Illinois Dental Malpractice Attorneys

When dental malpractice occurs, the consequences for patients can be severe. Patients may suffer serious traumatic brain injuries or paralysis that can affect them and their families for the rest of their lives. The harm may require surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, job retraining, therapy, and assisted-living or nursing home care. If the patients carry no dental insurance or only limited coverage, the expenses can quickly overwhelm them.

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we understand the pain and stress that dental malpractice brings into people’s lives. If your loved one has suffered an anesthesia-related brain injury, facial paralysis, or other catastrophic injuries due to the negligence of a dental professional, we want to help your family seek the justice and compensation you deserve.

Our respected medical malpractice attorneys work hard to achieve results for our clients. Our record includes more than 350 cases with verdicts or settlements of $1 million or more. We are ready to put that experience to work for you.

Since 1982, our skilled and compassionate personal injury lawyers have protected the rights of dental malpractice victims and their families in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Our law firm focuses specifically on catastrophic dental malpractice claims involving traumatic brain injury after anesthesia, facial paralysis due to nerve damage, and surgical errors leading to life-threatening injuries.

Get directions to our Chicago Dental Malpractice Law Firm

To learn more, contact us today and receive a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your catastrophic dental injury case.

DO YOU HAVE A DENTAL MALPRACTICE CASE?

Do you believe that you or a family member suffered a life-altering brain injury or other catastrophic injury due to an anesthesia or surgical error by a dental professional? An attorney from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. who has experience with medical negligence cases will carefully review what has happened to you and the extent of the harm suffered. Our lawyers will focus on whether the facts in your case meet the basic elements of a dental injury claim in Illinois, as well as whether the severity of your injuries require our firm’s intervention. The main questions will be:

• Did the dental professional breach the acceptable standard of care? In other words, did the dental professional fail to use the knowledge, skill, and care that a reasonably careful dental professional would have used under the same or similar circumstances? Your lawyer will consider the dental professional’s location. The attorney also will focus on whether the professional was a general dentist, dental hygienist, specialist (such as an orthodontist or periodontist), or oral surgeon.
• Did the dental professional’s breach of the acceptable standard of care cause the patient to suffer extreme harm? For example, a patient may suffer a brain injury that robs them of their ability to communicate or function in the most basic manners. Our firm is committed to taking only the toughest dental malpractice cases involving brain injury and paralysis because we know we have the experience and resources to fight for these patients.

Our law firm has more than 40 years of experience with investigating medical negligence cases in Illinois. We know how to thoroughly investigate your case and assess whether you have a dental malpractice claim. For instance, we may:

• Interview and obtain statements from witnesses
• Request and review your dental and other medical records
• Examine the dental equipment and anesthesia medication involved in your case

Additionally, our firm will consult with one or more other dental anesthesia professionals and surgeons about your case. A dental expert can help us to understand the acceptable standard of care in your case. An expert can also help us to determine whether the health care professional failed to meet that standard when the professional examined and/or treated you.

After we conclude our initial investigation, we will provide an open and honest assessment of your case, explain the legal options that may or may not be available to you, and discuss what you can expect as you move forward.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF BRAIN INJURY CAUSED BY DENTAL NEGLIGENCE?

As our attorneys have seen, dental anesthesia errors can cause devastating harm to patients and have an impact on the lives of their loved ones as well. Some of the signs of brain injury caused by anesthesia include:

A traumatic brain injury caused by dental malpractice can affect your overall physical and mental health. Indeed, many people who suffer from a TBI never fully recover from their injury and must learn to cope with a new way of life.

WHAT COMPENSATION CAN YOU RECOVER IN A DENTAL MALPRACTICE CLAIM?

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., our lawyers will pursue full compensation for the injuries and losses that a negligent dental professional has caused you to suffer. We will thoroughly investigate your case and consult with experts to determine the amount of damages that you should pursue. Those damages could include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost past and future income
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Mental anguish
• Loss of quality of life
• Wrongful death damages (if you have lost a loved one)

A statute caps the amount of non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering) that a patient can recover in a medical malpractice claim in Illinois. However, the Illinois Supreme Court has declared that cap to be unconstitutional.

Our attorneys know how to develop solid cases for settlement negotiations. Our approach allows us to frequently resolve cases for our clients without the need to take a case to trial. We will demand the maximum amount for you and your family, and we will advise you concerning any settlement offers that you receive. At all times, our highly skilled trial lawyers will be prepared to fight for you in the courtroom. (Please see our record of results on behalf of our medical malpractice clients and learn more about the many types of cases we have handled.)

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE TO FILE A DENTAL NEGLIGENCE CLAIM IN ILLINOIS?

Illinois law limits the period of time you have to bring a medical malpractice claim such as a dental negligence lawsuit. This is called the “statute of limitations.”

Generally, you must file a claim within two years from the date of discovery, or the date when you knew or reasonably should have known that a negligent act or omission occurred. In no case can you file a dental malpractice claim more than four years after the date that the malpractice occurred. Exceptions apply to those who were under age 18 or suffered from a legal disability at the time of the injury.

If you pursue a wrongful death claim based on dental negligence, you must bring the claim within two years from the date of your loved one’s death.

Like any medical malpractice case, a dental malpractice claim involves a great deal of investigation and research as well as consultation with qualified experts. Your lawyer will need time to go through that process. If you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered severe harm due to the negligence of a dentist or other dental professional, please get in touch with Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. right away.

CONTACT OUR ILLINOIS DENTAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEYS

If you are ready to learn about your legal options, contact our experienced and compassionate dental malpractice attorneys to discuss your case. You can reach us by phone or through our online form.

We will charge nothing for your consultation. Additionally, at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we will charge you no fees unless we secure a settlement or verdict on your behalf.  Our law firm features offices in Chicago and Waukegan and represents clients throughout Illinois. Don’t wait to get help. Connect with us today!