our experienced legal team. We will answer any questions that you may have and determine if the doctor, nurse, surgeon, or hospital was negligent and at fault for your injuries. There may be multiple parties responsible for your injuries.

How Our Team Will Build Your Detroit Medical Malpractice Case

When you meet with our medical malpractice attorney in Detroit, we will ask you to describe what happened and at what point you believe medical malpractice occurred. We will gather information about your situation and, based on the facts and the harm done to you, we can determine whether you have a valid case. We will also determine what kind of settlement to ask for.

Our medical malpractice lawyer in Detroit will:

• Investigate your case and gather what evidence is available to determine who was responsible for the harm you’ve suffered. It may be from photographs, videos, medical records, and doctor and eyewitness reports.
• Consult medical experts to testify as to the harm you received and how it affects your life and family.
• Build your case based on Michigan law and past similar cases.
• Handle negotiations for a fair settlement with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and their attorneys.
• If negotiations do not provide the outcome you want or expect, we can take your case to trial.
• We will answer your questions and keep you informed on the progress of your case throughout the entire process.

We will explain each step of your case as we move forward so you are sure to understand what’s happening and what options are available to you. Our medical malpractice lawyers in Detroit are dedicated to not only getting you the best possible results, but also to ensuring you are informed and empowered.

Proving Negligence in a Detroit Medical Malpractice Case

To develop a strong legal case, our attorneys will need to prove that negligence occurred. Medicine is not always an exact science so you may not have the outcome you want from your medical treatment or procedure, but that doesn’t mean malpractice took place.

Our medical malpractice lawyer in Detroit will first ask for your version of what happened and where you think the medical malpractice occurred. We will then begin to examine medical records and conduct additional research. Based on the facts and the injuries you sustained, we can estimate whether you have a valid case. Our research will also inform the amount of a medical malpractice settlement we can pursue.

Because medical malpractice claims are often complex and can sometimes be difficult to prove, our team works meticulously to build your case. There are many factors that must be considered in these cases, such as:

• Duty of care: Did the medical provider meet the duty of care they owed you? All licensed doctors and healthcare professionals are employed to protect and treat patients with illnesses or injuries. They are responsible for providing your medical care to the best of their abilities at all times.
• Breach of duty: If your doctor or hospital fails to provide you with the level of medical care and attention that’s required by the Michigan Board of Medicine, it may be considered a breach of duty.
• Breach of duty caused injury: If it is established that the provider or hospital did fail to provide you the required care, their negligence may have caused injury. We must establish that injury occurred.
• Link the breach of duty with injury: If our medical malpractice attorneys in Detroit can prove that causal relationship occurred, we can pursue a legal case. We must show that a breach of duty by a healthcare professional caused you to suffer severe injuries or illness.

When we submit findings to prove these four elements apply to your medical malpractice case, we will obtain an affidavit of merit from a medical professional as required by Michigan law. We always build an exceptionally strong case before we proceed to the negotiation stage. That way, when we seek your medical malpractice settlement, we can obtain the best possible compensation. If the insurer doesn’t provide a reasonable amount, we’ll discuss your next options. If we need to take your case to court, you’ll find our Detroit team of medical malpractice lawyers are fierce litigators.

Damages You Can Win in Your Case

Compensation for Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice in Michigan

In Michigan, the law allows injured parties to seek compensation for the damages they suffer. By filing a medical malpractice claim, victims and their families can recover money to compensate for medical bills (related to the original ailment and to further injuries resulting from negligence), lost wages, and funeral expenses. “Damages” in a medical malpractice case include the financial expenses and non-economic harm that results from an injury.

Most damages that result from medical malpractice in Detroit are medical expenses and loss of earnings. When an injury is expected to last for an extended period or contribute to long-term expenses, our medical malpractice lawyer in Detroit will gather information to project the total costs of the incident, both now and in the future.

In general, a person injured from another person’s negligence in a medical malpractice case may be able to recover any or all of the following:

• Medical bills (including surgery, medication, rehabilitation, therapy, etc.)
• Transportation costs
• Expenses for support services such as house cleaning or yard work
• Lost income
• Funeral expenses for your loved one, if medical malpractice resulted in death.

Non-economic Damages in a Detroit Medical Malpractice Case

Any harm to you caused by medical malpractice needs to be accounted for in the compensation we seek in your legal case. Some costs resulting from an injury are neither medical nor income loss related. Pain and suffering and emotional distress are non-economic damages that can be recovered by a medical malpractice claim. As of 2023, the state of Michigan caps non-economic damages at a limit of $537,900. There are exceptions to this cap for cases of paralysis caused by brain or spinal cord injury, “permanently impaired cognitive capacity,” or “permanent loss of or damage to a reproductive organ.” In these cases, the maximum is raised to $960,500 (M.C.L.  §600.1483).

Punitive damages are available in some types of personal injury cases, if a defendant’s actions were purposefully harmful or egregious. However, Michigan law does not allow for punitive damages in medical malpractice cases.

We fight aggressively for your maximum compensation. To be sure all your losses are quantified appropriately so you can receive the most compensation possible in the damages you are awarded, you’ll need experienced legal representation. Our Detroit medical malpractice attorney at Goodman Acker will explain what damages you can expect in your case. Each medical malpractice injury situation is unique, so we’ll need to evaluate your case carefully. It takes skill to prove that you experience pain and suffering or emotional anguish. Depend on our knowledgeable attorneys to determine the full accounting of all damages available in your case. Call our Detroit medical malpractice attorney today at (248) 286-8100 for your free consultation.

Detroit Medical Malpractice FAQs

Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Detroit Answer Common Questions

Medical malpractice claims can be complex, and you may not understand the specifics of the relevant laws. You may also struggle to determine whether your injury was caused by an honest error or by negligence. We can help. Here are some of the common questions our Detroit medical malpractice attorneys hear from our clients.

There are many ways in which our clients are harmed in medical malpractice cases. While our above answers may cover some questions you have, you probably have others that apply to your situation. We are happy to answer them.

Don’t Delay. Statutes of Limitations Can Impact Your Case.

Medical Malpractice Laws in Michigan

The state of Michigan has specific laws concerning the damages and timeline of medical malpractice cases. In Michigan, medical malpractice victims have two years from the date of an incident to bring a case. (M.C.L. § 600.5805(8)) When the occurrence of medical malpractice is discovered later, the statute of limitations gets more complicated: You have six months following the discovery of that incident to file your claim, and the discovery and filing of a medical malpractice claim must happen within six years of the occurrence of the incident.

There is yet more complexity to this timeline when discovery is hampered by other factors. The exceptions are: cases in which the “discovery of the existence of the claim was prevented by the fraudulent conduct of the health care professional” or “there has been permanent loss of or damage to a reproductive organ resulting in the inability to procreate,” according to Michigan Compiled Laws Section 600.5838a.

Sometimes the outcome of medical malpractice is a tragic loss of life. In those cases, it may be possible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In this type of case, the statute of limitations allows you three years from the date of an incident to file a claim (M.C.L. § 600.5805).

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY J. SCOTT FANZINI

J. Scott Fanzini graduated from law school in the top ten percent of his class. He has been the lead attorney on numerous high-exposure cases tried before a jury in both Michigan and Indiana. Scott advises individuals and businesses involved in complex legal disputes, including in professional liability matters such as medical and legal malpractice, first- and third-party liability matters, catastrophic claims, business litigation, and appeals.
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