Indianapolis Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Trusted Indianapolis medical malpractice lawyers with over 50 years of combined experience.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider in Indianapolis, you may be facing a long recovery, mounting medical bills to fix the original mistake, and other issues. These cases are difficult, technical, and tightly regulated by Indiana law. At Pavlack Law, LLC, our Indianapolis, IN medical malpractice lawyer team has been representing injured patients for decades, and we take these cases on contingency, meaning no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Schedule a free consultation today.

Medical Malpractice Lawyer Indianapolis, IN

Our Indianapolis medical malpractice lawyer represents patients harmed by negligent care from physicians, surgeons, hospitals, nurses, and other healthcare providers. These claims are not ordinary negligence cases. Indiana has a separate statutory scheme for medical malpractice that includes a Medical Review Panel process, damage caps, and procedural requirements that do not apply to a typical car accident or slip and fall claim.

Our team understands how to work within that system, how to retain the right medical experts, and how to translate confusing clinical records into a clear story a jury can follow. Without that experience, even strong cases can be lost on procedural grounds before the merits are ever heard.

Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle in Indianapolis

We have represented patients and families in a wide range of medical negligence claims. Each case begins with a careful review of the medical records by qualified experts, because not every bad outcome is malpractice and not every malpractice case is winnable. The cases below are the kinds of medical malpractice matters our Indianapolis attorneys handle most often.

• Surgical errors and wrong-site surgeries. These include retained foreign objects, operations on the wrong body part, anesthesia errors, and post-surgical complications caused by negligent technique. We work with surgical experts to identify deviations from the standard of care.
• Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis. Cancer, stroke, heart attack, and infection cases often turn on what a reasonable physician should have ordered or recognized. Delays in diagnosis can transform a treatable condition into a fatal one.
• Birth injuries and obstetric negligence. Birth injuries involving hypoxia, shoulder dystocia, improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors, and failure to perform a timely C-section can result in lifelong disability.
• Medication and pharmacy errors. Wrong drug, wrong dose, dangerous interactions, and pharmacy mislabeling all fall under this category. We pursue medication errors against hospitals, prescribing physicians, and pharmacies, depending on where the breakdown occurred.
• Hospital negligence and nursing errors. Falls, pressure ulcers, hospital-acquired infections, and failures to monitor patients are often the result of understaffing or inadequate protocols rather than a single bad provider.
• Emergency room malpractice. ER physicians work under pressure, but that does not excuse failure to recognize life-threatening conditions, premature discharge, or inadequate workups for chest pain and stroke symptoms.
• Anesthesia errors. Improper dosing, failure to monitor vital signs during surgery, and intubation injuries can produce catastrophic neurological harm in a matter of minutes.
• Failure to obtain informed consent. Patients have the right to understand the risks of a procedure before agreeing to it. When a provider proceeds without that disclosure, liability may follow even if the procedure itself was performed correctly.
• Nursing home abuse and neglect. Many nursing home claims overlap with medical malpractice when residents are harmed by inadequate medical care, medication errors, or untreated infections.
• Wrongful death. When malpractice proves fatal, the family may pursue a wrongful death claim alongside the malpractice case.

We also handle malpractice claims that overlap with brain injury and catastrophic injury cases, where the negligent care produces lifelong consequences requiring detailed life care planning.

Why Choose Pavlack Law, LLC for Medical Malpractice in Indianapolis, IN?

Local Knowledge and a Background in the Medical Sciences

Founder Eric Pavlack has practiced law in Indiana since 1999. He earned his B.S. in Biology and his J.D. from Indiana University, and he is admitted to practice in Indiana state courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Eric has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year from 2015 through 2025.

Colin Flora and Lance Ladendorf also handle medical malpractice cases for our firm. The three of us bring roughly 50 years of combined practice experience to every claim.

Proven Results

We have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients across Indiana, including settlements in cases involving medical malpractice, surgical negligence, and fatal hospital errors. Our Indianapolis medical malpractice lawyer focuses on the people we represent rather than on case volume. Eric is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice.

Indianapolis Medical Malpractice Infographic

Understanding Medical Malpractice Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation in Medical Malpractice Cases

Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule for most negligence claims, although medical malpractice cases are governed by their own statutory framework that includes a cap on total recovery and a Patient’s Compensation Fund that pays out portions of larger awards. To prove liability, the patient must establish that the provider deviated from the accepted standard of care and that the deviation caused the injury.

Damages in a medical malpractice case typically include the following categories:

• Past and future medical expenses, including corrective treatment
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering and emotional distress
• Permanent impairment, scarring, or disfigurement
• Loss of consortium for a spouse or family member
• Cost of long-term care and assistive services in catastrophic cases

Liability often extends beyond the individual provider. Hospitals can be liable for the conduct of employees and, in some circumstances, for the conduct of independent contractors who appear to be hospital staff.

Important Aspects of Your Medical Malpractice Case

Medical malpractice claims rise or fall on the medical evidence, and the early steps in a case often determine whether it can move forward at all.

• Complete certified medical records from every involved provider
• Expert review by a qualified physician in the relevant specialty
• The Indiana Medical Review Panel process, which is required before most cases can proceed to court
• A clear timeline of treatment and the moment the standard of care was breached
• Documentation of the harm caused, including additional procedures, complications, and long-term effects

Because of the difference between medical negligence and bad outcomes, our Indianapolis medical malpractice attorneys carefully evaluate each case before filing.

Medical Malpractice Case Timeline

Medical malpractice cases generally take longer than other injury matters because of the Medical Review Panel requirement and the complexity of expert review. A rough timeline looks like this:

• Initial case evaluation and gathering of medical records during the first several months
• Submission of the proposed complaint to the Indiana Department of Insurance
• Medical Review Panel review, which can take a year or more
• Filing the lawsuit in court following the Panel’s opinion
• Written and deposition discovery, expert disclosures, and motion practice
• Mediation, settlement discussions, or trial

Some cases resolve at the Panel stage. Others continue through full litigation and trial.

What to Bring to Your Medical Malpractice Consultation

Bring whatever you have, and we will help you obtain the rest.

• Names of all providers involved and the dates of treatment
• Any medical records, discharge summaries, or test results in your possession
• A written timeline of what happened, in your own words
• Insurance information and any correspondence from providers or hospitals
• Names of family members or others who witnessed the care or its aftermath

The consultation typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes. We will walk through what happened, explain how Indiana medical malpractice law applies, and answer your questions. There is no obligation to hire us afterward.

Indiana Legal Resources for Medical Malpractice

The references below are starting points if you would like to look up Indiana law on your own. They are general resources rather than legal advice on your specific situation.

• The Indiana statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years, set forth at Indiana Code 34-11-2-4.
• Indiana’s modified comparative fault statute appears in the Indiana Comparative Fault Act.
• The Indiana Wrongful Death Act governs damages when medical negligence proves fatal.
• The Indiana Medical Malpractice Act sets out the Medical Review Panel process and damages framework for malpractice cases.

Reach Out to Pavlack Law, LLC to Schedule a Consultation

If you believe you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence in Indianapolis, our legal team is ready to take your call and listen to your story. The consultation is free, and we do not collect a fee unless we recover compensation for you. We will explain how Indiana law applies to your situation, what records we would need to evaluate the case, and the realistic value of your claim. Contact our team today to schedule a consultation with our Indianapolis medical malpractice lawyer.