Our Wilkes-Barre surgical error lawyers can help patients and families seek justice when a preventable mistake during surgery causes serious harm. Surgical errors can lead to serious injury, extended recovery, or even death. When something goes wrong in the operating room, it’s critical to understand your legal options under Pennsylvania medical malpractice law.
Munley Law has nearly seven decades of experience handling complex surgical error and medical malpractice cases throughout Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County. Our attorneys are nationally recognized trial lawyers with a proven history of holding hospitals, surgeons, and healthcare systems accountable for preventable medical mistakes.
If you or a loved one was injured by a surgical error, our Wilkes-Barre medical malpractice attorneys can help you pursue compensation for medical costs, lost income, long-term harm, or wrongful death. Contact our medical malpractice lawyers for a free consultation.
Most Common Surgical Errors in Wilkes-Barre, PA
According to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS), 315,418 reports of incidents and serious events occurred in 2024. This figure equates to 2.4% of the 2025 PA population. 96% of these events occurred in hospitals, while 4% came from non-hospital facilities like abortion clinics, birthing centers, and Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (ASFs). On its own, Luzerne County had 55 malpractice suits filed in 2024.
The most common surgical errors in Wilkes-Barre include:
- Wrong-Site Surgery: Operating on the wrong part of the body, such as the incorrect limb or organ.
- Incorrect Procedure: Performing the wrong surgical procedure or operating on the wrong site may be considered surgical misdiagnosis, especially when due to unclear documentation or records.
- Anesthesia Errors: Mistakes in administering anesthesia, such as giving insufficient anesthesia or too much, or failing to recognize adverse reactions.
- Retained Surgical Instruments: Leaving surgical instruments or other foreign objects inside the patient’s body, which can cause severe infections and complications.
- Nerve Damage: Accidental damage to nerves during surgery can result in chronic, long-term pain or even loss of function.
- Infection: Postoperative infections due to improper sterilization, inadequate surgical site care, or unhygienic conditions.
- Organ Perforation: Unintentional puncture or damage to internal organs, which can cause sepsis or require further surgeries.
- Failure to Monitor: Inadequate monitoring of the patient’s vital signs during and after surgery can lead to preventable complications and injury.
- Blood Clots: Failure to take preventive measures against blood clots can result in DVT or pulmonary embolism.
- Improper Suturing: Incorrect suturing techniques can cause wounds to reopen, get infected, or heal improperly.
- Medication Errors: Medication mistakes before or after surgery can be just as devastating as misdiagnosed cancer cases, especially when errors delay proper treatment.
Call a medical negligence attorney at Munley Law today if you or a loved one has experienced any of these surgical errors. You might be entitled to financial compensation for injuries caused by medical mistakes. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Contact a Wilkes-Barre Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Call Us At 844-686-5397 The Common Causes of Surgical Errors in Wilkes-Barre
- Inadequate Training: Surgeons or medical staff may make critical mistakes without proper training or experience.
- Fatigue: Long hours and demanding schedules can lead to exhaustion, reducing surgical performance.
- Miscommunication: Poor communication among providers can result in wrong-site surgeries or incorrect procedures.
- Faulty Equipment: Faulty equipment and hospital negligence are frequent contributors to surgical errors, especially when outdated tools or protocols are involved.
- Time Pressure: Rushing procedures under pressure increases the likelihood of mistakes.
- Inadequate Planning: Poor preoperative evaluation can lead to complications.
- Lack of Standard Protocols: Without standardized procedures and checklists, avoidable errors occur.
Consequences of Surgical Errors on People’s Lives
Surgical mistakes can cause severe, prolonged physical pain and impact quality of life. Nerve damage or improper healing can result in permanent disability.
Patients may need further surgeries or long-term care, leading to medical debt, lost income, and emotional strain. These outcomes can affect families for years.
“At Munley Law, our mission is simple: to provide all injury victims equal access to justice, even against the most powerful entities. For more than 65 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 is the Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer in Surgical Error Cases?
Your Wilkes-Barre surgical error attorney will collect medical records, hire expert witnesses, and prove negligence. We fight for maximum compensation, including pain, suffering, medical bills, and lost wages.
Contact Munley Law for legal advice, and let us walk with you every step of the way. If your case goes to trial, we’ll prepare and present it in full.
Why Choose Munley Law for Your Surgical Error Case?
If you or a loved one has suffered due to a surgical mistake, Munley Law stands out for the depth of experience, recognition, and results that give clients confidence:
- Decades of Proven Results: Munley Law has secured numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for clients harmed by medical malpractice, including surgical mistakes.
- Industry Recognition: Our attorneys are consistently recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiffs Lawyers, and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
- Award-Winning Trial Lawyers: Senior partner Marion Munley has been named Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice Law — Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
- Elite Legal Memberships: Our partners are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the International Society of Barristers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the National Trial Lawyers Association, reflecting exceptional skill and reputation.
- Dedicated Malpractice Focus: Munley Law’s Regional Tier 1 ranking for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in the Best Law Firms guide underscores our professional excellence and peer respect.
Talk To a Personal Injury Attorney Now
Common Questions about Surgical Error Cases in Wilkes-Barre
Who Can I Sue for Surgery Errors?
You may be able to sue your surgeon, anesthesiologist, nursing staff, or the hospital itself for surgery errors. Talk to an experienced personal injury attorney in Wilkes-Barre about your case to determine who was negligent and should be held responsible.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
Munley Law works on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case. We cover all case costs upfront, including expert witnesses.
How Do I Know if I Have a Surgical Error?
If you’ve suffered injury or loss due to a medical mistake, you may have a surgical error case. Speak with an attorney today to explore your options and get clarity on your next steps. We’ll review your records, consult experts, and represent you with integrity.
Will My Surgery Error Case Go to Trial?
Many surgical error cases settle before trial, but at Munley Law, our attorneys prepare every claim as if it will go to court to ensure maximum leverage and compensation.
What Kinds Of Damages Can I Recover in a Surgical Error Lawsuit?
In medical malpractice claims, you may seek compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and, in wrongful death cases, funeral costs and loss of support.
Are Surgical Errors Always Due to Negligence?
Not all adverse surgical outcomes are due to negligence. A successful malpractice case requires showing that the provider deviated from the accepted standard of care and that this directly caused your injury.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Wilkes-Barre Medical Malpractice Lawyer
You might be entitled to financial compensation if you or a loved one has been injured — or in the worst case, lost their life — due to a surgical mistake. We can help you file a wrongful death case in Wilkes-Barre against the responsible providers.
Contact Munley Law today to speak with an experienced surgical malpractice attorney in Wilkes-Barre. We’ve protected families in Northeastern PA for over 65 years.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on January 5, 2026.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1170 PA-315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 399-0406
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