For nearly 70 years, the Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice lawyers at Munley Law have secured millions in compensation for victims of medical negligence. Trusting your health and safety to someone else can make you incredibly vulnerable, and medical errors and negligence can lead to long-lasting consequences, affecting you emotionally and physically. When local facilities, such as Geisinger Wyoming Valley or Wilkes-Barre General, fail to uphold the standard of care, our medical malpractice attorneys hold them accountable.
At Munley Law, we understand the emotional toll medical malpractice can take on you and your family. We are committed to providing the compassion, care, and timely service you deserve. Our Wilkes-Barre medical injury attorneys offer a free consultation and advice tailored to your case needs. Contact us today.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Why Choose Munley Law as Your Wilkes-Barre Medical Malpractice Attorney?
Munley Law’s medical malpractice attorneys have a long history of taking on hospitals and negligent physicians directly and winning.
In one case, a woman underwent medical imaging at a hospital where a radiologist interpreted her diagnostic studies. The scans showed clear signs of lung cancer, but the radiologist and hospital failed to catch it, delaying her diagnosis and narrowing her treatment options as the cancer progressed. Our attorneys worked with expert radiologists to show that a competent reading of those images would have caught the cancer, and that the hospital’s own protocols for interpreting and communicating results weren’t followed. The case settled for $3.2 million, compensation for the additional treatment, pain and suffering, and shortened life expectancy the delay caused.
In another case, a woman underwent a routine surgical procedure at the hospital. Critical errors during the operation caused fatal complications, and she died as a result. Working as co-lead counsel alongside Robert W. Munley, our attorneys built the case against both the hospital and the attending physician, using expert testimony to show the surgical team failed to follow proper procedure and that competent care would have prevented her death. The strength of the case became clear fast — the defendants agreed to a $2.1 million settlement for her estate and family immediately after opening statements, before the trial even got underway.
Our commitment to holding hospitals and physicians accountable is recognized by the National Trial Lawyers, Irish Legal 100, Martindale-Hubbell, and the Multi-Million Dollar/Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
How Do We Prove Medical Malpractice in Wilkes-Barre?
According to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, there were 1,548 medical malpractice filings in Pennsylvania in 2024, 55 of which came from Luzerne County. Many medical malpractice cases are resolved through settlement or other pretrial proceedings rather than a trial verdict, so filing statistics are generally a more useful measure of local claim activity.
Successfully proving medical malpractice in Wilkes-Barre requires extensive documentation and expert testimony. If you work without a lawyer, you may feel compelled to take an early settlement from the medical facility. Our Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice attorneys work with a network of local medical professionals who will review your medical records, provide expert opinions, testify about the standard of care, and explain how the provider’s actions may have caused your injuries and losses.
How Do Munley Law’s Wilkes-Barre Lawyers Build Strong Medical Malpractice Claims?
When you hire Munley Law, our injury attorneys will begin by building your case using documentation. Medical records form the foundation of your case. We will obtain all relevant documents from Geisinger, Wilkes-Barre General, and any other facilities where you received care. This includes:
- Surgical notes
- Medication records
- Test results,
- Correspondence between healthcare providers.
Our team also documents economic losses you may have had because of the injury through pay stubs, medical bills, and projected future care costs.
Under 231 Pa. Code Rule 1042.3, Pennsylvania law requires a medical expert to confirm your case has merit before filing. We partner with respected physicians from Luzerne County and surrounding areas who understand local medical standards. These experts examine your medical records, explain where the standard of care fell short, and testify in court about proper medical procedures, and must present the Certificate of Merit.
Most local hospitals carry insurance through major medical malpractice carriers. Our attorneys have decades of experience negotiating with these insurers. We understand their tactics and work to pursue compensation that reflects the full extent of your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. We’re prepared for trial if the insurance company doesn’t offer fair value.
If you or a loved one were injured because of the negligence of a medical professional in Luzerne County, Munley Law is here to help. Contact our medical malpractice attorneys today to start the legal process.
“At Munley Law, our mission is simple: to provide all injury victims equal access to justice, even against the most powerful entities. For almost 70 years, we have been the voice for the injured, the forgotten, and those who need someone to stand beside them in their darkest hour.”
Marion Munley
What are the Common Types of Medical Malpractice in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Wilkes-Barre medical professionals and institutions must uphold a level of care that prioritizes patient safety and well-being. Negligence can lead to misdiagnoses, surgical errors, improper treatment, medication mistakes, and a lack of informed consent.
The most common types of medical malpractice our medical negligence attorneys handle include:
- Hospital-Acquired Infections: Healthcare facilities must follow strict protocols to prevent infections. When they fail, patients develop hospital-acquired infections, such as sepsis, surgical site infection, or ventilator-associated pneumonia.
