Texas Surgical Error Lawyer
Serious Help After A Preventable Surgical Mistake
When surgery goes wrong because of a preventable mistake, the impact on your life can be overwhelming. A procedure that was supposed to help you instead leaves you with new injuries, complications, or even permanent disability. If you believe a surgeon or hospital in Texas caused harm through a surgical error, a surgical error attorney in Texas can help you understand your legal options.
Hilliard Law is a Texas-based trial law firm that represents patients and families harmed by surgical negligence, wrong-site surgeries, and wrong procedures. For nearly 40 years, we have stood up for people hurt by powerful institutions, including medical providers and corporate healthcare systems. We listen to your story, review what happened, and work to hold the responsible parties accountable.
You do not have to face a hospital or insurance company alone. Our team offers free consultations, and we can explain in plain language what a potential medical malpractice case might involve and how we may be able to help.
To schedule a free consultation, call (866) 927-3420 or contact us online today.
Common Types of Surgical Errors
Surgical procedures are meant to improve health, but mistakes can and do happen. Common types of surgical errors include:
- Wrong-site surgery: Operating on the wrong body part or patient, which is a serious and entirely preventable error.
- Wrong procedure: Performing the incorrect surgical procedure due to miscommunication or negligence.
- Surgical instrument left inside the patient: Retained surgical items such as sponges, clamps, or tools can lead to severe infections or internal injuries.
- Anesthesia errors: Mistakes in anesthesia administration can cause brain damage, heart complications, or even death.
- Nerve or organ damage: Accidental injury to surrounding tissues, organs, or nerves during surgery.
- Postoperative infections: Failure to follow sterile procedures or monitor the patient properly can result in severe infections.
Each of these errors can have serious consequences, often requiring additional surgeries, prolonged hospital stays, or lifelong medical care.
Common Causes of Surgical Errors
Understanding how surgical errors occur helps families pursue justice when negligence is involved. Some common causes include:
- Human error: Surgeons, nurses, or anesthesiologists may make mistakes due to fatigue, distraction, or lack of experience.
- Poor communication: Miscommunication among surgical teams can lead to wrong-site surgery or incorrect procedures.
- Equipment failure: Malfunctioning surgical instruments, monitors, or anesthesia machines can contribute to mistakes.
- Inadequate training or supervision: Errors are more likely when staff are insufficiently trained or supervised.
- Systemic hospital issues: High patient loads, understaffing, or lack of proper safety protocols increase the risk of surgical errors.
In many cases, surgical errors are preventable, and when they occur due to negligence, victims have the right to seek compensation.
Short- & Long-Term Impact of Surgical Errors
Surgical errors can affect every aspect of a patient’s life.
Short-term impacts may include:
- Severe pain or discomfort
- Infections or complications requiring additional treatment
- Extended hospital stays and recovery time
- Emotional distress and anxiety
Long-term impacts can be even more profound:
- Permanent disability or loss of function
- Chronic pain or ongoing medical conditions
- Emotional trauma, depression, or PTSD
- Financial burdens from medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing care
Our Texas surgical error attorney can help assess the full scope of damages caused by a surgical mistake and fight for fair compensation to address both immediate and long-term needs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS real questions. Real answers.
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What are common examples of medical malpractice?
Common examples include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, birth injuries, and failure to provide appropriate treatment.
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How do I prove medical malpractice occurred?
To establish medical malpractice, you typically need to demonstrate four key elements:
- Duty: Show that the healthcare provider owed you a duty of care
- Breach of Duty: Prove that the provider failed to meet the standard of care
- Causation: Establish that the breach of duty directly caused your injury
- Damages: Document the harm or losses you suffered as a result
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What types of damages can I seek in a medical malpractice lawsuit?
In a medical malpractice case, you can pursue various types of damages, including:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Rehabilitation costs
- Punitive damages (in cases of extreme negligence)
Keep in mind that the specific details of your case will determine the types and amounts of damages you may be eligible to claim. Consulting with a qualified attorney is crucial to understanding your legal options and potential outcomes.
