Unfortunately, sometimes medical care hurts more than it heals. A missed diagnosis. A surgery gone wrong. A medication error that never should have happened. These mistakes can change your life and leave you financially and physically struggling.
If you or a loved one is in this situation, you’re not alone, and you’re not without options. At Hodes Milman, we help individuals and families in Santa Ana who’ve been harmed by the very healthcare providers they trusted.
Medical malpractice cases are never easy. They take experience, resources, and a team that’s willing to fight hard and care deeply. With over 30 years of experience and more than $200 million recovered for our clients, we don’t let negligent hospitals or medical professionals off the hook.
Call us any day of the week at (949) 640-8222 or fill out our secure form for a free, confidential consultation to get answers to your questions about your potential medical malpractice case.
“In October 2020, we found ourselves in need of a law firm to represent us in a medical malpractice lawsuit. After interviewing four different law firms in Orange County, we settled on Hodes Milman. From the first Zoom meeting, we felt confident that they would give us the attention that this case needed. Kind and courteous with great attention to detail. Their team worked with us for months, and the end result was a settlement that exceeded our expectations and will help us live comfortably moving forward. We highly recommend them to represent you if you have a potential malpractice suit.”
– Lise S. | Client
A Closer Look at Medical Malpractice in Santa Ana
According to the National Practitioner Data Bank, in 2022, California led the nation with 5,313 medical malpractice reports, reflecting a significant concern for patient safety across the state. By 2023, this figure remained high, with 1,080 medical malpractice payments made, averaging $297,211 per case. Between 1990 and 2023, there were more than 55,000 medical malpractice payment reports in California alone.
The most common allegations in these cases were “Improper Performance” and “Failure to Treat,” highlighting areas where medical professionals’ actions, or inactions, have led to patient harm. Notably, physicians were responsible for approximately 70% of these claims. The second highest type of healthcare provider associated with malpractice claims in California is a dentist. Other cases involved nurses, pharmacists, anesthesiologists, and hospital systems as a whole.
Medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and cancer.
A Johns Hopkins study estimates over 250,000 Americans die each year due to medical mistakes, while some reports suggest the number could be as high as 440,000.
Cases Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer In Santa Ana Can Help You With
With decades of experience behind us, the team at Hodes Milman has seen nearly every kind of medical malpractice imaginable, standing beside countless clients through the toughest moments of their lives. From overlooked diagnoses to life-altering surgical errors, we know just how far the effects of medical negligence can reach.
We handle a wide range of malpractice cases in Santa Ana and throughout Southern California, including:
- Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis: Delayed or incorrect diagnoses that allow a condition to worsen or become untreatable.
- Surgical Errors: Mistakes during surgery, such as wrong-site operations, retained instruments, or internal damage.
- Medication Errors: Prescribing or administering the wrong drug, incorrect dosage, or ignoring dangerous interactions.
- Birth Injuries: Preventable harm to a baby or mother during labor or delivery, including oxygen deprivation or improper tool use. Birth injuries can result in life-changing conditions, including cerebral palsy.
- Anesthesia Mistakes: Errors in administering or monitoring anesthesia that can lead to brain damage, cardiac arrest, or death.
- Hospital-Acquired Infections: Infections caused by unsanitary conditions, poor hygiene, or improper sterilization of equipment.
- Nursing Home Negligence: Harm from neglect or abuse in long-term care settings, including untreated injuries or medication mistakes.
At Hodes Milman, we don’t pick and choose cases based on headlines or dollar signs. Whether your case is large or small, complex or straightforward, we apply the same level of care, resources, and determination because what matters most isn’t what we can get out of a case, but how we can help our community.
You’ve been through enough. Let a Santa Ana medical malpractice lawyer take care of the legal side so you can focus on your health. Call us today at (949) 640-8222 or fill out our online form for a free, no-obligation case review.
The Long-Term Impact of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice doesn’t just cause a momentary setback. Unlike minor medical mistakes that are easily corrected, serious negligence often leaves behind permanent injuries, ongoing complications, and emotional wounds that don’t heal with time.
At Hodes Milman, we’ve worked with clients across Santa Ana and Southern California who have to wake up every day and live with the consequences of errors that never should have happened.
If you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice, you may struggle with:
- Worsened illnesses or untreated conditions that were missed or mishandled
- Chronic pain or nerve damage that can make everyday tasks unbearable
- Reduced mobility or partial paralysis following surgical or spinal errors
- Organ damage or loss of function due to delayed treatment or misdiagnosis
- Infections, sepsis, or shock from unsanitary conditions or surgical complications
- Permanent disability requiring assistive devices, rehabilitation, or home care
- Brain damage, especially from anesthesia errors or lack of oxygen
- Amputations or other life-altering procedures that could have been avoided
- Severe anxiety when seeking future medical care
- Post-traumatic stress symptoms, especially in cases involving emergency interventions or traumatic birth injuries
- Depression due to reduced independence or lifestyle changes
And for families who have lost a loved one because of a preventable medical error, the effects are immeasurable. Immense feelings of grief and guilt can linger for years.
