Washington Medical Malpractice Information

What is the average medical malpractice settlement in Washington?
The average medical malpractice payment in Washington for 2023 was $560,763. Going back to 2004, the average malpractice payment in the database is $327,287.
How many medical malpractice settlements have there been in Washington?
In 2023, there were 173 medical malpractice payments made in Washington. Among all of the various jurisdictions, this ranked number 21 out of 52 in terms of raw numbers, but when viewed in terms of claims per capita, Washington ranked number 37 of 52, which includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

What is the most common type of medical malpractice claim in Washington?

Across the country, the most common allegations giving rise to medical malpractice payments are "Failure to Diagnose" and "Improper Performance." Washington is among those jurisdictions for which the top allegation appearing in the database is "Improper Performance." The second most frequent allegation appearing for Washington in the database is "Failure to Diagnose."

Which type of healthcare provider pays the most medical malpractice claims in Washington?

Among all claims, the vast majority (about 70%) of the payments are associated with care provided by MDs. Washington is no exception. The second highest type of healthcare provider associated with malpractice claims in Washington is a dentist.

A few notes about this: The database only shows which claims were paid and does not include claims that were presented but rejected. Also, the database does not include payments by non-providers like health systems and hospitals. There are also some number of claims that go unreported each year. Finally, the information contained in the reports is self-reported by the providers, their insurance companies, and other provider representatives.

Washington Medical Malpractice Payment Amounts By Year

Washington Medical Malpractice Payments By Year

The Largest Medical Malpractice Payments for Washington (2004-2022)

Year	State	Amount	Allegation
2009	Washington	$14,500,000	Improper Performance
2024	Washington	$14,500,000	Failure to Order Appropriate Test
2020	Washington	$12,500,000	Failure-to-Ensure Patient Safety
2020	Washington	$12,500,000	Failure-to-Ensure Patient Safety
2023	Washington	$8,950,000	Failure to Recognize a Complication
2007	Washington	$6,950,000	Improperly Performed Resuscitation
2021	Washington	$6,350,000	Improper Technique
2021	Washington	$5,950,000	Improper Performance
2021	Washington	$5,250,000	Failure to Diagnose
2021	Washington	$5,050,000	Failure to Monitor

Washington Statistics at a Glance

Average Payment (2004-2024): $327,287

Total Payments in Database (2004-2024): 4,244

Average Payment (2023): $560,763

Total Number of Payments (2023): 173

Rank in Average Payment (2004-2024): 25

Rank in Number of Payments Per Capita (2022): 37 of 52 Jurisdictions

Most Common Allegation (2023): Improper Performance

Most Common Allegation (2022): Improper Performance

Most Common Nature of Claim (2023): Surgery Related - 28% of all payments

Type of Provider with Most Payments: Physician (MD)

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*The database contains public payment information from 2004 to 2024. While it contains a small amount of information pertaining to the claim giving rise to that payment, it is missing crucial nonpublic information that would certainly affect claim valuation. Past results are no guarantee for future outcomes.

Every medical malpractice case is different. This site is for informational purposes only and does not contain any legal advice. Please discuss your personal situation with an attorney.

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