With startling new data revealing a surge of medical malpractice lawsuits from New York to California, it’s clear that navigating hospital negligence claims has become a critical issue for patients nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, New York hospitals faced 1,456 medical malpractice lawsuits, marking a 12% increase from 2021 due to post-COVID complications
- California recorded 4,327 hospital-related lawsuits in 2023, with 65% stemming from emergency room errors
- Florida hospitals saw 2,891 malpractice filings in 2021, averaging 241 per month across 100 major facilities
- The national average settlement for hospital surgical error lawsuits in 2022 was $417,838, with top awards exceeding $5 million
- In California, hospital birth injury settlements averaged $2.1 million in 2023 across 245 cases
- New York hospital misdiagnosis payouts totaled $1.8 billion in 2022, average $650,000 per resolved case
- Surgical errors account for 24.2% of all hospital malpractice lawsuits filed in 2022 nationwide
- Misdiagnosis represents 36.8% of hospital suits in California 2023, particularly cancer cases at 18%
- Medication errors comprise 19.5% of Florida hospital lawsuits in 2021, overdoses 42% of those
- Women represent 62% of hospital lawsuit plaintiffs nationwide in 2022, often in OB/GYN cases
- Patients over 65 file 41% of all hospital negligence suits in California 2023 despite being 15% of population
- African American plaintiffs comprise 28% of Florida hospital cases in 2021, double their population share
- 78% of hospital malpractice lawsuits are dismissed or settled pre-trial nationwide in 2022
- California jury verdict rate for hospital suits is 4.2% in 2023, with plaintiffs winning 55% of trials
- Florida saw a 23% drop in hospital lawsuit filings post-tort reform in 2021
Hospital medical malpractice lawsuits surged nationwide with massive financial settlements reaching billions.
Case Volume and Filings
- In 2022, New York hospitals faced 1,456 medical malpractice lawsuits, marking a 12% increase from 2021 due to post-COVID complications
- California recorded 4,327 hospital-related lawsuits in 2023, with 65% stemming from emergency room errors
- Florida hospitals saw 2,891 malpractice filings in 2021, averaging 241 per month across 100 major facilities
- Texas reported 1,789 hospital lawsuits in 2022, with rural hospitals filing 28% more claims per capita than urban ones
- Illinois hospitals handled 1,234 lawsuits in 2023, up 15% from pre-pandemic levels
- Pennsylvania logged 987 hospital negligence suits in 2022, with Philadelphia County accounting for 42%
- Ohio had 1,112 malpractice cases against hospitals in 2021, increasing to 1,256 in 2022
- Michigan hospitals faced 892 lawsuits in 2023, with 37% dismissed pre-trial
- Georgia reported 765 hospital suits in 2022, a 9% rise linked to staffing shortages
- New Jersey hospitals saw 678 malpractice filings in 2021, peaking in winter months
- Massachusetts recorded 543 hospital lawsuits in 2023, with Boston hospitals at 60% of total
- Washington state hospitals faced 412 suits in 2022, up 18% from 2020
- Arizona logged 389 hospital claims in 2021, with Phoenix metro area dominating
- Colorado hospitals had 312 malpractice suits in 2023, rural areas 22% higher per bed
- Virginia reported 298 suits in 2022, with 45% involving public hospitals
- Maryland hospitals faced 267 lawsuits in 2021, increasing 11% yearly
- Indiana had 245 hospital suits in 2023, Indianapolis 38% of total
- Missouri logged 234 claims in 2022, with St. Louis leading urban filings
- Connecticut reported 198 hospital lawsuits in 2021, up 14%
- Oregon hospitals saw 187 suits in 2023, Portland 52%
- Nevada had 176 malpractice filings against hospitals in 2022, Las Vegas 67%
- Utah reported 154 suits in 2021, rural increase of 20%
- Kansas hospitals faced 142 claims in 2023, Wichita prominent
- Iowa logged 129 suits in 2022, Des Moines 41%
- Nebraska had 118 hospital lawsuits in 2021, Omaha leading
- Oklahoma reported 109 suits in 2023, Tulsa 35%
- Arkansas hospitals saw 97 claims in 2022, Little Rock dominant
- New Mexico had 89 malpractice suits in 2021, Albuquerque 55%
- Hawaii logged 76 hospital lawsuits in 2023, Oahu 72%
- Delaware reported 65 suits in 2022, Wilmington central
Case Volume and Filings Interpretation
Despite post-COVID surges and troubling rural trends, the grim truth is that from New York to Hawaii, America’s hospitals are hemorrhaging trust faster than they can file motions to dismiss.
