Spokane, Washington
Harmed by a medical error in Spokane? These are complex, expensive cases that demand a firm with real trial experience and medical experts on call. Here are the ones that qualify.
Medical malpractice is one of the hardest kinds of injury case to win, and one of the most consequential. To prevail in Washington, you generally must prove that a provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that the failure caused your injury, almost always with testimony from qualified medical experts. That makes these cases expensive to build, which is why only firms with the resources and trial record to take them belong on this list.
Washington gives you three years from the date of the injury, or one year from when you reasonably discovered it, to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, with an overall outer limit of eight years. Those deadlines and the expert-proof requirement are why you should consult a malpractice attorney early, while records are fresh and experts can still review them.
Every firm below works on contingency, advancing the substantial costs of experts and litigation and collecting a fee only if you recover. The firms were chosen for verifiable Spokane-area malpractice practices and recognition from groups like Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and state trial-lawyer associations.
Most Spokane malpractice cases are brought against the region's hospital systems and their providers, defendants who fund an aggressive defense and hire well-credentialed experts. That reality rewards firms that have litigated against these institutions before and know their playbook, and it punishes inexperienced lawyers who underestimate what these cases take.
How we picked these 7: 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 Spokane-area medical malpractice practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Surgical errors, medication errors, misdiagnosis, birth injury
Founder Mary Schultz has been honored for years by Best Lawyers in America, Washington Super Lawyers, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, with a practice centered on serious medical-negligence cases.
Why they made the list: Sustained national recognition specifically for medical malpractice trial work.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, product liability
Mark Kamitomo joined Luvera Law as of-counsel in 2022, bringing decades of high-stakes malpractice experience; he was named Washington State Association for Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2010.
Why they made the list: One of the region's most decorated malpractice trial lawyers.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, serious injury, wrongful death
William Gilbert's firm handles Washington medical malpractice cases in the Spokane area as part of a broader serious-injury and wrongful-death practice with a large reported recovery record.
Why they made the list: Significant resources and recovery history for complex malpractice claims.
Practice focus: Medical and hospital negligence, surgical and diagnostic errors
With more than 60 years of history, the firm litigates cases where patients were injured by provider or facility negligence; founder Roger Felice was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association in 2003.
Why they made the list: A long-established malpractice practice with a decorated founder.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes
Founded in 1971, Winston & Cashatt handles Spokane medical malpractice matters including late or incorrect diagnoses and surgical errors, backed by a deep litigation bench.
Why they made the list: Institutional litigation depth for cases that may go the distance.
Practice focus: Medical negligence, injuries from substandard care
The Boswell Law Firm represents clients across the Pacific Northwest whose injuries resulted from medical personnel or facilities failing to provide proper care.
Why they made the list: A dedicated advocate for patients harmed by substandard care.
Practice focus: Medical malpractice, birth injury, wrongful death
This regional Washington injury firm maintains a Spokane medical malpractice practice handling negligence, birth injury, and wrongful-death claims.
Why they made the list: Regional resources and a focused malpractice and birth-injury practice.
Harmed by a medical error in Spokane? Tell us what happened and we'll connect you with one of these malpractice firms or a similar one for a free, confidential case review.
Insist on real malpractice trial experience. Medical malpractice is not general injury work. The defense hires top experts, so you want a firm, like Mary Schultz Law or Mark Kamitomo, with a record of trying and winning these specific cases.
Ask about resources for experts. These cases can cost tens of thousands of dollars in expert review before trial. Confirm the firm advances those costs and has the financial depth to see the case through.
Move quickly on the deadline. Washington's three-year clock (or one year from discovery, capped at eight years) is unforgiving, and experts need time to review records. Consult a lawyer as soon as you suspect malpractice.
Expect an honest screen. Strong malpractice firms decline cases they cannot win. A frank no can save you years; a lawyer who promises a big payout at the first meeting is a red flag.
Ask whether they've taken on Spokane's hospitals before. The region's major hospital systems defend malpractice cases hard. A firm that has litigated against them already knows their experts, their tactics, and where their cases are vulnerable.
Medical malpractice firms in Spokane work on contingency and advance the heavy costs of building the case. What to expect:
The economics mean firms are selective. If several strong firms decline your case, that is important information about how hard it would be to prove.
Medical malpractice cases are among the longest-running injury matters:
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.
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.
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most medical malpractice matters, gather:
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.
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
These firms work on contingency, commonly 33% to 40% of any recovery, and advance the substantial costs of experts and litigation. The initial review is free and there is generally no fee unless you recover.
Generally three years from the injury, or one year from when you reasonably discovered it, whichever is later, with an overall outer limit of eight years. Deadlines are strict, so consult a lawyer early.
That a provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that the failure caused your injury. This almost always requires testimony from qualified medical experts, which is why these cases are expensive to build.
Malpractice firms only take cases they believe they can prove and win, because the costs are so high. Multiple declines usually mean the standard-of-care or causation proof is difficult, which is valuable information.
It depends on the severity and permanence of the harm, medical costs, lost income, and the strength of the expert proof. Be wary of any lawyer who promises a specific number up front.
Washington does not currently cap most medical malpractice damages, but every case turns on its specific facts and the available insurance. A lawyer can give you a realistic range for your situation.
Effectively, yes. Proving malpractice requires qualified medical experts to establish the standard of care and causation, and reputable firms arrange that review before they file.
You may have a wrongful-death claim. Washington allows certain family members to recover for a death caused by negligence, and a malpractice firm can evaluate whether the proof is there.
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.