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Best San Diego Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The San Diego medical malpractice attorneys below have won millions for clients harmed by healthcare providers. Many offer free case reviews and work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless they recover compensation.

List of the Top Medical Malpractice Attorneys in San Diego, CA

Screenshot of the San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys Website

San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys is a medical malpractice law firm with more than 25 years of experience. The team has recovered over $100 million for clients throughout Southern California.

Lead attorney Deon Goldschmidt earned a Top 100 Verdicts in California recognition in 2019. The firm also belongs to the Top 100 National Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Association. Attorneys handle birth injuries, surgical errors, misdiagnosis cases, and hospital negligence claims.

Staff is available around the clock and speaks Spanish. Case reviews are free, and clients pay nothing unless they win.

Screenshot of the LiMandri & Jonna LLP Website
16236 San Dieguito Rd #3, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067, USA

LiMandri & Jonna LLP is a Rancho Santa Fe personal injury and medical malpractice firm with over 30 years of experience. Charles LiMandri leads the practice as one of the few San Diego attorneys who holds membership in both the American Board of Trial Advocates and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Both partners previously worked for large national law firms, giving clients big-firm resources with small-firm attention. The team handles medical negligence, wrongful death, birth injuries, and complex litigation involving hospitals and healthcare providers.

Recognition includes Super Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Who's Who Legal. Initial case reviews are free.

Screenshot of the Kenneth M Sigelman & Associates Website

Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates stands apart in San Diego medical malpractice law because Ken Sigelman holds both a J.D. and an M.D. degree. This rare combination gives him medical expertise that most attorneys lack when reviewing complex negligence cases.

The firm has won multiple eight-figure verdicts, including a $30.9 million jury award for a birth injury case involving uterine rupture and a $16.3 million verdict for negligent postoperative monitoring. Other notable results include $13.1 million for anesthesia malpractice and $11.7 million for a spinal epidural abscess case that caused quadriplegia.

The team focuses on birth injuries, brain damage, surgical errors, and Kaiser arbitrations. Consultations are free, and the firm serves clients throughout California.

Screenshot of the Nakase Law Firm Website
2221 Camino del Rio S, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92108

Nakase Law Firm provides personal injury and medical malpractice representation throughout California. The firm earned Litigator of the Year and Lawyer of the Year recognition in 2020.

Attorneys handle doctor negligence, hospital errors, and surgical malpractice claims alongside business litigation and employment defense. The team speaks Spanish and offers consultations statewide.

Screenshot of the Mulligan Law Website
2442 Fourth Ave #100, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Mulligan Law focuses on healthcare technology and privacy law rather than traditional medical malpractice plaintiff work. Jan Mulligan brings over 40 years of legal experience with an emphasis on preventive law strategies for healthcare organizations.

The firm advises on AI compliance, telehealth regulations, HIPAA privacy matters, and cybersecurity issues facing medical practices. Recognition includes AV Preeminent rating, Super Lawyers, and Best Law Firms designation. Jan also serves as a consultant and speaker on emerging healthcare legal issues.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of Elliott Kanter APC Website

Elliott Kanter is a San Diego medical malpractice attorney with more than 45 years of courtroom experience and over 150 jury trials. His firm has secured millions in medical negligence recoveries, including a $4 million birth injury settlement for cerebral palsy and a $3.5 million result for partial paralysis during hospitalization.

The practice handles Kaiser arbitrations, surgical errors, misdiagnosis claims, and hospital negligence cases. Elliott also maintains an active criminal defense practice. Clients receive direct attorney access throughout their case. Initial consultations are free.

Screenshot of the Coughlan & Vinel, LLP Website
2262 Carmel Valley Rd Ste G, Del Mar, CA 92014, USA

Coughlan & Vinel LLP represents medical malpractice and brain injury victims throughout San Diego County. The Del Mar firm takes on birth injuries, surgical errors, and catastrophic injury cases caused by healthcare negligence.

Ben Coughlan and Kacie Vinel lead a team that provides hands-on attention to each client. The practice handles wrongful death claims, cancer misdiagnosis, and hospital negligence. Contingency fee arrangements mean no upfront costs for clients.

Screenshot of the Fell Law, PC Website
5677 Oberlin Dr, Suite 204, San Diego, CA 92121, USA

Fell Law is a San Diego personal injury firm led by Bibi Fell, who secured a $105 million verdict in 2018. That result ranked as California's largest intentional tort verdict that year and placed among the top ten nationwide.

Bibi spent the first half of her career at one of the world's largest law firms, handling complex commercial litigation. She maintains a small caseload to give each client focused attention. The practice handles wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and sexual assault cases.

Screenshot of the Vaage Law Website
402 W Broadway UNIT 1500, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Vaage Law ranks among San Diego's most respected medical malpractice firms. Robert Vaage has practiced for more than 35 years and recovered over $190 million for clients. His recent $18 million jury verdict for a surgical error case demonstrates his continued courtroom success.