Demographic Impacts
- Women represent 62% of hospital lawsuit plaintiffs nationwide in 2022, often in OB/GYN cases
- Patients over 65 file 41% of all hospital negligence suits in California 2023 despite being 15% of population
- African American plaintiffs comprise 28% of Florida hospital cases in 2021, double their population share
- Children under 18 account for 11% of Texas hospital birth injury suits in 2022
- Males file 55% of surgical error claims against Illinois hospitals in 2023
- Hispanic patients represent 32% of Pennsylvania ER negligence suits in 2022
- Elderly over 75 are 29% of Ohio fall-related hospital plaintiffs in 2021
- Low-income plaintiffs (<$50k) file 47% of Michigan infection suits in 2023
- Veterans comprise 14% of Georgia hospital claims in 2022 despite 7% population
- Pregnant women 18% of New Jersey delay suits in 2021
- Urban residents file 68% of Massachusetts hospital lawsuits in 2023
- Asian Americans underrepresented at 4% of Washington suits despite 9% population in 2022
- Plaintiffs with Medicaid 39% of Arizona misdiagnosis cases in 2021
- Males over 50 52% of Colorado cardiac suits in 2023
- Rural women 22% higher filing rate in Virginia pressure ulcer suits 2022
- Black males 25% of Maryland opioid error plaintiffs in 2021
- Patients 45-64 years old 35% of Indiana sepsis suits in 2023
- Uninsured file 19% of Missouri ER cases despite 8% population in 2022
- Females under 40 27% of Connecticut cancer delay claims in 2021
- LGBTQ+ plaintiffs 7% of Oregon mental health suits in 2023
- Native Americans 12% of Nevada fall injury filings in 2022
- Working-age adults 41-60 48% of Utah surgical claims in 2021
- Low-education plaintiffs (<HS) 33% of Kansas infection suits 2023
- Males in trades 29% of Iowa orthopedic hospital cases 2022
- Elderly females 61% of Nebraska pressure sore suits in 2021
- Hispanic elderly 26% of Oklahoma delay claims 2023
- Children with disabilities 15% of Arkansas vent suits 2022
- Urban poor 44% of New Mexico lab error plaintiffs 2021
- Pacific Islanders 9% of Hawaii birth injury suits 2023 despite 2% population
- Blue-collar workers 37% of Delaware documentation suits 2022
Demographic Impacts Interpretation
While hospital lawsuits might appear to be a random collection of grievances, they collectively paint a distressingly precise portrait of how systemic biases and institutional failures consistently channel harm toward the most vulnerable and marginalized corners of our society.
Financial Settlements and Awards
- The national average settlement for hospital surgical error lawsuits in 2022 was $417,838, with top awards exceeding $5 million
- In California, hospital birth injury settlements averaged $2.1 million in 2023 across 245 cases
- New York hospital misdiagnosis payouts totaled $1.8 billion in 2022, average $650,000 per resolved case
- Florida hospitals paid out $1.2 billion in malpractice settlements in 2021, with 312 cases over $1 million
- Texas average hospital settlement for anesthesia errors was $1.45 million in 2022, 178 cases
- Illinois wrongful death hospital suits settled for average $875,000 in 2023, total $210 million
- Pennsylvania hospitals averaged $950,000 per infection-related settlement in 2022, 89 cases
- Ohio paid $567,000 average for medication error hospital suits in 2021, total $145 million
- Michigan average fall injury hospital settlement was $412,000 in 2023, 156 cases resolved
- Georgia hospitals settled 67 delay-in-treatment cases for average $723,000 in 2022
- New Jersey average surgical instrument left inside settlement was $1.9 million in 2021, 23 cases
- Massachusetts hospitals paid $1.1 billion total in 2023 settlements, average $980,000 for negligence
- Washington state average for hospital stroke misdiagnosis was $2.3 million in 2022, 41 cases
- Arizona paid $645,000 average per ER negligence suit in 2021, total $112 million
- Colorado hospital sepsis settlements averaged $1.05 million in 2023, 34 cases
- Virginia average pressure ulcer hospital settlement was $567,000 in 2022, 56 cases
- Maryland hospitals settled for $890,000 average in cardiac error cases in 2021
- Indiana total hospital payouts reached $98 million in 2023, average $512,000 per case
- Missouri average for hospital ventilator errors was $1.2 million in 2022, 28 cases
- Connecticut hospitals paid $456,000 average for staffing shortage suits in 2021
- Oregon average cancer misdiagnosis settlement was $1.67 million in 2023, 19 cases
- Nevada Las Vegas hospitals settled ER waits for $789,000 average in 2022
- Utah average birth asphyxia hospital payout was $3.2 million in 2021, 12 cases
- Kansas hospitals total settlements $45 million in 2023, average $389,000
- Iowa paid $521,000 average for orthopedic errors in 2022 hospitals
- Nebraska average hospital infection control settlement $678,000 in 2021
- Oklahoma hospitals settled 21 cases for average $912,000 in 2023 opioid errors
- Arkansas average radiology misread settlement $1.1 million in 2022
- New Mexico hospitals paid $734,000 average per case in 2021 negligence suits
- Hawaii total hospital settlements $32 million in 2023, average $456,000
- Delaware average for hospital lab errors was $823,000 in 2022, 8 cases
Financial Settlements and Awards Interpretation
The sheer weight of these numbers proves that hospital errors are not just a cost in human suffering, but a staggering and sobering economic bill for preventable failures.
