Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Bloomington, IL
Injured by a Medical Provider in McLean County, IL?
- FREE Legal Advice
- No Upfront Fees
- You Don’t Pay Unless We Win
As a trusted Medical Malpractice Attorney located in Bloomington, Illinois, Terry Dodds will help you understand your legal rights and hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for the harm they’ve caused.Â
When we seek medical care for ourselves or our loved ones, we place our trust in healthcare professionals. Nurses, physicians, surgeons, and other medical practitioners are expected to provide care with the skill and diligence that meets established professional standards.
However, when medical professionals fall short of these standards, patients may suffer serious or catastrophic injuries, worsened conditions, or even lose their lives due to medical negligence.
If you or someone you care about suffered injuries while receiving medical care, call my law office right away. As an experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Bloomington, Illinois, I will determine whether you have the basis for a medical malpractice claim, guide you through the legal process, and help you win maximum compensation for your losses.
At Dodds Law Office in Bloomington, we also serve clients in Lincoln, Decatur, Champaign, and Peoria, Illinois.
What to Know About Medical Malpractice Claims in Bloomington, IL
Every medical injury case is different, but a few facts hold true for most patients. Here’s what a medical malpractice lawyer in Bloomington, IL wants you to know before you talk to the hospital or its insurance company.
- A successful claim requires proving four elements: a duty of care existed, the provider breached the accepted standard of care, that breach caused your injury, and you suffered actual damages.
- Illinois generally allows two years from the date you discovered, or should have discovered, the injury to file, and no more than four years from the date of the medical mistake.
- Doctors, nurses, surgeons, pharmacists, hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics can all be held accountable when their care falls below professional standards.
- Compensation may cover medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering, but Illinois law does not allow punitive damages in medical malpractice cases.
Medical Malpractice Statistics: How Big Is the Problem?
According to the Civil Justice Resource Group, an estimated 25,000 to 120,000 people die due to medical malpractice every year. Between 0.8% and 1% of all hospital patients in the United States are victims of medical malpractice. Sadly, the number of malpractice injuries and fatalities is most likely four times the number reported.
Just 4.8% of physicians are responsible for roughly half of the medical malpractice cases filed in the U.S., and around 1.7% of doctors are liable in 27.5% of claims that result in settlements or jury awards.
Under Illinois law, patients who suffer harm as a result of a healthcare provider’s negligent act or omission are entitled to receive compensation, yet only 2.9% file claims. As a result, an unacceptable number of negligent medical professionals are never held accountable for the harm they cause.Â
Hurt by a Doctor or Hospital You Trusted?
When medical care makes things worse, it can shake your trust and leave you with bills you never expected. Terry Dodds will review what happened, explain your rights, and tell you honestly whether you have a case. There are no upfront fees, and your first consultation is free.
Request A Free ConsultationWhat Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider’s treatment falls below the accepted standard of care in the medical community, resulting in injury or harm to a patient. In Bloomington and throughout Illinois, medical malpractice can take various forms:
- Performing surgery on the wrong side of the body
- Misdiagnosing a medical conditionÂ
- Prescribing or administering an incorrect medication or dosage
- Leaving foreign objects inside patients during surgery
- Discharging a patient prematurely
- Disregarding the patient’s medical history
- Failing to inform the patient of treatment risks
- Failing to treat a patient’s condition
These and many other errors may give an injured patient grounds to sue the negligent hospital and healthcare providers. However, not all adverse outcomes give rise to a medical malpractice suit. Â
Basic Elements of a Medical Malpractice Claim
- A Duty of Care Existed. There was a medical provider-patient relationship between the defendant and the victim, establishing a duty of care owed by the doctor, nurse, or other type of healthcare provider to the patient.
- The Doctor Was Negligent. A patient cannot sue a medical professional simply because they are not happy with the outcome of the treatment or surgery. The requirement for a medical malpractice claim is to prove that the doctor failed to uphold the recognized standard of care.
- Negligence Led to Injury or Harm. The plaintiff must demonstrate evidence of measurable harm or injury that was caused by the doctor’s negligence to recover damages.
- The Plaintiff Suffered Actual Damages. The plaintiff’s injury must have resulted in actual damages (e.g., medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering). IF the negligence did not cause harm to the patient, there are no damages to recover.
Proving the four elements or a medical malpractice claim can be challenging, especially if you aren’t informed about what constitutes the “accepted standard of care” in a specific field of medicine.
As a skilled medical malpractice attorney with decades of experience in Bloomington and the surrounding communities, I have a network of resources, including medical experts in various fields, to evaluate your medical records, the medical procedures performed, and the mistakes that caused you harm. These qualified experts can provide compelling testimony to help you win your medical malpractice case.
Meet Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Attorney at Law
Terry Dodds | Bloomington, Illinois
Terry Dodds is a Bloomington-Normal native who has practiced law since 2000. He earned his B.A. in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University and his J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Terry began his career as a public defender before entering private practice, where he gained extensive experience in personal injury, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, and criminal defense. He has handled both trial and appellate matters and is committed to protecting his clients’ rights and pursuing the results they deserve.
Bar Admissions
Illinois – Since 2001
Missouri – Since 2000
Education
J.D. – Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 2000
B.A. – Illinois State University, 1996
Publications
Equal Pay in College Coaching: A Summary of Recent Decisions
Recognition
Over 20 years of legal experience representing clients in personal injury, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, and criminal defense matters.