- Birth Injuries: Our Wilkes-Barre birth injury attorneys handle cases involving cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, shoulder dystocia, and other birth traumas caused by medical negligence during pregnancy and delivery.
- Diagnostic Errors: Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can result in incorrect treatment and exacerbation of conditions. We represent patients whose doctors failed to correctly interpret test results, order appropriate screenings, or follow up on concerning symptoms.
- Medication and Pharmacy Errors: Common medication errors include administering the wrong medication or dosage, failing to check for drug interactions, or communication errors between healthcare providers.
- Surgical and Anesthesia Errors: Surgical mistakes and anesthesia errors can have devastating consequences. We investigate cases involving wrong-site surgery, retained surgical items, improper intubation, and inadequate monitoring.
- Emergency Room Negligence: ER staff must make quick but accurate decisions. We handle cases where providers miss heart attacks, strokes, internal bleeding, and severe infections.
- Nursing Home Abuse: Our Wilkes-Barre nursing home attorneys fight for elderly victims of nursing home negligence, including those suffering from physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse.
If you or a loved one were a victim of negligence or abuse in a Wilkes-Barre medical facility, call Munley Law now.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims in Wilkes-Barre
In Pennsylvania, a medical malpractice lawsuit may be filed within two years from the date of the negligence, under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524(2). In addition to the two-year filing deadline, Pennsylvania’s MCARE Act includes a seven-year statute of repose for most medical malpractice claims. Under 40 P.S. § 1303.513(a), a lawsuit generally cannot be filed more than seven years after the alleged malpractice occurred, with limited exceptions, including certain cases involving minors or foreign objects left in the body.
Victims in the Wilkes-Barre area should file a claim with a Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice lawyer and begin the legal process to secure compensation. The insurance companies’ early settlement offerings may come quickly, as hospitals often have insurance legal teams ready to manage and close claims as early as possible.
How Long Will My Wilkes-Barre Medical Malpractice Claim Take?
The length of a medical malpractice claim in Wilkes-Barre can vary, but most cases take one to three years to resolve. Factors that affect the timeline include:
- Complexity of the medical issues
- Time to gather expert opinions and evidence
- Whether the case settles or goes to trial
- Court scheduling and delays
Early settlements may be resolved more quickly, while trial cases typically take longer. A medical injury lawyer from Munley Law can give a more specific estimate based on your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice
What is My Medical Malpractice Claim Worth?
What your medical malpractice claim is worth depends on factors like the severity of your injury, medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Permanent harm or wrongful death typically increases case value. A Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice lawyer can help assess your damages and potential compensation.
How Can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Help Me?
A malpractice lawyer can help you by investigating your case, gathering medical evidence, consulting experts, negotiating with insurers, and representing you in court to seek fair compensation. Their legal expertise improves your chance of a successful outcome.
How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Medical Malpractice Claim?
You may have a valid medical malpractice claim if a healthcare provider’s negligence caused harm. This means proving they failed to meet accepted standards of care and that their actions directly caused your injury.
There may be situations where it is unclear if it is a malpractice case. In those instances, an attorney can review your claim and guide you towards the best steps forward.
What Steps Should I Take if I Suspect Medical Malpractice?
If you suspect medical malpractice, seek medical attention if needed, request medical records, document symptoms and costs, and avoid discussing the case with insurers. Then consult a medical malpractice attorney to evaluate your potential claim and legal options.
What Compensation Can I Recover in a Medical Malpractice Case?
You may recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future care costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and sometimes punitive damages in a medical malpractice case. The exact amount depends on your specific injuries and the case’s impact on your life.
Our Wilkes-Barre Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help
Munley Law has decades of experience taking on major medical facilities, negligent practitioners, and medical device manufacturers. Northeastern Pennsylvania listed us as the Regional Tier 1 ranking in Northeastern Pennsylvania for Personal Injury Litigation and Medical Malpractice Law.
In addition, the National Trial Lawyers named Caroline Munley to the Top 25 Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania, while Best Lawyers named Marion Munley for Medical Malpractice Law. Caroline and Marion are both members of the International Society of Barristers and of the Litigation Counsel of America, of which Marion is a Senior Fellow and Caroline a Fellow.
We are accustomed to taking on large entities and securing favorable verdicts for our clients. With decades of experience and a reputation for delivering results, our experienced lawyers have secured tens of millions of dollars for injured victims in settlements and verdicts.
Contact our medical malpractice lawyers for a free consultation and legal advice to support your case needs.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley is a triple board-certified trial attorney and a two-time Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania (2021, 2023). She has recovered millions for victims of surgical errors, misdiagnosis, and wrongful death, including a $4.35 million medical malpractice settlement and a $3.2 million recovery for a woman misdiagnosed with cancer. A Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2004 and a member of the International Society of Barristers, Marion has also published on emerging malpractice issues, including the liability risks associated with electronic health records and 3D-printed medical devices.
