When a healthcare provider fails to deliver the standard of care expected in their profession, patients suffer serious injuries and life-altering consequences. If you or a loved one experienced harm due to medical negligence in Riverside, you deserve an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Riverside. Our legal team understands both the medical and legal aspects of your case. Dordick Law Corporation represents injured patients throughout Riverside County. We hold healthcare providers accountable for their negligent actions.
Why Choose Dordick Law Corporation for Your Medical Malpractice Case?
Dordick Law Corporation brings experience and resources to complex medical malpractice claims. We understand that medical negligence cases require specialized knowledge of both medicine and law. Access to expert witnesses and investigators is also essential. Our team has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for injured patients.
We represent clients on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs. We only recover a fee if we successfully resolve your case through settlement or verdict. This arrangement ensures that financial constraints don’t prevent you from pursuing justice. Learn more about our free consultation process and how we can help.
We offer a free consultation to evaluate your case. During this consultation, we review your medical records. We discuss what happened and explain your legal options. This initial assessment helps you understand whether you have a viable claim. You’ll learn what to expect moving forward. Our attorneys have handled catastrophic injury cases involving serious medical errors.
Our team accesses medical experts and investigators. They thoroughly examine your case. We retain physicians, surgeons, and other specialists. They review your medical records and identify deviations from standard care. They provide expert testimony supporting your claim. Investigators gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a strong factual foundation. This comprehensive approach has helped us secure substantial case results for our clients.
We focus on Riverside County cases. This gives us deep familiarity with local hospitals, healthcare providers, and the medical community. This local knowledge proves valuable in building credible cases. It helps us negotiate with insurance companies and defense counsel. Our Riverside personal injury lawyers have successfully recovered millions for injured patients throughout the region.
We remain committed to holding medical providers accountable. Healthcare providers have a responsibility to their patients. When they breach that responsibility through negligence, they must answer for the harm they cause. We pursue aggressive representation. We ensure injured patients receive fair compensation. If you’ve experienced a wrongful death due to medical negligence, we can help your family seek justice.
What Is Medical Malpractice in Riverside?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide the standard of care expected in their field. This includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, hospitals, and other medical professionals. The failure results in patient injury. If you’ve suffered harm, our medical malpractice attorney in Riverside can evaluate your case.
In California, medical malpractice claims require proof of four essential elements. First, the healthcare provider owed you a duty of care. Second, they breached that duty through negligent or reckless conduct. Third, their breach directly caused your injury. Fourth, you suffered damages as a result. Understanding these elements is crucial to building a strong claim.
The “standard of care” represents what a reasonably competent healthcare provider would do under similar circumstances. This standard varies depending on the type of medical professional, their specialty, and the specific situation. For example, a surgeon’s standard of care differs from that of a general practitioner. California courts recognize that medical professionals must exercise the degree of skill, knowledge, and care ordinarily possessed and exercised by members of their profession under similar circumstances.
Many people confuse medical malpractice with medical negligence. Medical negligence refers to any deviation from proper medical care. Medical malpractice specifically involves negligence that causes injury and meets the legal threshold for a lawsuit. Not every medical error constitutes malpractice. The error must breach the standard of care and directly cause compensable harm. Our Southern California personal injury lawyers have extensive experience distinguishing between these critical legal concepts.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle
Medical malpractice takes many forms across different medical specialties and healthcare settings. Understanding the types of cases we handle helps patients recognize whether their situation may warrant legal action. Our Riverside attorneys have successfully litigated cases involving traumatic brain injuries and other serious medical errors.
- Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis represent some of the most common medical malpractice claims. When a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a condition, diagnoses it incorrectly, or delays diagnosis without reasonable justification, patients may miss critical treatment windows. Conditions like cancer, heart disease, infections, and stroke require timely diagnosis to prevent serious complications or death.
- Surgical errors occur during operating room procedures. These include wrong-site surgery, operating on the wrong patient, leaving surgical instruments inside the body, damaging surrounding organs or tissues, or performing unnecessary procedures. These errors cause immediate, severe harm requiring additional surgeries and extended recovery. Surgical error cases demand immediate legal attention to preserve evidence.
- Medication errors happen when healthcare providers prescribe incorrect medications, wrong dosages, or medications that interact dangerously with a patient’s existing prescriptions. Pharmacy errors in filling prescriptions or administering medications also fall into this category. These preventable mistakes can cause serious harm or death.
- Anesthesia errors during surgery can result in inadequate pain management, overdose, underdose, or failure to monitor vital signs properly. Anesthesia complications can cause brain damage, organ failure, or death. These specialized cases require expert testimony from anesthesiologists.
- Birth injuries and obstetric malpractice involve negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Failure to monitor fetal heart rate, delayed cesarean section, improper use of delivery instruments, or failure to identify maternal complications can cause permanent injuries to newborns or mothers. Birth injury cases require specialized legal expertise to establish liability and recover damages for lifelong care needs. Fetal hypoxia is one of the most serious birth injuries we handle.
How Medical Malpractice Claims Work in California
California imposes specific procedural requirements and timelines for medical malpractice claims. These differ from other personal injury lawsuits. Understanding these requirements protects your legal rights. Our Southern California employment and personal injury attorneys understand the nuances of California law.
