Medical malpractice is one of the hardest, most expensive cases to bring in Idaho - and the law puts real hurdles in your path before you can even file. These are the Boise-area firms that actually take these cases to trial.
Updated January 02, 202613 min readEditorially independent
If a doctor, surgeon, or hospital in the Boise area hurt you through a careless mistake, you may have a medical malpractice claim - but Idaho makes these cases harder to bring than almost any other kind of injury case. Before you can file a lawsuit, Idaho law requires your claim to go before a prelitigation screening panel, and you generally have only two years from the date of the negligence to act. Missing that window usually ends the case before it starts.
These cases are also expensive to prove. Your lawyer has to hire medical experts to review the records and testify that your care fell below the accepted standard, and Idaho caps the amount you can recover for non-economic harm like pain and suffering. That is why most reputable firms take medical malpractice on a contingency fee - they front the costs and only get paid if you win. It also means the strongest firms are selective: they screen hard and pursue the cases they believe they can prove.
Below are ten Boise-area firms with a verifiable medical malpractice or serious-injury practice. We focused on firms that handle malpractice specifically - misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, birth injuries, and hospital negligence - rather than general practices that dabble. Every one offers a free case review, so it costs you nothing to get a real opinion on whether your case is worth pursuing.
How we picked these 10: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Boise-area medical malpractice practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Hepworth Holzer, LLP
Boise, IDPlaintiff injury & malpractice firm
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, surgical errors, birth injuries, wrongful death, catastrophic injury
Hepworth Holzer is widely regarded as the leading medical malpractice trial firm in Idaho. Founding partner Charlie Hepworth has practiced in Idaho since 1983 and has a long record of success in malpractice cases; partners Kurt Holzer and John Edwards round out a team that has recovered hundreds of millions for injury and wrongful-death clients statewide.
Why they made the list: Recognized in Super Lawyers and consistently named among Idaho's top injury trial lawyers, with a dedicated Boise medical malpractice practice.
Practice focus: Medical negligence, misdiagnosis, medication errors, hospital liability
Patrick Mahoney has spent more than two decades handling Idaho medical malpractice and personal injury cases, and Mahoney Law reports recovering more than $20 million for clients over the last ten years. The firm handles malpractice matters across Idaho and parts of eastern Oregon and Washington from its Boise office.
Why they made the list: Top ratings on Super Lawyers, Avvo, and Google, and a focused medical-negligence practice page.
Practice focus: Physician negligence, hospital liability, personal injury, employment
Rossman Law Group is an established Boise firm with a dedicated medical malpractice practice that includes physician negligence and hospital-liability claims. The firm represents injured clients across Idaho and publishes detailed guidance on how malpractice claims work in the state.
Why they made the list: Appears in Justia, FindLaw, and Super Lawyers Boise malpractice listings and runs a standalone medical malpractice practice group.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, wrongful death, catastrophic injury
Comstock & Bush is a Boise trial firm focused on injury and wrongful-death cases, including those arising from medical care. The firm has been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, a peer rating that reflects high marks for legal ability and ethics.
Why they made the list: AV Preeminent peer rating and a long-standing Idaho injury and wrongful-death trial practice.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, personal injury, employment
Kluksdal Law brings close to three decades of experience litigating personal injury, employment, and medical malpractice cases in Idaho. The firm represents clients seeking to recover medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs after negligent care.
Why they made the list: Nearly 30 years of Idaho litigation experience and a dedicated Boise medical malpractice page.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, personal injury, accident claims
McKinnie Law Office serves Boise and the surrounding area in personal injury and accident matters, including medical malpractice lawsuits. The firm represents clients injured by the negligence or inaction of healthcare providers and hospitals.
Why they made the list: Listed in Boise medical malpractice directories and handles malpractice within a focused injury practice.
Practice focus: Personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death
Parker & McConkie is a regional injury firm with a Boise office that handles serious personal injury and medical malpractice claims. The firm works on a contingency basis and offers free case evaluations to injured Idahoans.
Why they made the list: Maintains a Boise injury office and publishes a medical malpractice practice area; appears in regional injury directories.
Practice focus: Personal injury, medical negligence, accident claims
Racine Olson is one of Idaho's long-established full-service firms, with offices in Boise and Pocatello and a personal injury and accident practice that includes medical negligence claims. Its size lets it staff complex, expert-heavy cases.
Why they made the list: Decades-long Idaho presence with a dedicated injury group and statewide reach.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death
Shep Law Group helps malpractice victims throughout the Treasure Valley, including Boise, Ada County, and Canyon County, from its Meridian office. The firm pursues compensation for victims of negligent medical care and serious injury.
