Surgical Errors Lawyer in Utah

When a Surgical Mistake Changes Everything That Comes After

  • $1M+ in Surgical Error Outcomes
  • Defense-Side Legal Experience
  • Free Case Review, No Fee Unless We Win
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Most of our clients never 
thought they'd file a lawsuit.

There is no “doctor police.” The only mechanism that holds medical providers accountable is the legal system. 

Doctors are skilled professionals who, like all of us, can make mistakes. Taking a stand doesn't drive health care costs up or cause a crisis of lawsuits. Instead, it can give you the resources to rebuild your life, and reduce the risk of others suffering due to medical negligence. That's the work we do: holding doctors accountable and improving medicine in Utah.

"Younker Hyde Macfarlane definitely took care of me. My case thankfully moved rather quickly, and they made sure to make it happen. I ended up receiving more than they initially thought and for their hard work im extremely grateful, I highly recommend Younker Hyde Macfarlane for any malpractice case." —Bretton, 5-Star Review

Seeking Compensation 
for Damages

Our Surgical Error Attorneys Fight for Your Financial Recovery

The emotional, physical, and financial costs of surgical errors can be overwhelming. For this reason, our Salt Lake City team of medical malpractice attorneys will work diligently to recover the maximum amount of compensation possible for you and your family.

In cases involving surgical errors, damages are usually awarded for:

  • Subsequent surgeries necessitated by the original error
  • Future related medical costs for aftercare, complications, and continuing treatment
  • Lifetime care costs, should the surgical error leave the victim dependent on others
  • Loss of past wages due to hospital stays, operations, and physical harm
  • Loss of future wages due to diminished earning capacity or an inability to work
  • Intangibles such as emotional and physical pain and suffering

It may also be possible to file for punitive damages, which are awarded to punish the liable parties for their recklessness.

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Holding Medical Professionals Accountable for Surgical Errors

We trust medical professionals with our lives—even a "small" mistake made during surgery can have deep and lasting consequences for the victim. If you or a loved one were injured, you need a medical malpractice lawyer in your corner as soon as possible if you want the best shot at recovering damages for your injuries. The attorneys at Younker Hyde Macfarlane in Salt Lake City can bring clients success in this complex area of the law.

"Great compassion and professionalism from John Macfarlane and everyone at YHM, in taking care of us with the medical malpractice claim... we chose the right team and the result was what we all needed." —Pete P, 5-Star Review

Talk to Our Surgical Error Attorneys Today With a Free Consultation

Our attorneys handle surgical case errors in Salt Lake City and all throughout Utah. Our team has a background in both defending and prosecuting malpractice, which means we understand what kind of defense the opposition will make and how to zealously prove your case.

Our team is willing and able to handle complex cases. In fact, nearly three-quarters of our clients are referred by other law firms, oftentimes because they believe we are Utah's best choice for especially complex cases. We show no fear in pursuing cases to their fullest extent, while also understanding when a settlement is the right choice.

Help is at hand. Call or contact our surgical error attorneys today to schedule your free consultation with our Salt Lake City firm.

medical malpractice attorneys

"The professionals at Younker Hyde Macfarlane recently helped my family find some resolution around the loss of our father. We felt heard and supported, and were pleased with the outcome of our case. Specifically, Brittney Bohne, the paralegal assigned to us, was so gracious and responsive whenever we had any question or concerns. It was so nice to know we were not alone." —Sheri , 5-Star Review

How We Work to Prove Your Case

We take action in a variety of ways to prove medical malpractice occurred in your case. To prove your personal injury and other claims, our medical malpractice lawyers will:

attorneys hyde and macfarlane

"Our experience with Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC was easy & stress-free. We filed a Wrongful Death suit in late 2020 & was settled out of court in late 2022. The people we worked with, Brittney Bohne, McKay Corbett, & John MacFarlane were very professional & explained everything from start to finish. This team did an outstanding job of representing our interests. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to handle any legal problems, questions, lawsuits, etc. John MacFarlane was very good at obtaining a fair & equitable settlement on our behalf." —Cathy, 5-Star Review

  • Draw on Past Cases
    Our medical malpractice attorneys have successfully handled a great number of surgical error cases in the past. Each case we take receives personalized care and attention to detail. Your case may have similarities to our past victories, and we can utilize our experience to help you win.
  • Work With Experts
    At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, our personal injury lawyers don't work alone. We often retain experts renowned throughout Utah, and can even consult with a national network of medical experts.

    Many of our trusted expert witnesses teach at colleges and hospitals and have published textbooks and training manuals. With their expert help, we can definitively determine if a standard of care was breached. Their advanced knowledge of health care can provide the judge and jury with an objective appraisal of your case.
  • Conduct a Thorough Evaluation
    In any medical malpractice case, a successful resolution is dependent on showing that the defendant failed to perform a duty owed and did not abide by a reasonable standard of care.

    We conduct a thorough evaluation of all available facts in your case. By reviewing all aspects, we can determine who is at fault and why. This allows us to create an optimal legal strategy so you can receive the best possible results.

