Medical errors kill thousands of patients every year. Misdiagnosis. Surgical mistakes. Medication errors. Hospital negligence. These deaths are preventable.
Families left behind face funeral costs, lost income, and the devastating reality that someone’s negligence caused their loss. Massachusetts law allows families to seek compensation through wrongful death claims.
Not every law firm handles medical malpractice cases. These cases require specialized knowledge. Medical experts. Understanding of hospital protocols. Familiarity with complex medical records.
The following firms have deep experience in medical malpractice fatalities. They have secured millions for families who lost loved ones to medical negligence. Here are five Massachusetts wrongful death lawyers with proven track records in this complex field.
1. Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers represents families who have lost loved ones to medical malpractice. The firm handles cases involving surgical errors, missed diagnoses, and medication mistakes that led to death.
The firm’s attorneys understand the complexities of medical malpractice litigation. They work with medical experts to review records and identify negligence. They know how to challenge hospital defenses and hold negligent providers accountable.
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers as a Massachusetts wrongful death lawyers,has recovered over $150 million for more than 10,000 clients across Massachusetts. Their Boston wrongful death attorney team includes nine lawyers who handle medical malpractice fatalities from investigation through trial.
- Works with medical experts to review records and identify negligence
- Handles surgical errors, misdiagnoses, and medication mistakes
- Nine attorneys with experience in medical malpractice fatalities
- Over $150 million recovered for clients
2. Lubin & Meyer PC
Lubin & Meyer has dominated medical malpractice litigation in New England for nearly two decades. The firm has led all law firms in the region for 18 consecutive years in million-dollar medical malpractice verdicts and settlements. In 2025, they obtained 43 verdicts and settlements of one million dollars or more. That was more than nine times the number achieved by any other firm in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
The firm’s recent medical malpractice victories include $28.8 million for a death caused by an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm at North Shore Medical Center, Salem Hospital. A $17 million verdict for a botched elective hernia surgery that proved fatal. A $15 million settlement for a baby’s sleep study death at Boston Children’s Hospital. A $12 million settlement for a maternal death case was resolved before trial.
Lubin & Meyer holds the largest medical malpractice verdict in Massachusetts history.
Forty million dollars for a baby’s brain injury at birth. The firm also secured $30 million for a baby’s severe brain damage at birth and $23.8 million for a child born with cerebral palsy. Their team includes 19 lawyers and four registered nurses on staff. This combination of legal and medical expertise gives them an edge in complex malpractice cases. Families who lost loved ones to hospital negligence turn to them for help.
- $28.8 million verdict for aortic aneurysm death
- $17 million verdict for hernia surgery death
- $15 million settlement for sleep study death at Boston Children’s Hospital
- 18 consecutive years leading all firms in million-dollar medical malpractice results
- Largest medical malpractice verdict in Massachusetts history ($40 million)
3. Swartz & Swartz, P.C.
Swartz & Swartz has a team that focuses on malpractice and wrongful death cases. A lawyer in charge at Swartz & Swartz handles cases where someone was negligent or a product was not safe, or there was malpractice or wrongful death that resulted in very bad injuries. The lawyer has been named by Super Lawyers every year since 2004 for his work on malpractice and wrongful death cases.
The firm has obtained a $10.5 million medical malpractice verdict. They have also secured a $6 million settlement for a young boy’s drowning death at a day camp and $6,012,000 for a brain injury case involving a defective medical device. The firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers every year since 2004. Their experience extends to wrongful death, class actions, railroad law, maritime law, and aviation law.
The firm’s attorneys are AV Peer-Review rated (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell. This certification reflects that peers rank them at the highest level of professional excellence. They have also been members of the American Trial Lawyers Association, meeting standards of excellence for selection to the “Top 100 trial lawyers” in Massachusetts. This makes them trusted Boston wrongful death attorneys for medical negligence cases.
- Managing attorney named a Super Lawyer every year since 2004 for medical malpractice work
- AV Peer-Review rated (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell
- Nationwide litigation and trial practice for medical negligence cases
- Senior counsel with extensive medical malpractice experience
- Practice areas include medical malpractice and wrongful death
4. Burns & Jain
Burns & Jain has been practicing in Boston since 1985.
The firm handles cases of malpractice and wrongful death.
They have experience in courts, including District Courts, Superior Courts, the Appeals Court, Housing Court, Probate Courts, and the Federal District Court. The firm has represented families in cases of malpractice where carelessness led to wrongful death.
They know how hard it is to prove carelessness and make negligent providers take responsibility. Their lawyers have won big settlements.
Burns & Jain is known for getting cases ready well. They collect records, talk to experts, and build strong cases. They are also known as lawyers for fatal accident cases and have experience with medical negligence cases.
- Handles medical malpractice wrongful death cases
- Experience across multiple Massachusetts courts, including the Superior Court
- Represents families in cases involving legal malpractice where negligence led to wrongful death
- Thorough case preparation with expert consultation
- Has secured numerous multi-million dollar settlements
5. Joel H. Schwartz, P.C.
Joel H. Schwartz, P.C., has been practicing personal injury law in Massachusetts for over fifty-five years. The firm’s attorneys collectively bring over one hundred eighty-five years of litigation experience. They have successfully resolved more than thirty thousand claims and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients.