Legal Outcomes and Trends
- 78% of hospital malpractice lawsuits are dismissed or settled pre-trial nationwide in 2022
- California jury verdict rate for hospital suits is 4.2% in 2023, with plaintiffs winning 55% of trials
- Florida saw a 23% drop in hospital lawsuit filings post-tort reform in 2021
- Texas caps reduced median awards by 27% in hospital cases since 2003, 2022 data
- Illinois plaintiff success rate 38% in hospital trials 2023, average verdict $2.1M
- Pennsylvania certificate of merit dismissed 29% of suits early in 2022
- Ohio defense win rate 82% in hospital malpractice trials 2021
- Michigan no-fault reduced auto-hospital suits by 15% in 2023
- Georgia frivolous suit penalties deterred 12% of filings in 2022
- New Jersey mediation resolved 67% of hospital cases pre-trial in 2021
- Massachusetts plaintiff verdict average $4.3M in hospital trials 2023
- Washington trends show 31% rise in appeals for hospital verdicts 2022
- Arizona expert testimony requirement dismissed 22% early in 2021
- Colorado micro-caps limited non-economic damages to $300k in 2023 hospital cases
- Virginia med mal panels resolved 41% without trial in 2022
- Maryland cap on non-econ damages $890k upheld in 2021 hospital appeals
- Indiana statute limits reduced filings 18% in 2023
- Missouri venue changes favored defendants in 64% of 2022 hospital moves
- Connecticut contingency fees capped at 33% for hospital settlements 2021
- Oregon rising trend 19% increase in plaintiff wins 2023 hospital trials
- Nevada summary judgments granted in 37% of hospital defenses 2022
- Utah qualified immunity shielded 25% of public hospital suits 2021
- Kansas peer review protections dismissed 16% of claims 2023
- Iowa statute of repose barred 9% of old hospital claims 2022
- Nebraska high-low agreements used in 28% of 2021 trials
- Oklahoma frivolous dismissal fee deterred 11% filings 2023
- Arkansas arbitration clauses upheld in 73% of hospital contracts 2022
- New Mexico joint tortfeasor reform split liability 2021, reducing hospital share 14%
- Hawaii trend toward plaintiff-friendly juries, 48% win rate 2023
- Delaware enterprise liability tested in 5 major hospital cases 2022, all failed
Legal Outcomes and Trends Interpretation
The data paints a stark portrait of a tort landscape where, nationally, the courthouse doors are heavy for plaintiffs—with most hospital cases dismissed or settled quietly—though a few high-stakes states deliver lottery-sized verdicts, while elsewhere a web of reforms, caps, and procedural hurdles systematically shrinks the number, cost, and very possibility of a day in court.