Our Attorneys Work on Contingency

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The medical malpractice attorneys at our Salt Lake City, UT, injury law office represent their Utah clients on a contingency basis. This means that the only way our firm gets paid is if we win. Therefore, our number-one motivation is collecting the most compensation possible on your behalf. 

What If You Are Partially to Blame?

Utah is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that a plaintiff can receive compensation for their injury even if they are partially to blame for causing it, as long as the defendant is responsible for 50% or more of the injury. 


Surgical error cases are a practice area that is usually complex. In many cases, a surgeon and their legal team present evidence suggesting that you are responsible for the complications suffered. For example, they may say that you failed to disclose key medical information that would have made the surgeon act differently. However, our surgical error lawyers could argue that the surgeon failed to seek out this information, and in doing so, was more responsible for your injury than you are. In short, even if it can be legitimately argued that you were partially at fault for your own losses, we will still do everything in our power to make sure the surgeon is held responsible for their negligence in the operating room.

Are There Limits on Compensation?

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In Utah personal injury lawsuits, there is no limit on economic damages like compensation for lost wages and medical expenses. Wrongful death cases have no cap whatsoever on non-economic damages. Non-economic damages such as emotional pain and suffering are capped at $450,000. You can trust that our attorneys are focused on collecting the absolute maximum in restitution for you and your family.

Are There Limits on Compensation?

In Utah personal injury lawsuits, there is no limit on economic damages like compensation for lost wages and medical expenses. Wrongful death cases have no cap whatsoever on non-economic damages. Non-economic damages such as emotional pain and suffering are capped at $450,000. You can trust that our attorneys are focused on collecting the absolute maximum in restitution for you and your family.

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When Surgical Errors 
Result in Wrongful Death

Has an anesthesia error or surgical error resulted in the loss of someone you love? While no amount of money can truly make up for a loved one's death, grieving family members deserve compensation for their loss. In Utah, wrongful death lawsuits can be filed by the deceased's spouse, children, adopted children, parents, or adopted parents.

Stepchildren may file wrongful death lawsuits if they were under 18 years old at the time of death and either received financial support from the deceased or lived with them at least part-time. If none of the previously mentioned parties have survived the decedent and you are a blood relative, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. During a free case review, our attorneys can determine if you have grounds to file a case. If you have the right to take legal action following the loss of a loved one, our lawyers can begin collecting evidence to support your case right away.

Damages for Wrongful Death

When our medical malpractice lawyers take on a wrongful death case, we seek compensatory damages for losses including:

  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of potential inheritance
  • Medical expenses from the fatal surgical procedure
  • Lost wages, future wages, and benefits the deceased would have earned
  • Pain and suffering the deceased endured between their injury and death
  • The loss of affection, advice, and relationship the deceased would have provided
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Norman Younker, Of Counsel

Norman Younker, Of Counsel

Mr. Younker earned his law degree from Brigham Young University, graduating cum laude. He went on to complete post-doctoral legal study at the world-renowned Cambridge University. He is a former president of the Utah Association for Justice and is currently on the organization's board of governors.

McKay Corbett

McKay Corbett

At the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Mr. Corbett served as executive editor of the Utah Law Review, was a fellow of the Pro Bono Initiative, and won several CALI awards. He has spent the entirety of his legal career representing the injured and their families.

Ryan Misiak

Ryan Misiak

Mr. Misiak began his legal career representing commercial and insurance clients. His transition to Younker Hyde Macfarlane has provided him the opportunity to align his career with a firm dedicated to its commitment to client advocacy and access to justice.


Our Team Is Multilingual

We are proud to be able to serve a diverse clientele thanks to our multilingual team. Mr. Macfarlane is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Mr. Corbett is fluent in Spanish and French, and has some proficiency in Portuguese.

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Our Proven Attorneys Handle a Vast Array of Medical Malpractice Cases

We have won many verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million for victims of medical malpractice. In addition to surgical errors, we are known for effectively taking care of cases revolving around:

"I worked with John Macfarlane and his team in regards to my claim. My year old son was injured at daycare and there was an incident at the hospital where he received care as well. It was tough but once I contacted Younker Hyde Macfarlane, they all worked together to make this an easy process. What a relief! They were all great at responding back to my emails, phone calls, and answered any questions I had with complete transparency." —Laura, 5-Star Review

Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC

Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC

At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, our attorneys have decades of combined experience in complex cases. We represent clients in all types of personal injury cases, with a special focus on medical malpractice claims. Our firm is associated with the following professional organizations:

  • Utah Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Salt Lake County Bar Association
  • American Trial Lawyers Association

To schedule an appointment, please contact us online or call (801) 335-6467.

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Put Compassionate Experts in Your Corner

  • 1 We work with experts in medicine, accident reconstruction, nursing home protocol, and more.
  • 2 Younker Hyde Macfarlane takes more medical malpractice cases than any other firm in the state of Utah.
  • 3 Initial consultations are free. We only collect fees if we win your case. 
  • 4 Our attorneys have achieved many multimillion-dollar victories for clients injured due to third-party negligence.
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