Professional Associations
McLean County Chamber of Commerce — Member since 2007 Illinois State Bar Association — Member since 2006 McLean County Bar Association — Member since 2005
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
Contact Dodds Law Office for a free consultation.
Who Can Patients Sue for Medical Malpractice in Illinois?
Any medical professional who makes a mistake while providing care to a patient, and in turn causes harm to a patient, can be sued for medical malpractice. The following are examples of healthcare professionals and medical providers who could be held accountable for medical malpractice or negligence if they deviated from the accepted standards of care.
- Nurses
- Physicians
- Physician assistants
- Surgeons
- Pharmacists
- Dentists
- Paramedics
- Anesthesiologists
Â
- Neurologists
- Psychiatrists
- Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Nursing homes
- Hospitals
- Medical clinics
- Surgical centers
See What Clients Say About Our Services
How Long Do You Have to File a Medical Malpractice Claim in Illinois?
There is a time limit for filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois. The state of Illinois has a statute of limitations of two years to file a medical malpractice suit, and the clock starts ticking on the date the patient discovered or should have reasonably discovered the injury. Even if the harm caused to a patient is not discoverable immediately, the patient is barred from suing a negligent doctor if more than four years passed from the date the medical mistake occurred.Â
Since exceptions may apply to the statute of limitations on your medical malpractice case, and your window to take legal action could be longer or shorter, be sure to talk to an attorney right away.Â
What Damages Are Available in a Medical Malpractice Claim in Illinois?
When pursuing a medical malpractice claim in Illinois, the plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages to cover the expenses they incurred and the suffering they experienced as a result of the healthcare provider’s negligence. Illinois law recognizes two types of compensatory damages in medical malpractice cases. They are:
- Economic Damages: Economic damages compensate the plaintiff for their medical bills, loss of income, diminished earning capacity, and other quantifiable costs and losses resulting from the defendant’s conduct.
- Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages are meant to compensate the plaintiff for the intangible harm they suffered, including emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and others.
Illinois law prohibits plaintiffs from recovering punitive damages in medical malpractice cases.
Other Serious Injury Cases We Handle in Bloomington, IL
You Deserve Answers About What Went Wrong
Hospitals and their insurers have teams working to protect them. You should have someone in your corner too. We work with medical experts to review your records, keep you informed at every step, and you do not pay unless we win.
Medical Malpractice Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Informed Consent?
Informed consent means that a medical provider must tell a patient of the possible benefits, risks, and treatment alternatives involved in any medical procedure, and they must obtain the patient’s written consent to proceed.
Can I Sue My Doctor if I Was Not Informed About the Risks of the Procedure?
While a doctor has the duty to inform the patient about any significant risks surrounding the procedure, they do not have to inform the patient of every imaginable risk. However, failing to tell a patient about a significant risk could result in liability if the patient suffers injuries in Illinois. A patient making a claim based on the lack of informed consent will need to show that a knowledgeable doctor would have disclosed the risk.
Are There Damage Caps in Medical Malpractice Claims in Illinois?
There are no damage caps for medical malpractice cases in Illinois. Although the state previously imposed damage caps on non-economic damages in cases involving medical negligence or malpractice, the Illinois Supreme Court found damage caps to be unconstitutional in 2010. Therefore, there is no longer a limit on the damages you can recover if you’re a victim of medical malpractice.
Get FREE Legal Advice from a Bloomington Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you suffered harm because of negligence on the part of a medical provider, contact me for a free consultation. You might be entitled to substantial compensation. As a knowledgeable and results-driven attorney at Dodds Law Office, PC, I will review your case for free, answer any questions you have, and guide you through filing your medical malpractice claim. I proudly serve clients in Bloomington, Peoria, Champaign, Urbana, Lincoln, Pekin, and Decatur, Illinois.
Bloomington Medical Malpractice Resources
If you believe you were injured because of medical negligence in Bloomington or McLean County, knowing where to obtain medical records, report concerns, and find appropriate medical care can be important. These local and Illinois resources may help you take the next steps.
Medical Care & Hospital Resources
OSF St. Joseph Medical Center
Address: 2200 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: (309) 662-3311
Website: Visit Website
Provides hospital services and emergency medical care for patients who need evaluation or treatment following an injury.
Healthcare Regulation & Complaints
Illinois Department of Public Health
Complaint Hotline: (800) 252-4343
Website: Visit Website
IDPH provides healthcare regulation information and accepts certain complaints involving regulated healthcare facilities and services.
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Phone: (888) 473-4858
Website: Visit Website
IDFPR regulates licensed healthcare professionals in Illinois and provides license lookup and professional complaint resources.
Physician Information & Licensing
IDFPR Physician Profile & License Resources
Website: Visit Website
Illinois residents can use state resources to review physician licensing information and access professional regulation resources.
Injured Because of Medical Negligence?
Contact Dodds Law Office, PC to discuss your potential medical malpractice case.
Our Bloomington, Illinois Office Location
Terry Dodd is amazing!! He recently represented my mother in a personal injury case and he went to great lengths(!) in his time, energy, attention, expense, etc to insure that she was adequately and professionally represented!! He went over and beyond for her case!! I am so very grateful for such trustworthy and qualified attorneys like Terry! I reside out of state and he truly lived up to the confidence I placed in him and his representation of my elderly mother. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Terry Dodd and his law firm to anyone seeking legal representation!!
