Sometimes it’s the smallest details that make medical negligence cases turn. Issues like delayed diagnosis, surgical complications or disputed hospital documentation can be serious, but often require both legal and clinical understanding to recognize. And while an unexpected outcome is certainly cause for concern, it doesn’t necessarily mean malpractice occurred.
Decision number one is finding an attorney that can analyze the medical evidence, NOT just an attorney who does personal injury cases.
These six law firms are listed, each has its own strengths, from areas of focus to staff size to hands-on experience with healthcare liability cases.
For other published Houston medical malpractice lawyers in context, sources include Attorney at Law Magazine’s [Best Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Houston, TX] list.
In This Guide
- Comparison at a glance
- Tommy Hastings, Hastings Law Firm
- Bailey & Galyen, Michael Galyen
- Blaine Tucker, Tucker Injury Law
- Nhan Nguyen, WestLoop Law
- Sharon Simmons-Cantrell, Simmons and Fletcher
- Craig Lewis, The Lewis Law Firm
- Questions to ask before hiring
- Final thoughts
Comparison at a Glance
| Attorney and firm | Distinguishing feature | Useful starting point |
| Hastings Law Firm of Tommy Hastings | Hastings Law Firm focuses on medical malpractice litigation. | Medical malpractice cases |
| The Law Office of Michael Galyen, Bailey & Galyen | Michael Galyen practices statewide with a team that allows him to handle cases in many different areas of the law. | Comparing resources of a larger Texas firm |
| Blaine Tucker, Tucker Injury Law | Comes from a trial-law background. | Discussing case strategy and attorney involvement |
| WestLoop Law’s Nhan Nguyen | Training in medicine and law | Complex cases with extensive clinical notes |
| Sharon Simmons-Cantrell of Simmons and Fletcher | Experienced in leading litigation prior to filing | Identifies and develops claims early in process |
| The Lewis Law Firm by Craig Lewis | Experienced plaintiffs attorney | Seasoned Litigation Attorney Comparison |
1. Tommy Hastings, Hastings Law Firm
Best overall starting point for a medical malpractice-focused consultation.
Tommy Hastings leads a firm that specializes in injury based medical malpractice claims. According to the Hastings Law Firm, his firm doesn’t treat medical malpractice lawsuits against doctors, hospitals or other healthcare providers as just a sideline to a general practice injury caseload.
Focus is important when dealing with multiple specialist opinions or long treatment histories. The firm describes reviewing medical evidence as part of its case preparation.
- Practice focus: medical malpractice and healthcare injuries.
- Relevant situations: alleged diagnostic mistakes, treatment errors and injuries involving medical facilities.
- Key question: who will review the records and manage the case after intake?
Hastings has also been included in Houston medical malpractice coverage by Attorney at Law Magazine. They cover his trial-law experience and the firm’s work in medical cases. They use another attorney selection than this comparison and being named on either list does not ensure a certain result.
For people seeking medical negligence representation in Houston, Hastings Law Firm provides a useful specialist benchmark among the firms compared here.
2. Michael Galyen, Bailey & Galyen
Bailey & Galyen is a general practice Texas law firm which handles medical malpractice, including birth injuries, missed diagnoses, medication mistakes and more.
Its broader injury practice may attract clients with multiple legal matters. The firm offers contingency fees on malpractice suits, when agreed upon.
Note one distinction: Michael Galyen’s profile that has been published lists him as a personal injury lawyer located in Fort Worth. It specifically mentions his work with automobile accidents, workers compensation and premises liability cases. Houston clients should ask the firm who would actually handle their malpractice case.
Best for: a person who wants to compare the size of another Texas firm’s reach and resources versus presuming that the named attorney personally handles every malpractice case.
3. Blaine Tucker, Tucker Injury Law
Blaine Tucker belongs to a Houston-specific injury firm and is featured on Attorney at Law Magazine’s list of malpractice attorneys. His firm’s website covers medical malpractice lawsuits as well.
Smaller firms may allow clients to talk directly to the attorney working on their case. Make sure you know who will really be working on it.
Ask: Did your lawyer recently work on a similar claim? What medical specialists would interpret the records?
Tucker is worth considering for clients who want to discuss individual attorney involvement and trial preparation.
4. Nhan Nguyen, WestLoop Law
Medical records can be difficult to interpret. Having a medical background can be useful when interpreting complex clinical records.
Dr. Nhan Nguyen is a medical doctor and an attorney. Nguyen founded Houston law firm WestLoop Law, which specifically states it handles medical malpractice cases.
A clinician’s narrative understanding can help frame your initial questions regarding treatment decisions, symptoms and causation. However, you may still need to consult qualified independent experts pursuant to Texas law.
WestLoop Law claims to offer free consultations and contingent-fee representation in the malpractice cases it takes.
Ideal for: those who especially want a lawyer who has also gone to medical school.
5. Sharon Simmons-Cantrell, Simmons and Fletcher
Sharon Simmons-Cantrell is the president of Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., a Houston personal injury law firm. She directs the firm’s pre-litigation efforts, which involve evaluating and building claims prior to deciding to file a lawsuit.
The company also mentions medical malpractice when referring to other catastrophic injury claims. It may assist families in organizing records and information on damages.
An important distinction concerns who conducts the later litigation. Just because Simmons-Cantrell will head up pre-litigation matters does not mean she will litigate every lawsuit from inception to trial.
Best suited to: clients who appreciate the intake and pre-litigation process of an established injury firm and desire transparency regarding who will work on their case moving forward.
6. Craig Lewis, The Lewis Law Firm
Craig Lewis has been licensed in Texas since 1973, according to his State Bar of Texas profile. A separate Super Lawyers profile lists plaintiff-side medical malpractice, personal injury and business litigation. A 2022 court-case report also identifies Lewis as counsel in an alleged medical negligence dispute.
His litigation background may appeal to clients with complicated claims.
Legal background is an interesting history: nevertheless, ask the lawyer about recent healthcare liability caseloads, current resources and which experts they use for peer review.
Craig Lewis caps off our list as a more targeted choice for matching seasoned plaintiff experience.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
Ideally, your medical malpractice consultation should leave you with more information than whether or not the lawyer thinks your case “sounds good.” You should ask about:
- Medical review: who examines the records, and when are outside medical experts consulted?
- Relevant experience: has the attorney dealt with this type of treatment or alleged mistake before?
- Case ownership: which lawyer communicates with the client and takes responsibility for litigation?
- Costs: what percentage do you charge? Which expenses will you advance? What happens if there is no recovery?
- Deadlines: what impact do the Texas notice, filing and expert report deadlines have on the facts of the case?
Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code generally provides a two-year statute of limitations for health care liability claims, but includes many statutory rules and exceptions, including special provisions affecting minors. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 74 also provides a ten-year statute of repose. Chapter 74 also has special rules regarding pre-suit notice and expert reports. Statute of limitations deadlines are fact specific, so please get advice early.
Final Thoughts
Houston is home to malpractice specialist practices as well as large injury firms that will take healthcare liability cases. A reasonable comparison considers the lawyer’s experience related to your situation, medical review availability, and clarity on who will handle the claim.
If you are looking for a firm that exclusively practices medical malpractice, then Hastings Law Firm should be your first consultation. Having a specific focus separates Hastings from the other five firms. It allows the reader to gauge a sense of what a healthcare-injury specific practice may offer when compared to the other options.