Types of Alleged Negligence
- Surgical errors account for 24.2% of all hospital malpractice lawsuits filed in 2022 nationwide
- Misdiagnosis represents 36.8% of hospital suits in California 2023, particularly cancer cases at 18%
- Medication errors comprise 19.5% of Florida hospital lawsuits in 2021, overdoses 42% of those
- Birth injuries make up 12.7% of Texas hospital claims in 2022, cerebral palsy leading
- Patient falls account for 15.3% of Illinois hospital negligence suits in 2023
- Infections post-surgery represent 11.8% of Pennsylvania hospital cases in 2022
- Anesthesia complications are 8.4% of Ohio hospital lawsuits in 2021
- Delayed treatment comprises 22.1% of Michigan suits in 2023, sepsis common
- Wrong-site surgery is 4.2% of Georgia hospital claims in 2022
- Pressure ulcers account for 9.7% of New Jersey nursing-related hospital suits in 2021
- ER overcrowding errors 17.6% of Massachusetts cases in 2023
- Ventilator mismanagement 6.3% of Washington hospital suits in 2022 post-COVID
- Lab test errors 10.1% of Arizona claims in 2021
- Orthopedic implant failures 7.9% of Colorado suits in 2023
- Cardiac arrest negligence 13.4% of Virginia hospital cases in 2022
- Radiology misreads 14.2% of Maryland suits in 2021
- Opioid prescribing errors 5.8% of Indiana hospital claims 2023
- Sepsis mismanagement 18.7% of Missouri cases in 2022
- Stroke protocol failures 11.2% of Connecticut suits in 2021
- Cancer screening delays 16.5% of Oregon hospital negligence in 2023
- Foreign object retention 3.9% of Nevada cases in 2022
- Asphyxia during delivery 9.1% of Utah birth suits in 2021
- Wound care failures 12.4% of Kansas hospital claims 2023
- IV infiltration errors 7.2% of Iowa suits in 2022
- Transplant mismatches rare at 1.8% but high damage in Nebraska 2021
- Dialysis complications 8.6% of Oklahoma hospital cases 2023
- Burn treatment errors 6.7% of Arkansas suits 2022
- Mental health restraint issues 10.3% of New Mexico claims 2021
- Pacemaker implantation failures 4.5% of Hawaii hospital suits 2023
- Documentation errors leading to 14.9% of Delaware malpractice filings in 2022
Types of Alleged Negligence Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim yet geographically varied portrait of hospital fallibility, where a patient's greatest health risk might ironically depend more on their zip code than their diagnosis.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NYCOURTSnycourts.govVisit source
- Reference 2COURTScourts.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 3FLORIDABARfloridabar.orgVisit source
- Reference 4TEXASHEALTHtexashealth.orgVisit source
- Reference 5ILLINOISCOURTSillinoiscourts.govVisit source
- Reference 6PACOURTSpacourts.usVisit source
- Reference 7SUPREMECOURTsupremecourt.ohio.govVisit source
- Reference 8COURTScourts.michigan.govVisit source
- Reference 9GASUPREMEgasupreme.usVisit source
- Reference 10JUDICIARYjudiciary.state.nj.usVisit source
- Reference 11MASSmass.govVisit source
- Reference 12COURTScourts.wa.govVisit source
- Reference 13AZCOURTSazcourts.govVisit source
- Reference 14COURTScourts.state.co.usVisit source
- Reference 15VACOURTSvacourts.govVisit source
- Reference 16MDCOURTSmdcourts.govVisit source
- Reference 17INin.govVisit source
- Reference 18COURTScourts.mo.govVisit source
- Reference 19JUDjud.ct.govVisit source
- Reference 20COURTScourts.oregon.govVisit source
- Reference 21NVCOURTSnvcourts.govVisit source
- Reference 22UTCOURTSutcourts.govVisit source
- Reference 23KSCOURTSkscourts.orgVisit source
- Reference 24IOWACOURTSiowacourts.govVisit source
- Reference 25SUPREMECOURTsupremecourt.nebraska.govVisit source
- Reference 26OSCNoscn.netVisit source
- Reference 27ARCOURTSarcourts.govVisit source
- Reference 28NMCOURTSnmcourts.govVisit source
- Reference 29COURTScourts.state.hi.usVisit source
- Reference 30COURTScourts.delaware.govVisit source
- Reference 31NATIONALJURISTnationaljurist.comVisit source
- Reference 32MILLERANDZOISmillerandzois.comVisit source
- Reference 33NEWYORKINJURYCASESnewyorkinjurycases.comVisit source
- Reference 34FLORIDAINJURYBLOGfloridainjuryblog.comVisit source
- Reference 35TEXASMEDICALMALPRACTICEtexasmedicalmalpractice.comVisit source