- Statute of Limitations in California requires you to file a medical malpractice lawsuit within one year from the date you discovered the injury. Alternatively, you have three years from the date the injury occurred—whichever comes first. This discovery rule means the clock may start later if you didn’t immediately realize the healthcare provider caused your injury. Missing this deadline typically bars your claim permanently. Prompt legal consultation is critical. Don’t delay—contact our Riverside office today.
- Expert Witness Testimony is mandatory in California medical malpractice cases. You must present expert testimony establishing that the defendant breached the standard of care. The testimony must also show that this breach caused your injury. The expert must practice in the same medical field or a closely related field as the defendant. Dordick Law Corporation works with experienced medical experts. They thoroughly review your case and provide credible testimony.
- Damages Caps Under MICRA (Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act) limit non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. As of 2025, the cap is $430,000 for non-fatal injuries and $600,000 for wrongful death cases. These caps increase by $40,000 annually for non-fatal cases and $50,000 annually for wrongful death cases through 2033. After 2033, they adjust annually for inflation. This cap applies to pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Economic damages—medical bills, lost wages, and future care costs—are not capped. They can reach substantial amounts in serious injury cases.
What Damages Can You Recover?
Medical malpractice damages compensate you for losses resulting from the healthcare provider’s negligence. California recognizes two categories of damages. Understanding what you can recover helps you evaluate your case’s value.
- Economic damages include all quantifiable financial losses. These cover past and future medical treatment costs, surgical procedures, rehabilitation, medications, medical equipment, lost wages during recovery, reduced earning capacity if the injury prevents you from working, and costs for in-home care or nursing services. We calculate these damages based on actual expenses and expert projections of future needs. Our case results demonstrate the substantial economic recoveries we’ve secured.
- Non-economic damages compensate for subjective losses that don’t have a specific dollar amount. These include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. Loss of consortium refers to the impact on your relationship with your spouse. California caps non-economic damages at $430,000 for non-fatal injuries and $600,000 for wrongful death cases under MICRA. Annual increases apply through 2033, with inflation adjustments thereafter.
- Punitive damages are rarely awarded in medical malpractice cases. They require proof that the healthcare provider acted with fraud, malice, or oppression. This is a much higher standard than simple negligence. When awarded, punitive damages punish egregious conduct and deter similar behavior. Our medical malpractice verdicts and settlements showcase our ability to secure maximum compensation for injured patients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice in Riverside
What is the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice claim in California?
California law provides a one-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered the injury. Alternatively, you have three years from the date the injury occurred, whichever comes first. This discovery rule recognizes that patients may not immediately realize a healthcare provider caused their injury. However, don’t delay. Contact an attorney promptly to ensure your claim is filed within these critical deadlines. Our Riverside personal injury team can help you meet these important deadlines.
Do I need an expert witness for my medical malpractice case?
Yes. California requires expert testimony in medical malpractice cases. The testimony must establish that the defendant breached the standard of care. It must also show that this breach caused your injury. The expert must be a qualified healthcare provider in the same or related medical field. Dordick Law Corporation works with experienced medical experts. They provide credible, persuasive testimony. Our network of medical professionals strengthens every case we handle.
What is the MICRA cap and how does it affect my case?
The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) caps non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. As of 2025, the cap is $430,000 for non-fatal injuries and $600,000 for wrongful death cases. These caps increase annually ($40,000 for non-fatal, $50,000 for wrongful death) through 2033. Then they adjust for inflation. This means your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are limited to these amounts. The limitation applies regardless of severity. However, economic damages—medical bills, lost wages, and future care costs—are not capped. They can be substantial in serious injury cases.
How much does it cost to hire a medical malpractice attorney?
Dordick Law Corporation represents clients on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs. We only recover a fee if we successfully resolve your case. This arrangement removes financial barriers. It aligns our interests with yours. We’re motivated to maximize your recovery. Learn more about our free consultation process.
What types of medical professionals can be held liable for malpractice?
Any healthcare provider can be held liable for medical malpractice. This includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, dentists, mental health professionals, hospitals, and other medical facilities. Liability extends to anyone who owes you a duty of care. They must breach that duty through negligent conduct. Our attorneys have successfully held various healthcare providers accountable.
How long does a medical malpractice case typically take?
Medical malpractice cases vary in duration depending on complexity. The number of parties involved and whether settlement negotiations succeed also matter. Most cases take two to five years from filing to resolution. Some settle within months. Others require years of litigation. Dordick Law Corporation keeps you informed throughout the process. We work efficiently to resolve your case. Our track record speaks to our litigation success.
Get Your Free Medical Malpractice Consultation Today
Medical malpractice causes devastating injuries that disrupt lives, drain finances, and create lasting physical and emotional pain. You shouldn’t face this burden alone. Dordick Law Corporation has helped injured patients throughout Riverside County. We recover compensation for medical negligence. We hold healthcare providers accountable.
If you or a loved one suffered injury due to medical negligence, don’t wait. California’s statute of limitations means you have limited time to pursue your claim. Contact Dordick Law Corporation today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case and explain your legal options. Our attorneys answer your questions—all at no cost to you. Our Riverside office is ready to help.
Call (310) 341-7176 to schedule your free consultation. Our firm represents clients on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Let Dordick Law Corporation fight for the compensation you deserve.