Real Results ReaL Justice
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Record-Setting$575Wrongful Death
Million Settlement*Hilliard Law attorneys represented numerous injury victims and the families of those killed in accidents caused by GM’s defective ignition switch and their concealment of safety defects.
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$310Wrongful Death
Million VerdictHilliard Law attorneys secured a $310 million verdict against “Funtime” Handelsgesellschaft M.G.H., the manufacturer of the defective Orlando FreeFall attraction at ICON Park, for the family of Tyre Sampson.
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$50Class Action
Million Settlement*Mr. Hilliard was the lead class counsel in Haese v. H&R Block, a class action lawsuit involving every Texan who received a rapid refund from H&R Block (approx. 300,000 plaintiffs). He assisted other class counsel in forcing H&R Block to disclose it received kickbacks for arranging loans between its tax preparation clients and predatory lenders.
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$50Wrongful Death
Million SettlementIn September 2021, Hilliard Law attorneys secured a $50 Million settlement for the family of a man who died in a commercial trucking accident.
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$33Traumatic Brain Injury
Million VerdictThe Hilliard Law trial team won a $33M product liability case against a golf-car company, involving a golf cart that tipped over on a child causing a severe traumatic brain injury.
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$33Work Injury
Million AwardWith the representation of Hilliard Law, two delivery drivers who were shot while completing a delivery were awarded $33 million through an arbitration panel.
Surgical Error FAQs
The following are several frequently asked questions about surgical malpractice claims:
Q: What qualifies as a surgical error?
A: A surgical error occurs when a mistake during surgery causes preventable harm, such as operating on the wrong site, leaving instruments inside the patient, or causing nerve or organ damage.
Q: How soon should I contact a lawyer after a surgical error?
A: It’s best to contact a Texas surgical error lawyer as soon as possible. There are strict deadlines under Texas law for filing medical malpractice claims. Early consultation ensures evidence is preserved and strengthens your case.
Q: Can I sue a hospital or surgeon for a surgical error?
A: Yes. Both individual surgeons and the hospitals or medical facilities where the surgery took place can potentially be held liable, depending on the circumstances.
Q: How is compensation determined?
A: Compensation can cover medical bills, lost wages, future care costs, pain and suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages if gross negligence is proven.
Q: Do all surgical mistakes result in a lawsuit?
A: Not all mistakes lead to a legal claim. A lawsuit is appropriate when the error was preventable, caused harm, and resulted from negligence. A Texas surgical error lawyer can help determine if you have a valid case.
Why Patients Choose Hilliard Law
When you are considering a surgical error lawyer Texas patients trust, you need more than a name on a website. You need a firm with the strength, experience, and resolve to challenge surgeons, hospital systems, and insurers that often fight hard to avoid responsibility. At Hilliard Law, our firm has been representing injured people for nearly 40 years, and our trial lawyers have over 100 years of combined courtroom experience.
Our firm was founded by Bob Hilliard, a nationally recognized trial lawyer who built this practice in Texas with one clear purpose, to pursue justice for people harmed by negligence and recklessness. That mission guides how we approach surgical error and surgeon malpractice cases today. We prepare every case as if it may go to trial, and we are not afraid to stand in front of a jury when that is in our client’s best interest.
Many of our lawyers have been recognized by publications that name Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. These honors do not guarantee a result in any case, but they do reflect years of hard work and proven performance in high-stakes litigation. Our ownership of the historic Hilliard Building in Corpus Christi reflects our long-term commitment to Texas communities and courts.
What truly sets us apart is how we approach your story. We do not view a surgical error case as just a stack of medical records. We sit with you, learn what you went through before, during, and after the surgery, and work to show the full impact on your health, your work, and your family. That narrative-driven approach can be critical when presenting your case to insurers or juries who may not understand what a medical mistake really costs a patient.
To talk with a surgical error attorney that Texas patients trust, call (866) 927-3420 today.
It’s our mission to hold the powerful accountable for their wrongdoing. Reach out to our team immediately regarding your case to schedule a free attorney consultation today.