Why they made the list: Serves the Boise metro with a malpractice-focused injury practice and free consultations.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, birth injury, surgical error
Goldberg & Loren maintains a Boise medical malpractice practice as part of a multi-state injury firm, handling birth-injury, surgical-error, and hospital-negligence claims on a contingency basis. As with any multi-office firm, ask who in Idaho will actually handle your file.
Why they made the list: Maintains a Boise medical malpractice presence and appears in local malpractice search listings.
Tell us what happened and we will match you with vetted Boise-area medical malpractice attorneys. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in Boise
Make sure they actually try malpractice cases. Many Boise injury firms advertise malpractice but settle car-accident files for a living. Ask how many medical malpractice cases the firm has taken to a screening panel or trial in the last three years.
Ask who pays for the medical experts. Malpractice cases require paid expert physicians. On a contingency fee, the firm fronts those costs and recovers them from any award - confirm that in writing so you are not billed if the case does not succeed.
Confirm they know Idaho's prelitigation panel. Idaho requires most malpractice claims to go through a prelitigation screening panel before suit. You want a firm that handles this routinely, not one learning the process on your case.
Watch the two-year clock. Idaho's statute of limitations for malpractice is generally two years from the negligent act. If your deadline is close, say so on the first call - some firms cannot take a case with little time left.
What medical malpractice help typically costs in Boise
Almost every Boise medical malpractice firm works on contingency, so your costs depend on the outcome, not an hourly bill:
Initial case review. Free at every firm on this list.
Contingency fee. Commonly 33% to 40% of the recovery, sometimes rising if the case goes to trial. Get the exact percentages in writing.
Case costs (experts, records, filing). Often $20,000 to $100,000+ in a contested malpractice case, advanced by the firm and repaid from the recovery if you win.
Idaho non-economic damage cap. Idaho caps non-economic damages (pain and suffering) at a figure adjusted annually - roughly $400,000 - though economic losses like medical bills and lost income are not capped.
Because the firm carries the financial risk, strong firms only take cases they believe they can prove. A free review tells you quickly whether yours is one of them.
How long it takes
Idaho malpractice cases move slowly because of the extra steps the law requires:
Records review and expert screening. Usually 2 to 6 months while the firm gathers records and has physicians evaluate the standard of care.
Prelitigation screening panel. An Idaho-required step before filing suit, typically adding several months.
Filing through settlement or trial. Most contested cases take 1.5 to 3 years from filing, depending on the court's calendar and the defense.
Appeals. If either side appeals, add a year or more.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a medical malpractice lawyer in Boise
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many medical malpractice matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Boise consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most medical malpractice matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Medical Malpractice attorney in Boise
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about medical malpractice lawyers in Boise
How do I know if I have a medical malpractice case in Boise?
You need more than a bad outcome. A case requires proof that a provider's care fell below the accepted medical standard and that the substandard care caused you real harm. A free review, followed by an expert's record review, is how Boise firms decide whether a case is viable.
How long do I have to file in Idaho?
Generally two years from the date of the negligent act or omission, under Idaho Code section 5-219. Narrow exceptions exist - for example, a foreign object left in the body or fraudulent concealment - but you should never assume an exception applies. Talk to a lawyer well before the two-year mark.
What is Idaho's prelitigation screening panel?
Before filing most malpractice lawsuits, Idaho law requires the claim to go before a prelitigation screening panel that reviews the dispute. It is non-binding, but it is a mandatory step, and a firm that handles malpractice routinely will guide you through it.
Is there a cap on what I can recover?
Idaho caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at an amount adjusted each year (roughly $400,000). There is generally no cap on economic damages like medical bills, future care, and lost earnings, which are often the largest part of a serious case.
What does it cost to hire a malpractice lawyer?
Almost always nothing up front. These cases run on contingency: the firm advances the expert and litigation costs and takes a percentage (commonly 33% to 40%) only if you recover. Get the percentages and cost terms in writing.
Do I have to sue my own doctor?
The claim is usually against the provider's malpractice insurer, not the doctor's personal assets. Many clients are uncomfortable with the idea at first, but the goal is compensation for your harm, and insurance is what pays it.
What if a family member died from negligent care?
That may be a wrongful death claim, which has its own rules and time limits in Idaho. Several firms on this list, including Hepworth Holzer and Comstock & Bush, handle medical wrongful-death cases specifically.
Will my case go to trial?
Most settle, but malpractice defendants and insurers fight hard, so you want a firm willing and able to try the case. Ask each firm directly how many malpractice cases it has actually taken to trial.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
Helpful next steps
If this guide was useful, here is where most readers go next.