Richardson Medical Malpractice Lawyer

We expect to be healed when we go to the hospital, not suffer further harm, but every day, innocent patients suffer because a doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist, or other medical professional fails to provide the accepted level of care for their position. Medical malpractice is a complex form of personal injury law, involving technical medical terms, subjective determination of whether a physician acted within the acceptable standards of their position, and precise legal concepts. Our Richardson, TX medical malpractice lawyer has considerable experience litigating this type of claim, and we have the resources to secure fair compensation on your behalf. Call Kelso Law today for a consultation.

Medical Malpractice Lawyer Richardson, TX

Medical professionals in Texas have a duty of care to their patients, including taking actions that cause no harm and properly fulfilling their roles as doctors, nurses, CNAs, surgeons, or anesthesiologists. Medical malpractice is the failure of the medical professional to provide the expected standard of care expected of one in their position. Different medical professionals have different standards of care; CNAs have different patient responsibilities than nurses or surgeons, but all are expected to take no action that causes harm to the patient.

Failure to accurately diagnose the patient’s condition, overlooking symptoms that should have been considered, or a surgical error are some of the most common types of medical malpractice cases our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer handles.

We investigate the initial procedure or doctor’s visit that initiated the malpractice, often consulting with medical experts who can explain what tests and lab work should have been run on you and the standard treatment that should have been provided to you. If your malpractice involved surgical or procedural errors rather than diagnostic errors, our medical experts can identify where your providers failed to follow proper protocol.

Our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer has considerable experience explaining to a jury what your medical condition is, how the doctor failed to provide the right level of care, and how this failure led to your harm and worsening condition. Our firm has considerable resources and access to medical specialists who help us build compelling, evidence-based claims. We know how much you’re hurting, and soothe your fears and worries. Trust our legal team to pursue justice and fair compensation on your behalf.

Our Experience Makes The Difference In Malpractice Cases

At Kelso Law, we combine personalized, compassionate client support with knowledgeable, tenacious litigation representation. We seek full compensation for your material losses, as well as a fair sum for the emotional impact and loss of quality of life you suffered due to the malpractice.

• Straightforward legal advice to help you make the right decisions for your case
• Local experience that helps us anticipate defense strategies and prepare accordingly
• Founder Rhiannon “Kelso” Kelso is a Dallas native and seasoned trial attorney with deep knowledge of the DFW legal landscape
• Proven results — millions recovered for Texas plaintiffs
• Our attorneys hablamos español

Our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer has a strong track record of courtroom victories and high-value settlements. Call us today for a consultation with our legal team.

Types Of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle

When medical care causes harm, patients and families are often left dealing with pain, added expenses, and unanswered questions. We focus on claims where treatment did not meet accepted standards and led to preventable injury. Our team works with medical records, timelines, and provider actions to build claims based on clear facts and documented outcomes. Call us today to schedule a consultation with our Richardson, TX medical malpractice lawyer!

Diagnosis And Delayed Diagnosis Injuries

Missed or delayed diagnoses can affect treatment options and recovery. This often involves conditions such as cancer, infections, or heart problems, where early action can change the course of care. These cases may include failures to order proper tests, misreading results, or delays in referring patients to the right providers. We review office notes, lab reports, imaging, and referral records to show how earlier action could have reduced harm. The focus is not only on the initial visit, but also on what happened during follow-up and whether warning signs were addressed in time.

Surgical And Procedure Errors

Injuries during surgery or other medical procedures can involve internal damage, nerve injury, or infections that require more treatment. Problems may also occur when the wrong site is treated or when proper steps are skipped before or after the procedure. We collect operative reports, anesthesia records, and post-procedure care notes to identify where the process failed. Our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer team includes Rhiannon Kelso, who has over a decade of legal experience, and she has tried over 25 injury cases before Texas juries.

Medication And Prescription Mistakes

Medication errors can happen at several points, including prescribing, dispensing, or administering drugs. Giving the wrong medication, the wrong dose, or combining drugs that should not be taken together can cause serious reactions and lasting health problems. We review prescription orders, pharmacy records, and nursing logs to trace how the error occurred. These claims also look at whether patients were properly monitored after medication was given and whether symptoms were addressed quickly when problems appeared.

Birth Injuries And Pregnancy Care Issues

Problems during pregnancy, labor, or delivery can affect both parent and child. Delayed responses to distress, improper use of delivery tools, or failure to plan for known risks can result in injuries that require long-term care. We work with prenatal records, delivery notes, and neonatal care reports to build a clear timeline of what happened and when decisions were made. These cases often involve ongoing medical needs, therapy, and added support at home, which are important parts of the overall claim.

