Reviewed by David Dozier, Managing Partner of Dozier Law Firm · Licensed in Georgia since 1998 · Last updated October 30, 2026
Savannah Medical Malpractice Lawyers for Patients and Families in the Coastal Empire
Patients in Savannah trust their doctors, nurses, and hospitals to get it right. When a preventable mistake causes a serious injury or the loss of a loved one, families are left with medical bills, lost income, and questions nobody at the hospital wants to answer. Dozier Law helps patients and families across Chatham County and the Coastal Empire find those answers and hold negligent providers accountable. Our Savannah office is at 7302 Abercorn Street, and our firm has represented Georgia families since 1966. Our results include a $4,000,000 medical malpractice recovery. We handle malpractice cases on a contingency fee, so there is no cost to talk with us and no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you. Free case review: call our Savannah office at 912-239-4395.
When a Medical Mistake Becomes Malpractice
A bad result after treatment does not automatically mean someone was negligent. Medical malpractice is care that falls below the professional standard, meaning what a reasonably careful provider in the same specialty would have done, and that causes an injury the patient would not otherwise have suffered. Warning signs that something may have gone wrong include:
- A diagnosis that came months after your symptoms started, after you were told it was nothing serious
- A new injury or complication after surgery that no one explained, such as nerve damage or a perforated organ
- A serious reaction to a medication you were given in the wrong dose or despite a known allergy
- A baby born with injuries after a long or difficult delivery
- A loved one in a hospital or nursing home who developed bedsores, infections, or dehydration
- Being discharged from an emergency room and returning soon after with a far more serious condition
If any of these sound familiar, a review of your medical records by a lawyer and a medical expert is the best way to find out whether you have a claim.
Types of Medical Malpractice Claims We Handle in Savannah
We represent patients who were hurt at hospitals, surgery centers, clinics, urgent care centers, pharmacies, and long-term care facilities throughout the Savannah area, including care at Memorial Health University Medical Center, St. Joseph’s/Candler, and other area providers. Our Savannah medical malpractice attorneys handle:
- Diagnostic errors. Missed or delayed diagnosis of cancer, heart attack, stroke, sepsis, and infections.
- Surgical errors. Wrong-site procedures, organ and nerve damage, retained objects, and poor follow-up care.
- Birth injuries. Oxygen deprivation, delayed C-sections, and injuries caused by mishandled deliveries.
- Medication errors. Wrong drug, wrong dose, and dangerous interactions at hospitals and pharmacies.
- Anesthesia mistakes. Dosing errors and failures to monitor patients during and after procedures.
- Emergency room negligence. Missed warning signs, premature discharge, and delays in care.
- Nursing and hospital negligence. Falls, infections, pressure ulcers, and failures to follow orders or alert doctors to changes.
- Nursing home negligence. Neglect and abuse of elderly residents in Savannah-area facilities.
If a medical mistake took the life of someone you love, your family may also have a wrongful death claim.
Georgia Rules That Apply to Savannah Malpractice Cases
You Need a Medical Expert From the Start
Georgia requires a malpractice lawsuit to be filed with a sworn affidavit from a qualified medical expert that identifies at least one negligent act and the basis for that opinion (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1). We work with physicians and nurses who review the care and, when the case is strong, provide the affidavit and testimony the case needs.
Strict Filing Deadlines
Most Georgia malpractice claims must be filed within two years of the injury or death (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71), and generally no later than five years after the negligent act, even if the harm was discovered later. Claims involving a foreign object left in the body generally must be filed within one year of discovery (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-72). Special rules can apply to young children. Waiting can cost you the right to recover, so it is important to act quickly.
A Higher Standard for Emergency Care
For emergency room care, Georgia law generally requires proof of gross negligence by clear and convincing evidence (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-29.5). These claims need careful expert review before they are filed.
What Compensation May Be Available
A successful claim can cover past and future medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, and pain and suffering. The Georgia Supreme Court struck down the state’s cap on non-economic damages in malpractice cases in 2010. Georgia’s 2025 tort reform law changed some rules for trials, including how medical bills are presented to juries for injuries on or after April 21, 2025.
What Working With Dozier Law Looks Like
- We listen. Your first consultation is free and confidential. Tell us what happened and what you were told.
- We get the records. We request the complete chart, including nursing notes, test results, imaging, and medication records.
- We have experts review the care. Doctors and nurses in the right specialty tell us whether the standard of care was met.
- We build the claim. If the case is strong, we file suit in the right court, often in Chatham County, and pursue discovery and depositions.
- We fight for a fair result. We negotiate from a position of strength and are prepared to take the case to trial.
Why Savannah Families Choose Dozier Law
- A local office. Our Savannah office on Abercorn Street serves Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill, Tybee Island, Hinesville, and the rest of coastal Georgia.
- 60 years of experience. Dozier Law has represented injured Georgians since 1966.
- Results that matter. Our recoveries include a $4,000,000 medical malpractice result and multiple seven-figure verdicts and settlements.
- No upfront cost. We work on contingency and advance the cost of experts and litigation.
We also handle malpractice cases through our Macon medical malpractice lawyers, Albany office, and Atlanta office.
Savannah Medical Malpractice FAQs
What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Georgia?
In most cases, two years from the date of the injury or death, with a five-year outer limit from the date of the negligent act. Foreign-object cases and cases involving young children can follow different rules, so talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.
How much does it cost to hire a medical malpractice lawyer in Savannah?
Dozier Law works on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront and no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you. We explain the fee in writing before you sign.
Can I sue a Savannah hospital for medical malpractice?
Often, yes. Hospitals can be responsible for mistakes by their employees, such as nurses and staff physicians, and for their own failures, such as unsafe staffing. Some doctors are independent contractors rather than hospital employees, so we investigate who is responsible for each part of your care.
How long does a medical malpractice case take?
Malpractice cases usually take longer than other injury cases because of the expert review, records, and depositions involved. Many take a year or more, and cases that go to trial can take longer. We keep you informed at every step.
What should I bring to my consultation?
Bring any medical records, discharge papers, bills, and insurance letters you have, plus a list of the providers who treated you and the dates. If you don’t have records, that’s fine. We can request them for you.
Talk to a Savannah Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you or someone you love was harmed by medical negligence in Savannah or anywhere on the Georgia coast, call our Savannah office at 912-239-4395 or contact us online for a free, confidential case review. This page provides general information about Georgia medical malpractice law and is not legal advice. Every case is different, so please contact an attorney about your situation.