The firm won a $25.3 million recovery from Kaiser for a brain-injured child and a $12.6 million verdict against San Diego County. Bob was one of the youngest attorneys ever admitted to the American Board of Trial Advocates. He earned the 2017 Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year honor in San Diego and received Outstanding Trial Lawyer awards in 2020 and 2024.

The practice focuses on birth injuries, brain damage, Kaiser arbitrations, and medical fraud cases. Vaage Law has handled over 30 Kaiser proceedings. Consultations are free.

Screenshot of the The Burchett Law Firm, PC Website
605 C St Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Brian Burchett is a San Diego medical malpractice lawyer with over 35 years of trial experience. He founded the firm in 2013 after working at larger practices and defending insurance companies. That background gives him insight into how insurers approach medical negligence claims.

The practice handles birth injuries, surgical errors, misdiagnoses, and hospital negligence throughout Southern California. Brian holds an AV Preeminent rating and membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates. Clients work directly with him rather than paralegals.

Screenshot of the Chihak & Associates Website
12555 High Bluff Dr Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92130, USA

Chihak & Associates is led by Cynthia Chihak, an eight-time Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award recipient with over 40 years of experience. She earned Trial Lawyer of the Year honors in 1994 and has been named among the top 100 lawyers in Southern California by Super Lawyers.

The firm calls itself "trial lawyers, not settlement lawyers." Case results include a $10 million wrongful birth settlement and a $6.25 million panel award for insurance bad faith involving denied medical treatment.

Cynthia served as President of the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2008 and holds a Fellowship in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. The team handles birth injuries, surgical errors, cancer misdiagnosis, and Kaiser arbitrations.

Screenshot of the THE DRAKULICH FIRM A Professional Law Corporation Website

The Drakulich Firm handles catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases across California and Nevada. The practice has contributed to over $6 billion in combined recoveries throughout its attorneys' careers.

The team takes on complex negligence cases involving severe injuries and wrongful death. Case evaluations are free.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of David A Kaufman, APC Website

David Kaufman operates a La Jolla personal injury practice that handles medical malpractice and car accident cases. The firm represents clients throughout San Diego County in negligence claims.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Richard Roy Website
2801 Camino Del Rio S., Suite 201, San Diego, CA 92108

Richard Roy brings 35 years of experience to personal injury and accident cases from his Mission Valley office. The practice serves San Diego residents seeking representation for negligence claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does California Law Affect Medical Malpractice Cases in San Diego?

California's medical malpractice laws create a specific framework for these cases. The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) sets important rules that affect your case:

Legal ElementCalifornia Law Impact
Time limits1 year from discovery or 3 years from injury
Pain and sufferingMaximum $750,000 cap for non-economic damages
Expert testimonyRequired from medical professionals in same specialty
Notice requirement90-day notice to healthcare providers before filing

What Qualifies as Medical Malpractice in San Diego?

Medical malpractice occurs when healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care. Common types of cases in San Diego include:

  • Diagnostic errors - Missing crucial symptoms or delaying proper diagnosis leads to harm
  • Surgical mistakes - Operating on wrong sites or leaving instruments inside patients
  • Medication errors - Prescribing wrong drugs or incorrect dosages causes injury
  • Birth injuries - Mistakes during pregnancy or delivery harm mother or child

How Do San Diego Courts Handle Medical Malpractice Cases?

The San Diego Superior Court system processes medical malpractice cases through specific stages:

  • Initial review - Your attorney examines medical records and consults experts
  • Notice period - Formal notification to healthcare providers starts the process
  • Court filing - Case documentation submitted to downtown courthouse
  • Expert verification - Medical specialists review and verify claim merit

What Evidence Strengthens a Medical Malpractice Case?

Building a strong case requires specific types of documentation. Important evidence includes:

  • Medical records - Complete files from all providers involved in your care
  • Expert opinions - Written statements from qualified medical professionals
  • Treatment timeline - Detailed chronology of medical care and complications
  • Imaging results - X-rays, MRIs, and other diagnostic test records

How Do Local Medical Systems Impact Cases?

San Diego's healthcare landscape influences malpractice cases. Key local factors include:

  • Major health systems - Cases involving UC San Diego Health, Sharp, or Scripps follow specific protocols
  • Military medicine - Claims against Naval Medical Center have federal requirements
  • Teaching hospitals - Training programs add complexity to standard of care issues
  • Specialist access - Available medical experts affect case preparation

What Compensation Can You Seek in San Diego?

California law allows recovery for various types of damages in medical malpractice cases:

  • Medical expenses - Past and future treatment costs related to the malpractice
  • Lost income - Compensation for work time missed during recovery
  • Future care - Long-term medical needs and assistance requirements
  • Non-economic losses - Pain and suffering within state law limits


Note: This information serves educational purposes only and should not substitute for legal advice. Medical malpractice cases present complex challenges - consult with a qualified California attorney about your specific situation and rights under state law.