When Medical Negligence Leads to Catastrophic Harm
Matt Andreef’s routine surgery led to a catastrophic stroke due to medical miscommunication and poor decisions. In this video, we show how our team proved negligence and secured 36 hours of daily care and financial support for the rest of his life.
Why Medical Malpractice Happens
Most medical professionals want to do right by their patients, but even good intentions can’t make up for dangerous working conditions or poor systems. Many medical errors are the result of a combination of preventable issues.
Some of the most common contributing factors include:
- Overworked Medical Staff
- Understaffing
- Lack of Proper Training or Experience
- Communication Breakdowns
- Inadequate Hospital Protocols
- Failing to Review Patient History
- Fatigue and Burnout Among Providers
A Closer Look at Complex Medical Malpractice Cases With Dan Hodes
Hodes Milman managing partner Dan Hodes discusses what it takes to win high-stakes medical malpractice cases. With decades of courtroom experience and recent results like a $17.25 million arbitration award against Kaiser, Dan shares insights into how complex cases are built and why trial experience matters.
How a Medical Malpractice Attorney In Santa Ana Makes a Difference In Your Case
Medical malpractice cases are legally challenging and emotionally taxing. You’re up against powerful hospitals and insurance companies that are trained to deny fault, minimize your suffering, and delay action.
Having an experienced Santa Ana medical malpractice lawyer on your side levels the playing field and gives you the strongest possible chance at justice. Here’s what we do that most individuals simply can’t take on alone:
- Conduct a Full Investigation: We obtain your full medical records from every treating facility and provider, identify gaps or inconsistencies in your care, and review internal hospital protocols that may signal negligence.
- Work With Trusted Medical Experts: Our team collaborates with board-certified physicians and surgeons in relevant specialties, such as neurology, obstetrics, or anesthesiology, who can clearly explain how your care fell below accepted standards and how that caused your injury.
- Challenge Insurance Company Tactics: Insurers often try to undervalue medical malpractice claims or deny them outright. We build a medically and legally sound case that withstands scrutiny and negotiate aggressively to demand full compensation for your losses.
- Litigate When Necessary: If a fair settlement isn’t possible, we prepare your case for trial. Our attorneys have decades of courtroom experience and are fully prepared to present your case to a jury with clarity and impact.
When you enlist the help of a lawyer, you gain more than peace of mind. You also secure a better chance at compensation, as shown by a Martindale-Nolo study, which found that over 90% of people who hired a personal injury lawyer received compensation, compared to just about half who went it alone.
Why Hire Hodes Milman
For over 30 years, Hodes Milman has supported individuals and families in Santa Ana and throughout Southern California, picking up the pieces when medical systems fail the people they’re meant to protect.
We’ve seen firsthand how a single medical mistake can leave a person in a coma, a family shattered, or a future permanently altered. That’s why we stop at nothing to get the compensation our clients need to secure a more stable future. Our successful track record includes:
- $4,000,000 Settlement in Insufficient Emergency Room Diagnosis Leaves 30-Year-Old Woman in a Vegetative State: The ER misdiagnosed blurry vision and headaches as anxiety and hyperventilation. After being found unconscious days later, critical delays in care led to irreversible brain damage.
- Settlement of $4,000,000 in Discontinuation of Antibiotic Medication Puts Woman in Irreversible Coma: A 49-year-old undergoing chemotherapy was taken off antibiotics prematurely, resulting in fever relapse and coma.
Call us today at (949) 640-8222 or fill out our quick online form for a free, confidential consultation. There’s no cost, no obligation, and only a chance to learn what a Santa Ana medical malpractice attorney can do for you.
Santa Ana Medical Malpractice Lawsuit FAQs
How Long Do I Have to File a Medical Malpractice Claim in Santa Ana?
In most cases, California law gives you three years from the date the injury occurred, or one year from the date you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the injury, whichever comes first. You are also required to give a 90-day advance notice of your intent to sue before officially filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Waiting too long could limit your legal options or prevent you from filing altogether. If you think something went wrong with your care, it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney early on, so you don’t miss the statute of limitations in your case.
What Compensation Is Available in a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
Compensation can include payment for past and future medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning ability, pain and suffering, and long-term care costs. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may also recover funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney In Santa Ana?
At Hodes Milman, you don’t pay anything upfront. We handle medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we win your case.
You’ve already been burdened by a medical system that failed you. The last thing you need is another expense. Our goal is to lift that weight, not add to it.
What Is My Santa Ana Medical Malpractice Case Worth?
Your case value depends on the extent of the injury and how it has changed your life. Things like whether the damage is permanent, how your daily life or work has been affected, and the strength of the evidence will all influence the final outcome.
ABOUT HODES MILMAN
Hodes Milman has won $200 million and has over 30 years of experience securing justice for victims of negligence. We are proud to call our clients family and offer them the resourceful, committed and accessible legal advocacy they deserve.
HONORS & AWARDS
MEET THE ATTORNEYS
When you work with us, you’ll see the difference. A lot of firms are quick to show you numbers, and it is absolutely true that your lawyer should have experience and a strong track record in the area that you require. However, we’ll take it one step further. We also believe that your attorney should put your needs, cares and desires first. Because you deserve more than just compensation for your losses - you deserve a true advocate.