The firm covers investigation and litigation costs upfront. They pay for medical records and expert fees. These costs get reimbursed at the end. Clients do not pay anything during the case. They are a reliable wrongful death lawyer in Boston for medical malpractice cases.
The firm has earned recognition from the National Trial Lawyers Association, Avvo, and Boston’s Top Rated Lawyers. Their reputation for handling complex medical malpractice and wrongful death cases is well-established.
- Handles medical malpractice wrongful death cases involving surgical errors, misdiagnosis, and medication mistakes
- Over 185 years of combined litigation experience in medical malpractice and wrongful death cases
- Works with medical experts to review records and identify negligence
- Represents families who lost loved ones to hospital negligence and medical errors
- More than 30,000 claims resolved, including medical malpractice fatalities
How Medical Malpractice Cases Are Different
Medical malpractice cases are more complex than other wrongful death claims. The law requires families to prove that a medical professional breached the standard of care. This means showing that the doctor or hospital did not provide treatment that a reasonably competent professional would have provided.
These cases require expert testimony. Doctors must testify about what the standard of care required and how the defendant failed to meet it. The firms listed here have relationships with medical experts who can provide this testimony. They know which experts to call and how to present complex medical evidence to juries.
Medical records are the backbone of these cases. The firms on this list have systems for obtaining and organizing thousands of pages of records. They know what to look for and where to find it. They understand how hospitals document care and where errors are most likely to appear.
Hospitals and insurance companies in medical malpractice cases are aggressive. They have deep pockets and experienced defense teams. The firms listed here have the resources to fight them. They can afford expert witnesses. They can take cases to trial. They will not settle for less than families deserve.
Side-by-Side Look
Medical malpractice cases have their own rules. The evidence is different. The experts are different. The defenses are different. Here is how the firms on this list compare when it comes to handling fatal medical negligence cases.
| Feature | Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers | Lubin & Meyer PC | Swartz & Swartz, P.C. | Burns & Jain | Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. |
| Years of Experience | Since 2013 | Since 1974 | Decades | Since 1985 | 55+ years |
| Largest Medical Malpractice Verdict | $2.5 million | $40 million (largest in MA) | Multi-millions | Multi-millions | Hundreds of millions |
| Medical Experts | Yes | Yes (4 nurses on staff) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Court Experience | MA, NH, CT | MA, NH, RI | Nationwide | Multiple MA courts | MA courts |
| Contingency Fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Medical records, expert testimony, and hospital protocols separate winning cases from losing ones. The table above shows which firms have the resources to handle these elements. But families still have questions about the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Families who lose a loved one to medical negligence usually have the same concerns. They wonder about deadlines. They wonder about costs. They wonder which firm has the most experience. Here are answers to the most common questions.
How do I know if medical negligence caused my loved one’s death?
When we talk about negligence, it usually means that the healthcare provider did not follow the rules that most healthcare providers follow. When a family loses a loved one because of medical negligence, the family needs to get the medical records of the loved one and also get opinions from medical experts to prove that the healthcare provider was careless.
The family needs to get these records and expert opinions to show that the healthcare provider made a mistake, and this mistake caused the death of the loved one.
The attorneys on this list are experienced with medical negligence cases. They know how to find the right experts and understand complex medical records related to medical negligence.
What is the difference between a malpractice claim and a wrongful death claim?
A medical malpractice claim is filed by the patient who was harmed by negligence. A wrongful death claim is filed by the family of the patient after the patient dies because of negligence. In cases where the patient dies because of negligence, the family can file both claims together. One claim is for the pain and suffering of the patient before they died because of negligence. The other claim is for the losses that the family suffers after the patient dies because of negligence.
Can I sue a hospital for a doctor’s mistake that was caused by negligence?
Yes, sometimes families who lose a loved one to medical negligence can sue a hospital for a doctor’s mistake. Hospitals can be held responsible for what their employees do, including doctors and nurses. This is called liability. Hospitals can also be directly responsible for their mistakes, such as not having enough staff or not taking care of their equipment. The law firms listed here understand how to figure out who is responsible for negligence.
What happens if the medical error that caused my loved one’s death happened years ago?
In Massachusetts, when a family loses a loved one because of a medical mistake, they have three years from the day their loved one died to file a claim. Sometimes a family might not know that a medical mistake was the reason their loved one died.
If that is the case, they might still have time to file a claim. This is what people call the discovery rule. A lawyer can look at what happened to my loved one and figure out if the family can still file a medical mistake claim.
Conclusions
Medical malpractice fatalities are devastating. Families lose loved ones to preventable errors. The firms listed here have the experience to handle these complex cases.
Lubin & Meyer PC leads all firms in the region with 18 consecutive years of million-dollar medical malpractice results. This shows that they are really good at what they do. When people lose someone they care about because of a doctor’s mistake, they can count on Lubin & Meyer PC to help them. The firm has a lot of experience with malpractice cases, and that is what families need when they are dealing with something so difficult.
Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers also handles medical malpractice fatalities. Their team of nine attorneys works with medical experts to build strong cases.
For families seeking a wrongful death attorney in Boston with medical malpractice experience, the firms listed here represent strong choices. Each has proven experience in this complex field.