The Doctor Made an Error. We Hold Them Accountable.

Medical malpractice cases in Indiana are among the most complex personal injury matters. They involve expert witnesses, Indiana’s Medical Review Panel, and strict filing deadlines.Our Fort Wayne medical malpractice lawyers have handled these cases for over 30 years. We know exactly how difficult they are to win – and how to win them.

At Christie Bell & Marshall, our team of Fort Wayne personal injury lawyers is committed to providing personalized attention and achieving exceptional results for victims of medical malpractice in Fort Wayne.

Speak with a personal injury lawyer today. Call: 317-488-5500

Medical Malpractice Is Not a Simple Case. Here Is Why That Matters to You.

Most people come to us after a doctor or hospital gave them a serious diagnosis they suspected was wrong – or after a surgery left them far worse than before. They trusted the medical system. The system failed them.

As medical malpractice lawyers in Fort Wayne, Indiana, we see the same thing repeatedly. Hospitals document cases in ways that protect themselves. Insurance companies for healthcare providers are aggressive negotiators. Indiana law adds procedural requirements that most injury attorneys have never dealt with.

“When we take a medical malpractice case, we consult with independent medical experts who review every page of the record. We are not looking for reasons to settle fast. We are looking for the truth about what happened – and whether it violated the standard of care a patient in Fort Wayne deserved.”– Tina M. Bell, Partner, Christie Bell & Marshall

If you are searching for a medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the most important thing you can do right now is talk to an attorney before the statute of limitations expires. In Indiana, you generally have two years from the date of the malpractice. That clock does not stop.

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What Counts as Medical Malpractice in Indiana?

Medical malpractice is not simply a bad outcome. Medicine is imperfect, and not every complication is malpractice. The legal standard requires proof of three things: the provider owed you a duty of care, they breached the accepted standard of care, and that breach directly caused your injury or harm.

The cases we handle most often include:

  • Surgical Errors: Operating on the wrong site. Leaving instruments behind. Perforating an organ. These mistakes are preventable – and they devastate lives.
  • Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis: A missed cancer diagnosis. A stroke misread as anxiety. Delayed treatment often converts a treatable condition into a catastrophic one.
  • Medication Errors: Wrong drug. Wrong dose. Dangerous drug interaction that a pharmacist or physician should have caught. Medication errors send over 100,000 Americans to hospitals every year.
  • Birth Injuries: Cerebral palsy, brachial plexus damage, oxygen deprivation during delivery. These injuries often require lifetime care. We fight for the full compensation families need.
  • Anesthesia Errors Administering too much or too little. Failing to monitor a patient. Not reviewing allergies. Anesthesia mistakes can cause brain damage or death.
  • Defective Medical Devices: Faulty hip replacements. Recalled IUDs. Malfunctioning cardiac stents. When the device itself was defective, multiple parties may bear legal responsibility.
Searching near Fort Wayne for a medical malpractice attorney? We serve clients throughout Allen County and all of northeastern Indiana. You do not have to travel to Indianapolis to get experienced legal help.

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Birth Injuries: A Specialty That Demands Real Experience

Birth injury cases are not simply another type of medical malpractice. They involve neonatology, obstetrics, fetal heart monitoring standards, and often a child who will require medical support for the rest of their life. These cases are expensive to litigate and difficult to win without the right expert network.

As birth injury lawyers serving Fort Wayne, Indiana, we look at specific questions:

  • Was the decision to proceed with vaginal delivery medically appropriate, or was a C-section clearly indicated?
  • Were fetal heart rate changes recognized and responded to within the standard of care?
  • Was there a delay in performing an emergency C-section that caused oxygen deprivation?
  • Was shoulder dystocia handled correctly to avoid brachial plexus injury?
  • Was the baby properly assessed and treated for signs of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy?

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy or another condition that may be linked to a delivery complication, contact us before assuming it was unavoidable. Many families learn for the first time – through our investigation – that an injury was preventable.

FDA Recalls and Defective Medical Devices in Fort Wayne

The FDA issues medical device recalls every year. Some are minor corrections. Others involve devices already implanted in patients – hip replacements, hernia mesh, cardiac stents, IUDs, surgical staples – that have caused serious harm.

If you received a medical device in Fort Wayne that has since been recalled by the FDA, you may have a claim even if your surgeon was not negligent. The manufacturer of a defective device can be held independently liable under Indiana product liability law.

As Fort Wayne defective medical device lawyers, we evaluate three separate theories in every device case:

  1. Manufacturing Defect: The specific device implanted in you had a production flaw that deviated from the intended design.
  2. Design Defect: The entire product line was inherently dangerous – no individual unit was made to be safe.
  3. Failure to Warn: The manufacturer knew about risks and failed to inform doctors or patients adequately.

We also look at whether your physician failed to inform you of available recall notices – which can form a separate basis for a medical malpractice claim against the treating provider.

Indiana Medical Malpractice Law: What Every Fort Wayne Patient Must Know

Indiana has some of the most complex procedural requirements for malpractice claims in the country. Missing any of these steps can bar your claim entirely, even if the negligence is clear.

Key Indiana Rules That Affect Your Case
Deadline 2-year statute of limitations. You generally have two years from the date of malpractice to file. For minors, different rules apply. Do not assume you have more time – contact us now to confirm your deadline.
Panel Medical Review Panel requirement. Before you can file a lawsuit, your claim must go through Indiana’s Medical Review Panel. This panel of physicians evaluates the evidence and issues a non-binding opinion on whether the standard of care was breached. The process takes time – which is why filing early matters.
Cap $1.8 million damages cap. Indiana limits total recovery in medical malpractice cases. Individual healthcare providers are liable for up to $500,000. The Patient’s Compensation Fund covers amounts above that. Understanding how to structure a claim under this cap is a core part of our strategy.
Expert Expert testimony requirement. To prove malpractice, you need qualified expert witnesses in the same specialty as the defendant. We have an established network of independent medical experts across surgical, obstetric, neurological, and other specialties.

What to Do Right Now If You Suspect Medical Malpractice

The steps you take in the first days and weeks after a suspected malpractice incident make a real difference to your case.

  • Request your complete medical records immediately. You have a legal right to your full records. Do this before anyone has a reason to alter or lose them. Get records from every provider involved.
  • Write down everything you remember. Dates. Names. What you were told. What was not done. Your own memory is evidence. Write it down while it is fresh.
  • Do not sign anything from the hospital or insurer. Insurance companies for hospitals and physicians move quickly. They may contact you with a settlement offer. Do not sign before speaking to an attorney.
  • Call us for a free case evaluation. We review your records, consult our medical experts, and tell you honestly whether you have a case. There is no charge for this, and no obligation.

Why Clients in Fort Wayne Choose Christie Bell & Marshall

Medical malpractice cases require a different kind of law firm. The investment in expert witnesses, record review, and medical panel preparation is substantial. Many personal injury firms do not take these cases – or settle them too cheaply because they lack the resources to go to trial.

  • We have practiced Indiana medical malpractice law since 1993. This is not a practice area we picked up recently.
  • We have recovered millions of dollars for Indiana malpractice victims, including a $5,250,000 settlement in a single case.
  • We work on full contingency. You pay nothing unless we win. We absorb the cost of experts, record retrieval, and litigation.
  • You get direct access to your attorney, not just a case manager. You will know what is happening with your case.
  • We handle both medical malpractice and defective medical device claims – including FDA recall cases – so you do not need multiple law firms.
  • Over 135 five-star reviews on Google from real Indiana clients.