Fewer than 500 medical malpractice lawsuits are typically filed each year. Many medical malpractice lawsuits are settled. Some medical malpractice cases are filed with confidentiality agreements which prevent public disclosure about the amount of the settlements.

Most medical malpractice lawsuits are filed against the negligent medical professional and the medical facility where the negligence occurred. Medical professionals and facilities carry insurance to cover malpractice.

Some medical malpractice cases involve surgeries where the surgeon fell below the standard of care of a reasonably prudent surgeon in the State of Washington. Others may involve failure to properly diagnose an illness, or neglect at a nursing home or hospital where the patient developed a pressure ulcer that should have been prevented. 

Medical malpractice cases involving defective medical devices can be more complex, particularly where the harm caused by the device may not reveal itself for years after implantation or treatment. An experienced medical malpractice attorney tracks trends related to defective medical devices and drugs.