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Legally Reviewed by Michael Lerner on June 9, 2026
When a doctor, hospital, surgeon, or other healthcare provider makes an error that injures or kills a patient, the consequences are often permanent. A misdiagnosed cancer that spread because treatment was delayed. A surgical mistake that left a patient disabled. A medication error that caused organ failure. A birth injury that will require a lifetime of care. Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex personal injury cases in Pennsylvania — they require expert testimony, a procedural filing called a certificate of merit, and a thorough investigation of medical records that most people have no experience navigating on their own.
At Lerner, Steinberg and Associates, we have been representing medical malpractice victims in Bucks County for over 34 years from our office in Feasterville-Trevose. We know what these cases require, we know the hospitals and healthcare systems where most Bucks County cases arise, and we know how to build the evidentiary record that gives victims the best chance of full compensation. Mike Lerner and Ben Steinberg handle every case personally — you are never passed to a paralegal.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — Pennsylvania Law Limits Your Window to File
Bucks County medical malpractice victims have 2 years from the date of injury or discovery to file — with a 7-year statute of repose as a hard outer limit.
No fee unless we win. Call (215) 714-1500 to speak directly with Mike Lerner or Ben Steinberg today.
Contact Lerner Steinberg & Associates today by filling out our free consultation form or calling 215-714-1500 to discuss your case and learn how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
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Pennsylvania medical malpractice law is procedurally demanding in ways that catch victims and their families off guard. Before a lawsuit can proceed, four things must be established:
Pennsylvania also requires a certificate of merit before a malpractice case can proceed in court — a written statement from a licensed medical professional attesting that the care provided fell outside acceptable professional standards. Filing the certificate correctly and on time is a procedural requirement that can end a legitimate case if mishandled. We work with qualified medical experts from the outset to make sure this step is done right.
The cases we handle most often in Bucks County involve errors across multiple areas of medical care:
Failure to diagnose cancer, heart disease, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and other time-critical conditions is among the most devastating forms of malpractice. When a diagnosis is missed or delayed, the window for effective treatment narrows — sometimes permanently. These cases often involve missed findings on imaging, laboratory results that were not properly followed up, or symptoms that were dismissed without adequate workup. The statute of limitations discovery rule is particularly important in these cases, as the two-year clock may begin on the date the patient learned or reasonably should have learned of the misdiagnosis rather than the date of the original negligent act.
Wrong-site surgery, perforated organs, retained foreign objects, anesthesia errors, post-operative infections caused by inadequate sterile technique, and botched procedures at Bucks County facilities including St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Doylestown Hospital, and Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol are among the surgical malpractice cases we handle. According to Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, surgical and procedural errors account for thousands of reported adverse events annually across Pennsylvania hospitals. Surgical cases require obtaining operative records, anesthesia logs, and nursing notes — documentation that hospitals do not make easily accessible and that must be preserved promptly.
Prescription errors — wrong drug, wrong dose, dangerous interactions — cause serious harm and are frequently preventable. Birth injuries including cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy caused by oxygen deprivation during labor and delivery represent some of the most significant malpractice claims we handle. Pennsylvania gives minors extended time to file — the statute of limitations does not begin running until the child turns 18, meaning a claim can typically be filed until their 20th birthday. However, the 7-year statute of repose can still affect some claims depending on when the negligence occurred, and evidence becomes harder to preserve with time. We recommend consulting with an attorney as early as possible even in minor cases.
Medical malpractice cases require attorneys who understand both the law and the medicine. We work with qualified medical experts from the outset — not just to satisfy the certificate of merit requirement, but to understand what actually went wrong, document the deviation from standard of care, and present that evidence clearly to a jury if the case goes to trial. Our office in Feasterville-Trevose has been handling Bucks County medical malpractice cases for over 34 years. We know the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas in Doylestown and the defense firms that represent the hospital systems and healthcare providers in this region. Mike Lerner and Ben Steinberg handle your case personally from the first call through resolution.
Unlike large law firms where you’re just a case number, we provide personalized attention to every client. You’ll work directly with our attorneys, not just paralegals or case managers. We take the time to understand your unique situation and develop a strategy tailored to your specific needs.
We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if we secure compensation for you. We’re confident in our ability to win your case.
There is no upfront cost to hire us. We work entirely on contingency — no fee unless we recover compensation for you. We advance all costs including expert witness fees, record retrieval, and court filings. If we do not recover, you owe us nothing.
A medical malpractice case requires proving that a healthcare provider deviated from the accepted standard of care and that deviation caused your injury. Not every bad medical outcome is malpractice — medicine involves inherent risk and not all complications indicate negligence. The key question is whether a reasonably competent provider in the same specialty would have acted differently. The best way to evaluate your situation is a free consultation where we can review your records and circumstances with you.
Pennsylvania requires that a certificate of merit be filed within 60 days of commencing a medical malpractice lawsuit. This is a written statement from a licensed medical professional in an appropriate specialty attesting that the care provided fell outside acceptable professional standards. Failure to file the certificate correctly and on time can result in the case being dismissed — regardless of how strong the underlying claim is. We work with qualified medical experts from the start to make sure this procedural requirement is handled properly.
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for medical malpractice is two years from the date of the injury or from the date you knew or reasonably should have known the injury was caused by negligence — this is called the discovery rule. There is also a seven-year statute of repose, meaning no claim can be filed more than seven years after the negligent act regardless of when it was discovered, with limited exceptions. For minors, the clock typically does not start until age 18. These deadlines can interact in complex ways — do not rely on a general answer; contact us to evaluate your specific situation.
It depends on the relationship between the hospital and the doctor. If the doctor was an employee of the hospital, the hospital may be directly liable under respondeat superior. If the doctor was an independent contractor, the hospital’s liability depends on whether it held the doctor out as its agent and whether the patient reasonably relied on that. We investigate the full employment and credentialing relationship as part of every hospital malpractice case to identify all liable parties.
Pennsylvania does not cap compensatory damages in most medical malpractice cases. Recoverable damages include past and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability or disfigurement, and loss of life’s pleasures. In wrongful death cases, the deceased’s estate and surviving family members may also recover survival action damages. The full value of a case depends on the severity of the injury, the extent of future care needs, and the strength of the expert testimony establishing causation.
For minors, Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations is tolled until the child turns 18, meaning a birth injury claim can typically be filed until the child’s 20th birthday. However, the seven-year statute of repose can affect some claims depending on when the negligence occurred. More importantly, evidence — medical records, hospital policies, personnel records — becomes harder to obtain as time passes. We recommend consulting with an attorney as early as possible even in birth injury cases involving minors.
Meet with our attorneys to discuss your case at no cost.
We thoroughly investigate your accident, gather evidence, and consult with experts if needed.
We help coordinate your medical care and ensure all injuries are properly documented.
Our team builds a compelling case demonstrating liability and the full extent of your damages.
We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies for a fair settlement.
If a fair settlement can’t be reached, we’re prepared to take your case to court.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident due to a property owner’s negligence, you need skilled legal representation to protect your rights. Insurance companies often minimize these injuries or try to blame the victim, making it difficult to receive fair compensation without proper legal help.
Let our experienced slip and fall attorneys at Lerner Steinberg & Associates fight for the maximum compensation you deserve while you focus on your recovery. We understand the challenges these cases present and have the knowledge, resources, and determination to help you rebuild your life after a serious injury.