Hospital Care And Monitoring Failures

Hospitals are responsible for monitoring patients and responding to changes in condition. When staff miss signs of infection, fail to prevent falls, or do not follow care plans, patients may suffer injuries that could have been avoided. We review staffing records, patient charts, and hospital policies to connect breakdowns in care with the harm that followed. These cases often involve longer hospital stays and added treatment that could have been prevented with timely action.

We keep communication clear and consistent. Clients receive updates as records are reviewed and as claims move forward. We explain each step in plain terms, and we always fight for the maximum compensation, with many of our cases resulting in seven-figure settlements. Call us today at Kelso Law to schedule a meeting with our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer!

Medical Malpractice Statistics in Richardson

Medical errors remain a serious public health concern in Texas and across the United States, which our Richardson, TX medical malpractice lawyer can provide more insight on. The data below comes from federal health agencies and Texas regulators that track adverse outcomes and provider discipline.

• The CDC’s healthcare-associated infections data shows that on any given day, about 1 in 31 hospitalized patients in the U.S. has at least one infection acquired during medical care.
• The Texas Medical Board receives approximately 9,000 complaints each year against Texas-licensed physicians and other regulated professionals.
• The AHRQ National Scorecard on Hospital-Acquired Conditions tracks adverse events across U.S. hospitals and reports the rate of patient harm year over year.
• A 2022 OIG hospital harm report found that roughly a quarter of Medicare patients experienced an adverse event or temporary harm during their hospital stay, with 43% of those events deemed preventable.

These numbers don’t capture every individual story, but they confirm what patients in Richardson, TX often see firsthand: medical harm is more common than most people realize, and accountability is rarely automatic.

Mistakes That Can Damage Your Medical Malpractice Claim

Texas medical malpractice claims operate under some of the strictest procedural rules in the country. A misstep early in the process can hurt the value of an otherwise strong case, sometimes permanently. The list below covers the mistakes our Richardson medical malpractice attorneys see most often.

• Waiting too long to consult a lawyer. Texas applies a strict statute of limitations to medical malpractice claims, along with a separate qualified-physician report requirement. Each day of delay shrinks the window to gather records, identify potential defendants, and meet the procedural deadlines that govern these cases.
• Continuing care with the same provider without securing records. Patients sometimes return to the same doctor or facility even after suspecting harm, then later struggle to obtain clean copies of their charts. Request certified copies of all relevant records as soon as you suspect something went wrong.
• Speaking with hospital risk management without counsel. Hospital risk teams frequently reach out within days of an adverse outcome. Their job is to limit institutional exposure, not to advocate for you. Politely defer those conversations until you have spoken with a lawyer.
• Posting about your treatment online. Social media posts about your condition, recovery, or emotions can be subpoenaed and used to challenge your damages later. Pause posts about anything related to the case until it resolves.
• Accepting an early settlement offer. Insurance carriers sometimes extend modest offers shortly after an incident, before the full medical picture is known. Once accepted, those settlements almost always foreclose further recovery, even if complications develop later.
• Skipping or delaying recommended treatment. Gaps in your medical record give defendants an argument that the injury was not as serious as claimed. Follow your providers’ recommendations and document every appointment, prescription, and referral.
• Discussing the case with people outside your immediate circle. Conversations with coworkers, neighbors, or extended family can become discoverable. Keep case discussions limited to your lawyer and immediate household.
• Trying to handle the qualified-physician report yourself. Texas law requires plaintiffs to serve a written report from a qualified physician addressing the standard of care, breach, and causation within 120 days of filing. Missing or mishandling that requirement can result in dismissal with prejudice and a fee award against the plaintiff.

Talking with our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer early, keeping detailed records, and limiting who you speak to about the case until it resolves are the strongest protections you can put in place.

Richardson Medical Malpractice Lawyer FAQs

How Long Do I Have to File a Medical Malpractice Case in Texas?

Texas generally allows two years from the date of the malpractice or the date the patient discovers (or reasonably should have discovered) the harm. There is also a 10-year statute of repose under Texas CPRC § 74.251 that caps the overall window. Different rules apply for minors and continuing-care situations, so confirming the specific deadline that applies to your facts matters when you meet with our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer.

How Much Does a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Cost in Richardson, TX?

Our firm handles medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis with no upfront costs and no fee unless we recover for you. Litigation expenses, including records requests, qualified-physician reports, and deposition costs, are advanced by the firm and reimbursed from any recovery. Free consultations are available, with no obligation to retain us afterward.

Are There Caps on Damages in Texas Medical Malpractice Cases?

