Not Sure If What Happened Was Malpractice? Get a Straight Answer.

Medical Errors That May Give Rise to a Claim

Medical malpractice can occur across many types of care and many settings. The case types that most commonly generate viable claims in Illinois include:

• Surgical errors — wrong-site surgery, retained instruments, nerve damage, or avoidable complications during a procedure
• Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis — a failure to identify cancer, a heart attack, a stroke, or another serious condition in time to prevent harm
• Medication errors — prescribing the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or failing to account for dangerous drug interactions
• Anesthesia errors — administering too much or too little anesthesia, or failing to monitor the patient properly during a procedure
• Birth injuries — harm to a mother or newborn caused by negligence during labor, delivery, or prenatal care
• Failure to treat — discharging a patient too early, ignoring symptoms, or failing to order necessary follow-up care

If something went wrong during your medical care and you're not sure whether it rises to the level of malpractice, call me. I'll give you a direct answer based on the facts.

Illinois's Statute of Limitations — Don't Assume It's Too Late

Most people who contact me about a potential malpractice case believe they've already missed their window. Often, they haven't. Illinois sets a two-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims, but the clock doesn't always start on the day of the procedure or treatment. Under the discovery rule, the two-year period typically begins when you knew — or reasonably should have known — that negligence caused your injury. For many patients, that moment comes months or even years after the original event.

There are also specific rules that apply to cases involving minors and to situations where a foreign object was left inside the body. These can extend the filing window further. The only way to know for certain whether your claim is still viable is to speak with an attorney. Call me before assuming the answer is no.

My Referral Isn't a Handoff

When a medical malpractice case is ready to move forward, I refer it to a specialist — but that referral is not a cold transfer. Over 16 years of practicing in Chicago and the Fox Valley, I've built professional relationships with the attorneys who handle these cases at the highest level. When I connect you with a specialist, I'm connecting you with the right person for your specific situation, and I stay involved to make sure that happens.

You'll Speak with Me Directly

From the first call through the referral, you deal with me — not a receptionist, not a paralegal, not a call center. I answer my own phone, I conduct consultations personally, and I explain what's happening in plain language. If you prefer to speak in Spanish, we handle everything in Spanish. That's not a service I offer — it's how I practice.

16 Years of Experience, Starting With the Right Evaluation

I spent 12 years at prominent Chicago workers' compensation and personal injury firms before founding Salgado Injury Law. That background means I know how to evaluate a potential malpractice case carefully — what facts matter, what documentation to gather, and what a specialist will need to assess the claim. The evaluation I give you is the foundation the rest of the case is built on.