Tucson Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers
When Medical Care Causes Harm, We Stand With Tucson Families
At Miller Kory Rowe, we know no amount of compensation can erase the effects of medical negligence. But holding negligent providers accountable brings more than financial recovery. It helps prevent the same harm from happening to other families across Southern Arizona.
Arizona-Wide Representation
Offices in Phoenix, Tucson & Globe
AZ Board Certified Specialist*
in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death
No Cost or Fees
Unless We Win
“At MKR, we combine extensive litigation experience with the medical knowledge needed to effectively advocate for our clients when they need it most. After four decades of handling medical malpractice cases in Arizona, one thing remains constant: medical malpractice cases are about more than just medicine and law – they’re about families whose lives have been fundamentally changed. Drawing from my experience as both a legal practitioner and medical school instructor, I’ve learned that success requires both technical expertise and a deep understanding of what families are going through.”
Jeffrey Miller
AZ Board Certified Specialist
in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death
What to Expect When Working With Us
We understand that pursuing a medical malpractice claim can feel daunting. Our team will guide you through each step of the process.
1. Initial Consultation
We’ll listen to your story, review available documentation, and provide an honest assessment of your case. This consultation is free, and there’s no obligation to proceed.
2. Investigation Phase
If we take your case, we’ll gather all necessary medical records and consult with expert witnesses to build a strong foundation for your claim. Under A.R.S. § 12-2604, Arizona law requires specific qualifications for medical expert witnesses:
- Licensed Medical Professional: Expert witnesses must maintain current healthcare provider licenses
- Same Specialty Experience: Experts must practice in the same medical specialty as the defendant
- Active Practice Requirements: Experts must have spent most of their time in either clinical practice or teaching during the year before the incident
3. Claim Development
We’ll calculate the full extent of your damages and prepare comprehensive settlement demands or legal filings.
4. Negotiation or Litigation
We’ll pursue fair compensation through negotiation when possible, but we’re always prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.
Record-Setting
$28 Million
Psychiatric Malpractice Case in Arizona
With decades of experience and a deep understanding of complex litigation, Miller Kory Rowe stands beside families facing life-altering cases.
Details Specific to our Tucson Location
- Tucson City Court
- City Court | South Tucson Arizona
- Tucson | District of Arizona
- Pima County, AZ
- Arizona Judicial Branch
Our Tucson office: 2135 East Grant Road,
Suite 100, Tucson, Az 85719
Understanding Medical Malpractice in Tucson and Across Arizona
A single mistake by a healthcare provider can turn routine medical care into a life-changing crisis for patients and their families.
As of fiscal year 2024, the Arizona Medical Board reported over 31,000 licensed physicians practicing in the state. But more doctors doesn’t always mean safer care. Medical errors remain a serious and underreported problem, not just across the country but here in Arizona as well.
In 2024, Arizona recorded 164 malpractice payment reports totaling approximately $76.21 million to the National Practitioner Data Bank. This substantial volume of payments reflects the ongoing risk of preventable medical harm in the state.
Updated research shows that medical errors now account for an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 deaths per year in the United States, making them the third leading cause of death, behind only heart disease and cancer.
Common Forms of Medical Negligence
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of serious conditions
- Surgical mistakes and complications during recovery
- Medication errors, like incorrect dosages or dangerous drug combinations
- Birth injuries caused by poor monitoring or failure to act quickly
- Brain injuries resulting from oxygen deprivation, anesthesia errors, or delayed emergency care
These kinds of failures can happen anywhere—hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, or long-term care facilities. And when they do, the damage doesn’t stop with the patient. Families are left managing long recoveries, unexpected bills, and emotional fallout that can last for years.
At Miller Kory Rowe, we don’t just review charts. We dig into what happened, why it happened, and how it could have been prevented. By working with trusted medical experts, we build strong, evidence-backed cases to hold negligent providers across Arizona accountable.
Our Approach to Medical Malpractice Cases
We begin by listening to your story and understanding how medical negligence has impacted your life. Our team then conducts a thorough investigation, including:
- Detailed review of all medical records
- Consultation with medical experts
- Analysis of applicable standards of care
- Assessment of long-term impact and future medical needs
This comprehensive approach allows us to build strong cases that demonstrate both liability and the full extent of damages. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, though many cases settle through negotiation. This thorough preparation gives us leverage in settlement talks and ensures we’re ready if trial becomes necessary.
What Is the Legal Standard of Care in Arizona?
Under A.R.S. § 12-563, Arizona law sets a clear standard for medical malpractice claims. To prove a case, you must show:
- The healthcare provider did not act with the level of care, skill, and knowledge that a reasonably careful provider in the same field would have used.
- That failure directly caused the injury.
- The harm resulted in measurable damages.
In other words, it’s not enough that something went wrong. You have to demonstrate that the provider’s actions fell below the accepted standard of care and that this failure is what caused the injury.
Arizona Medical Malpractice Laws: Understanding Your Rights
If you’ve been harmed by medical negligence in Arizona, you have the right to pursue accountability. But the legal path isn’t easy, and the system often favors healthcare providers over injured patients. Arizona’s medical malpractice laws include specific deadlines and procedural hurdles that can impact your ability to recover compensation. Knowing your rights early can make all the difference.
Statute of Limitations
Under A.R.S. § 12-542, most medical malpractice claims in Arizona must be filed within two years of the injury. However, Arizona also follows the “discovery rule,” which gives patients more time if the injury wasn’t immediately obvious. In those cases, the two-year clock starts when the harm is discovered or reasonably should have been.