Yes. Under Texas CPRC § 74.301, non-economic damages are capped at $250,000 per defendant physician and per healthcare institution, with a separate aggregate cap when multiple institutions are sued. Economic damages, including past and future medical bills, lost wages, and lost earning capacity, are not capped. Punitive damages are subject to their own statutory limits.

What is the Standard of Care in a Medical Malpractice Case?

The standard of care is what a reasonably careful provider with similar training and experience would have done in the same circumstances. Different specialties have different standards. Establishing what the standard required, and how the defendant fell short, requires testimony from a qualified physician practicing in the same field as the defendant.

What is the Qualified-Physician Report Requirement Under Texas Law?

Texas requires plaintiffs in medical liability cases to serve a written report from a qualified physician within 120 days of filing suit. The report must address the standard of care, how the defendant breached it, and how the breach caused the harm. Failing to serve a sufficient report on time often results in dismissal with prejudice.

Can I Sue Both the Doctor and the Hospital?

Often, yes. Hospitals can be liable for the actions of employed providers and, in some situations, for the actions of independent-contractor physicians. They can also be directly liable for inadequate staffing, training, or credentialing. Each defendant generally requires its own qualified physician’s report addressing that defendant’s specific role in the harm.

Does Signing a Consent Form Prevent Me from Filing a Malpractice Claim?

No. Informed consent acknowledges known risks of a procedure. It does not authorize a provider to fall below the standard of care, perform the wrong procedure on the wrong site, leave instruments inside a patient, or commit other negligent acts. Consent and competent care are separate legal questions, and signing a form does not waive the right to bring a valid claim.

Do All Bad Medical Outcomes Qualify as Malpractice?

No. A poor outcome is not, by itself, evidence of malpractice. Medicine carries real risks even when care is competent. A valid claim requires proof that the provider fell below the accepted standard of care and that the breach caused the harm. Our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer can review the records with qualified physicians before deciding whether the facts support a case.

How Long Does a Medical Malpractice Case Typically Take?

Most Texas medical malpractice cases take 18 to 36 months to resolve. The qualified-physician report requirement, the technical nature of the medicine, and the resources hospitals devote to defending these cases all extend the timeline beyond a typical personal injury claim. Settlement remains possible at multiple points along the way when you work with our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer.

What If My Loved One Died from Medical Malpractice in Richardson?

Surviving family members can bring a wrongful death action against the responsible providers, along with a separate survival action covering the decedent’s pre-death pain, suffering, and medical bills. Both claims are subject to Texas medical liability rules, including the qualified-physician report requirement and statutory damages caps. Eligible claimants generally include spouses, children, and parents of the decedent.

Local Information for Richardson Medical Malpractice Cases

Local Resources for Richardson Medical Malpractice Patients

A medical malpractice claim often involves coordinating with hospitals, state regulators, and patient-support organizations. The resources below can help patients and families locate records, file complaints, and find general information during the process. Kelso Law PLLC does not sponsor or endorse any of these organizations and provides this list for informational purposes only.

• Methodist Richardson Medical Center — (469) 204-1000. The largest hospital serving Richardson and a common source of medical record requests in malpractice cases.
• Texas Medical Board — (800) 248-4062. The state agency that licenses physicians and reviews complaints from patients.
• Texas Department of State Health Services — (512) 776-7111. Oversees hospital licensing and complaint review for Texas hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.
• City of Richardson — (972) 744-4000. Local government and public records office for residents of Richardson, TX.
• Patient Advocate Foundation — (800) 532-5274. National nonprofit that assists patients with insurance disputes, billing, and access-to-care issues during recovery.

About the Attorney

Rhiannon Kelso is admitted to practice before all four federal district courts in Texas in addition to the Texas state courts. She earned her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award, and her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona. She is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and has obtained an eight-figure verdict in Dallas County in complex liability litigation.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“From start to finish Kelso Law went from examining my issue(s), explaining the process and following up to determine the validity of my claim(s). When it was determined that my case had merit all avenues available were pursued from obtaining medical care to negotiating an equitable settlement for me. Both Renaldo and Rhiannon were a pleasure with whom to work. I am extremely satisfied with the results of their efforts.” — James Caniglia

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Contact Kelso Law PLLC

A medical malpractice claim involves complicated medicine, strict procedural rules, and real time pressure to investigate before records and witness memories become harder to access. We can help you sort through what happened and tell you honestly whether the facts support a viable claim. At Kelso Law PLLC, we offer free, confidential consultations on a contingency basis with no fee unless we recover. Contact us today to work with our Richardson medical malpractice lawyer.