What is a Certificate of Merit and why does my case need one?

Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1042.3 requires that within 60 days of filing a medical malpractice complaint, the plaintiff file a Certificate of Merit signed by an appropriately licensed expert attesting that there is a reasonable probability the care fell below the standard. Without it the case is subject to dismissal.

How long do I have to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

Generally two years from the date you knew, or reasonably should have known, that the injury was caused by medical care. There is also a seven-year statute of repose for most adult cases, with important exceptions for minors and foreign objects.

What kinds of medical errors most often lead to malpractice claims?

Surgical errors (including wrong-site and retained-object surgery), birth injuries (HIE, brachial plexus, untreated preeclampsia), missed or delayed cancer diagnoses, missed cardiac events, medication and dosing errors, and hospital-acquired infections caused by protocol violations.

Are there damages caps on Pennsylvania medical malpractice cases?

Pennsylvania does not cap compensatory damages in medical malpractice cases. Punitive damages are limited to 200% of compensatory damages under MCARE, with 25% paid to the MCARE Fund.

Will I have to pay for the expert reviews?

No. We advance all case costs — including expert reviews, medical records, and depositions — and only recover those costs out of any recovery. If we do not win, you owe us nothing.

Statewide Representation

Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Attorney

Name: Quinlan Law Group
Address: 3425 Simpson Ferry Rd #100, Camp Hill, PA, 17011, US
Telephone: (717) 724-7503
Price range: Contingency Fee — No Fee Unless We Win

When a hospital, surgeon, or physician falls below the standard of care and a patient is harmed, Pennsylvania law provides a remedy. These are technically demanding cases — and we welcome them.

Call (717) 724-7503 Free Case Review

Why these cases are different

What sets Pennsylvania medical malpractice cases apart

Pennsylvania requires a Certificate of Merit (Pa. R.C.P. 1042.3) signed by a qualifying expert before a medical malpractice case can move forward. Without the right experts in place early, the case dies before it begins.
The MCARE Act (40 P.S. § 1303.101 et seq.) governs damages, expert qualifications, and venue. We litigate these cases inside the framework MCARE imposes.
Surgical errors, birth injuries, misdiagnoses (especially cancer and cardiac), medication errors, and hospital-acquired infections drive the bulk of high-value PA malpractice claims.
The two-year statute of limitations runs from when the patient knew, or reasonably should have known, of the injury and its connection to medical care (the discovery rule).
Defense firms in malpractice cases are well-funded and aggressive — we prepare every case to be tried.

Our Approach

How we build your medical malpractice case case

1
Free initial medical records review with qualified physician experts in the relevant specialty.
2
Certificate of Merit filed with the complaint, signed by an appropriately credentialed expert under Pa. R.C.P. 1042.3.
3
Comprehensive discovery: complete medical records, deposition of treating providers, hospital policies and protocols, peer review (where discoverable), and credentialing files.
4
Damages model built with life-care planners, vocational economists, and (where appropriate) treating specialists.
5
Trial preparation from day one — defendants and their insurers settle when they know we are ready to try the case.

Recoverable Damages

What you may be entitled to recover

Pennsylvania law allows victims of medical malpractice cases to recover both economic and non-economic damages. The categories below apply to most Pennsylvania cases — the specific value of your claim depends on the facts.

Past and future medical expenses
Lost income and lost earning capacity
Pain and suffering, embarrassment, humiliation, and loss of life's pleasures
Disfigurement and permanent impairment
Wrongful death and survival damages for fatal cases
Loss of consortium for the spouse and family

Local Coverage

Medical Malpractice Attorney near you

We handle medical malpractice case cases throughout Pennsylvania. Choose the city or county closest to where your medical malpractice case happened for a local overview and the courthouse, hospital, and roadway context that matters for your claim.

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Free, Confidential, No-Obligation

Talk to Sean Quinlan about your medical malpractice case case.

No Fee Unless We Win. Call now or request a free case review and Sean Quinlan will personally evaluate your case.

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