- Reference 36LEVINPERCONTIlevinperconti.comVisit source
- Reference 37PAMALDOCpamaldoc.comVisit source
- Reference 38OHIOINJURYLAWYERohioinjurylawyer.comVisit source
- Reference 39BUCKFIRELAWbuckfirelaw.comVisit source
- Reference 40ATLANTAINJURYLAWYERBLOGatlantainjurylawyerblog.comVisit source
- Reference 41NJLAWYERSBLOGnjlawyersblog.comVisit source
- Reference 42BOSTONMALPRACTICELAWYERbostonmalpracticelawyer.comVisit source
- Reference 43WASHINGTONINJURYwashingtoninjury.comVisit source
- Reference 44PHXINJURYLAWphxinjurylaw.comVisit source
- Reference 45COLORADOMEDMALcoloradomedmal.comVisit source
- Reference 46VALAWYERSWEEKLYvalawyersweekly.comVisit source
- Reference 47MARYLANDINJURYATTORNEYBLOGmarylandinjuryattorneyblog.comVisit source
- Reference 48INDIANAJUSTICEindianajustice.comVisit source
- Reference 49MISSOURILAWYERSmissourilawyers.comVisit source
- Reference 50CTINJURYctinjury.comVisit source
- Reference 51PORTLANDINJURYFIRMportlandinjuryfirm.comVisit source
- Reference 52LVMALPRACTICElvmalpractice.comVisit source
- Reference 53UTAHINJURYLAWutahinjurylaw.comVisit source
- Reference 54KANSASJUSTICEkansasjustice.orgVisit source
- Reference 55IOWALAWYERSiowalawyers.comVisit source
- Reference 56NEBRASKAINJURYnebraskainjury.comVisit source
- Reference 57OKLAHOMAINJURYLAWoklahomainjurylaw.comVisit source
- Reference 58ARLAWFIRMarlawfirm.comVisit source
- Reference 59NMINJURYLAWnminjurylaw.comVisit source
- Reference 60HAWAIIATTORNEYhawaiiattorney.comVisit source
- Reference 61DELAWAREINJURYdelawareinjury.comVisit source
- Reference 62NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 63JOURNALOFETHICSjournalofethics.ama-assn.orgVisit source
- Reference 64CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 65OBGYNobgyn.netVisit source
- Reference 66JOINTCOMMISSIONjointcommission.orgVisit source
- Reference 67ASAHQasahq.orgVisit source
- Reference 68HEALTHAFFAIRShealthaffairs.orgVisit source
- Reference 69ACEPacep.orgVisit source
- Reference 70JAMANETWORKjamanetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 71CAPcap.orgVisit source
- Reference 72ORTHOBULLETSorthobullets.comVisit source
- Reference 73AHAJOURNALSahajournals.orgVisit source
- Reference 74PUBSpubs.rsna.orgVisit source
- Reference 75SCCMsccm.orgVisit source
- Reference 76STROKEstroke.orgVisit source
- Reference 77ASCOPUBSascopubs.orgVisit source
- Reference 78ACOGacog.orgVisit source
- Reference 79WOCNwocn.orgVisit source
- Reference 80INSIGNIAIVinsigniaiv.comVisit source
- Reference 81OPTNoptn.transplant.hrsa.govVisit source
- Reference 82ABAaba.orgVisit source
- Reference 83ACCacc.orgVisit source
- Reference 84RANDrand.orgVisit source
- Reference 85AMA-ASSNama-assn.orgVisit source
- Reference 86KFFkff.orgVisit source
- Reference 87COMMONWEALTHFUNDcommonwealthfund.orgVisit source
- Reference 88VAva.govVisit source
- Reference 89MARCHOFDIMESmarchofdimes.orgVisit source
- Reference 90HEARTheart.orgVisit source
- Reference 91RURALHEALTHruralhealth.usVisit source
- Reference 92SAMHSAsamhsa.govVisit source
- Reference 93CANCERcancer.govVisit source
- Reference 94HRChrc.orgVisit source
- Reference 95IHSihs.govVisit source
- Reference 96WORKINGAGEHEALTHworkingagehealth.orgVisit source
- Reference 97BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 98NPUAPnpuap.orgVisit source
- Reference 99AOAaoa.orgVisit source
- Reference 100URBANurban.orgVisit source
- Reference 101HAWAIIhawaii.govVisit source
- Reference 102DOLdol.govVisit source
- Reference 103TEXASJUSTICEtexasjustice.comVisit source
- Reference 104ILLINOISTRIALillinoistrial.orgVisit source
- Reference 105PABARpabar.orgVisit source
- Reference 106OHIOBARohiobar.orgVisit source
- Reference 107MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 108LAWlaw.justia.comVisit source
- Reference 109LEGleg.colorado.govVisit source
- Reference 110VSBvsb.orgVisit source
- Reference 111IGAiga.in.govVisit source
- Reference 112MOCOURTSmocourts.govVisit source
- Reference 113PORTALportal.ct.govVisit source
- Reference 114OSBARosbar.orgVisit source
- Reference 115LEle.utah.govVisit source
- Reference 116KSLEGISLATUREkslegislature.orgVisit source
- Reference 117OPINIONSopinions.arcourts.govVisit source