If your case is in Tucson or surrounding areas, you’ll likely be working with the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court, which handles civil matters and provides access to court forms, deadlines, and filing procedures.
Expert Affidavit Requirement
Before a malpractice case can move forward, Arizona law (A.R.S. § 12-2603) requires the injured patient to submit a preliminary expert affidavit. This document must:
- The expert’s qualifications to opine on the standard of care or liability.
- The factual basis for each claim against the healthcare professional.
- The specific acts, errors, or omissions that the expert considers a violation of the standard of care.
- An explanation of how these actions caused or contributed to the damages sought.
This requirement is framed as a way to weed out baseless claims. But in reality, it gives defendants an early look at your case strategy, something injured patients don’t get in return. Doctors and hospitals don’t have to disclose their defenses right away, which means families often have to fight blind for months before they even know what the other side is claiming.
At Miller Kory Rowe, we don’t just navigate these legal barriers. We challenge the imbalance. Our team prepares every case to meet Arizona’s legal standards while protecting your right to hold negligent providers accountable.
Understanding Compensation in Arizona Medical Malpractice Cases
In Arizona, the law is clear: injured patients have the right to seek full compensation.
Unlike many states, Article 2, Section 31 of the Arizona Constitution prohibits lawmakers from placing caps on damages in medical malpractice cases. That protection matters because no insurance company or hospital lawyer should get to decide the value of your pain, your recovery, or your future.
While no amount of compensation can undo what’s been lost, Arizona law allows victims and their families to pursue several types of damages that reflect the full scope of harm.
Depending on the details of your case, a malpractice claim may include:
Economic Damages
These cover the financial toll of the injury, including what it has already cost you and what it will likely cost in the future:
- Medical bills, including future care
- Lost wages and reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- In-home care, equipment, or home modifications
- Other necessary out-of-pocket expenses
Non-Economic Damages
These account for the emotional and personal impact of what happened, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment in daily life
- Strained family relationships or loss of companionship
At Miller Kory Rowe, we build claims that go beyond quick settlements. We work with respected medical economists, life care planners, and financial experts to calculate the real cost of your care, your future, and your peace of mind, then we fight to recover what you’re truly owed.
Share Your Story With Us –
Call Now
Approximately 22% of patients will experience a medical error at least once in their lives. Miller Kory Rowe is on a mission to help as many of those people in our communities as possible with honest and driven legal counsel.
Please call our Arizona medical malpractice attorneys at (520) 372-6400 at any time to request a free initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona Medical Malpractice
Q: How do I know if I have a valid medical malpractice case?
Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 12-563), we must demonstrate that the provider failed to meet the expected level of care and that this failure directly caused your injuries.
Q: What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Arizona?
Generally, you have two years from the date of injury to file a claim. However, Arizona’s “discovery rule” may extend this timeline if the injury wasn’t immediately discoverable. Consulting with an attorney promptly is crucial to protect your rights.
Q: Does Arizona require expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases?
Yes, Arizona law requires expert testimony to establish the standard of care and how it was breached. We work with highly qualified medical experts who meet Arizona’s strict requirements for expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases.
Q: What if I signed a consent form before treatment?
Q: How much does it cost to hire a medical malpractice attorney?
Real Client Testimonials
Our dedication to achieving successful outcomes for our clients is reflected in the authentic stories they share in our testimonials.
Many of these families came to us after discovering neglect in a nursing home or care facility.
“Teri Rowe and the team at MKR are highly recommended. My family and I went to Teri under the worst of circumstances and she was always kind, comforting, and helpful. Our case was complicated, sad, confusing and frustrating. She managed everything wonderfully. Our family lawyer referred us to Teri because Teri has a reputation for being the best. She definitely lives up to her reputation.”
— Michael Stenoien
“My sisters and I couldn’t have made a better choice by choosing Miller Kory Rowe to represent us. From day one to the end, their empathy, their professionalism and their confidence in our case never wavered. We were given the faith and they kept it. Their approach was completely professional but their concern for our case was equally personal. They took into account every little detail. They valued for us, our family values and ensured justice was done. We now have complete closure that this lawsuit is behind us, we can move forward knowing that we got some measure of justice for the harm done to our mother. Thank you so much Liz, Gabe and Stephanie.”
— Sherrie Dudek
“From our initial consultation to our final settlement. Miller, Kory and Rowe was with us every step of the way. Gabe and team kept us abreast of any updates on the case in a timely fashion and were always, often within minutes of an email, to walk us through what was happening in our case or clarify any questions we may have.
MKR’s compassion and thoughtfulness was genuine and was able to ease our minds in what was a difficult time with the passing of our mom. Gabe’s experience with these cases was very evident in our interactions and we had the utmost confidence in his representation. I would highly recommend MKR if you are ever in need of an attorney.”
— Joseph Shown
At Miller Kory Rowe, we are not afraid to take cases to trial. We are Arizona litigators with deep experience handling serious injury and wrongful death claims for families across the state.
Every case is prepared with the courtroom in mind. That level of preparation strengthens our strategy, builds trust with our clients, and puts pressure on the defense. We work with respected experts, craft compelling exhibits, and uncover the details that help juries understand the truth.
Whether your case involves medical negligence, elder abuse, or another form of life-changing harm, our focus stays the same: clear answers and meaningful results.
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