Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Richmond, Virginia
When a healthcare provider’s mistake causes serious harm, the consequences can be devastating and permanent. You need attorneys who understand both the medicine and the law and who have taken these cases to trial and won.
Medical malpractice happens when a doctor, nurse, hospital, or other healthcare provider fails to meet accepted standards of care and causes serious injury or death. These cases involve complex medical evidence, strict legal deadlines, and damage caps that require careful navigation. If you’ve been harmed by medical negligence in Virginia, understanding your rights and the legal process is the first step toward recovering compensation for your losses.
Immediately After A Medical Issue
What To Do After a Medical Harm
- Be honest about what happened. We need the full picture, good facts and bad, to assess whether you have a viable case.
- Get the medical care you need. Your health comes first. Follow up with specialists if your condition requires ongoing treatment or corrective procedures.
- Keep detailed records. Save all medical bills, records, discharge instructions, and notes about symptoms or complications. Document conversations with healthcare providers.
- Don’t sign anything from the hospital or insurer. Settlement offers or release forms may limit your rights. Review them with an attorney first.
- Request your complete medical records. You’re entitled to copies. These will be essential for any legal evaluation.
- Contact an attorney before Virginia’s two-year deadline passes. Medical malpractice claims have strict time limits. Waiting too long can mean losing your right to compensation entirely.
below the surface
Why Medical Malpractice Cases Are Complex
Medical malpractice cases are among the most difficult in personal injury law. A bad outcome doesn’t prove negligence. We have to show that the provider’s care fell below accepted medical standards and directly caused harm that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise.
That requires expert testimony from credible physicians in the same specialty. We work with doctors who can review records, identify where care went wrong, and explain it clearly to a jury. Finding and retaining the right experts takes time and significant upfront investment. Many firms won’t take that risk.
Complex SOL rules cannot be distilled into a couple of sentences. The continuing treatment rule may extend SOLs but only under certain circumstances.
Insurance companies and hospital systems know these rules. They have experienced defense lawyers and their own medical experts. They’re counting on you not knowing what your case is worth or how to prove it. That’s why you need attorneys who’ve been in the courtroom, faced those experts, and secured real results for clients with catastrophic injuries.
Trial Experience Makes the Difference
Why Hire Lantz & Robins for Medical Malpractice Cases
We’ve tried these cases. Michael Lantz and Randolph Robins have spent months in front of juries handling medical malpractice and catastrophic injury claims. We’ve cross-examined defense experts, presented complex medical evidence, and secured verdicts and settlements in cases other firms declined, including:
- A $1.5 million jury verdict for a woman who lost her fertility after post-surgical negligence
- A $2.1 million settlement in an anesthesia death case another firm had turned down
- A $1.65 million settlement for a patient who developed short gut syndrome after a surgeon ignored signs of bowel injury
We select cases carefully. Medical malpractice litigation is expensive. We only pursue cases where the negligence is clear, the harm is serious, and we believe we can make a meaningful difference. If we can’t help you, we’ll tell you directly and explain why. That honesty is part of how we earn trust.
We invest in our cases. We work with board-certified physicians and specialists who can review records, identify standard-of-care violations, and testify credibly. We’ve handled cases involving obstetric emergencies, surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes, delayed diagnosis, nursing home neglect, and hospital-acquired infections. We know how to build the evidence needed to prove these claims.
We don’t run a volume practice. We limit our caseload so we can give each case the attention it requires. That means spending time with clients in hospitals, at home, and through long recoveries. It means being available when you have questions and keeping you informed about what’s happening and why.
Defense lawyers and insurers know our reputation. When they see our names on a case, they know we’re prepared to go to trial. That changes how they approach settlement negotiations. We’ve earned respect in Virginia’s legal community by doing the work and getting results.
Common types of medical malpractice cases
- Failure to diagnose cancer, stroke, heart attack, or other serious conditions
- Misdiagnosis leading to wrong or delayed treatment
- Surgical errors, including wrong-site surgery or damage to surrounding structures
- Hospital errors or negligence, including anesthesia errors causing brain injury or death
- Medication errors (wrong drug, wrong dosage, or failure to check for interactions)
- Birth injuries to mothers or babies during labor and delivery
- Hospital-acquired infections due to unsanitary conditions or protocol failures
- Emergency room errors and delayed treatment
- Post-operative complications ignored or mismanaged
Have Questions About Your Case?
We handle cases across central Virginia. If you’ve been seriously injured and need an honest evaluation, we’re here to help.
Call (804) 404-7870 or contact us for a free consultation.
Our Prior Case Results
*Past results are representative and do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases.
What Our Clients Say
“After being involved in an automobile accident I had a decision to make. One of the best decisions I made was contacting Michael Lantz @ Lantz & Robins, PC. Mr. Lantz’s first priority was my health. He patiently walked me through the legal process and explained the process in layman terms. I highly recommend Mr. Lantz if you have been injured. You will find that he and Ms. Rita are attentive, compassionate and experienced in this field.”
Darryl R.
“Moving through the process of finding some sort of justice for my mother after her passing was one of the most difficult things that I have ever had to do. Lantz & Robins stood behind me and my family and fought for that justice. Mr. Lantz and his team truly care! If you are looking for a law firm that will stand behind you, and understand your concerns, this is the firm to call.”
–Sherrie D.
“Mr. Lantz and Mr. Robins along with their entire staff were dedicated to my case. I would highly recommend anyone needing legal advice or legal representation for malpractice suits. Your professional team helped my husband and I gain respect for the way you handled my husband’s malpractice suit. We all know very well that we would never have gotten the results we did without a good law firm.”
–Troy & Cindi J.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a medical malpractice claim in Virginia?
Virginia gives you two years from the date the negligence occurred. The clock starts on the date of the injury, not when you discovered it. There are narrow exceptions for foreign objects left in the body or fraud that concealed the injury, which can extend the deadline by one year, but never more than 10 years total. These deadlines are strict. Missing them means losing your right to compensation.
What compensation can I recover in a medical malpractice case?
If we prove negligence caused your injury, you may recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent disability. Virginia caps compensatory damages in medical malpractice cases. The cap increases by $50,000 each year, so the limit depends on when your injury occurred. Punitive damages, available only in cases of intentional or reckless conduct, are capped at $350,000.
Do I have to go to court?
Not necessarily. Many medical malpractice cases settle before trial through negotiation or mediation. But the insurance company and hospital need to know you’re willing and prepared to go to trial if a fair settlement isn’t offered. That’s where our trial experience matters. Defense lawyers and insurers know we’ve tried these cases and won.
What does it cost to hire Lantz & Robins?
We handle medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs, and we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you. We advance the costs of investigation, experts, and litigation. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.
How do I know if I have a case?
Not every bad outcome is malpractice. We need to show that the provider’s care fell below accepted medical standards and directly caused harm. That requires a thorough review of your medical records and consultation with credible medical experts. If you’ve been seriously harmed during medical care and have questions, contact us for a consultation. We’ll review what happened and give you an honest assessment.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was seriously injured or died because of medical negligence, we can help you understand your rights and options. We’ve handled complex medical malpractice cases throughout central Virginia and secured meaningful results for clients facing catastrophic injuries.
Call us or complete our online contact form.