Urgent care centers offer a convenient alternative to emergency rooms, especially for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses. But what happens when that convenience leads to a serious medical error? Many patients don’t realize that urgent care providers can be held legally accountable for mistakes just like hospitals and primary care doctors. Whether it’s a misdiagnosis, failure to refer, or improper treatment, negligent care at an urgent care facility can have life-altering consequences. If you were harmed after a visit to an urgent care clinic in Michigan, you may be wondering: Can I sue for medical malpractice?
Can You Sue an Urgent Care for Malpractice in Michigan?
Yes, you can sue an urgent care provider for medical malpractice in Michigan but certain legal requirements must be met. Just like hospitals and traditional clinics, urgent care centers owe a duty of care to their patients. When that duty is breached through negligence or substandard treatment, and it results in harm, the provider or facility can be held liable. Urgent care malpractice cases often involve:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Failure to order appropriate tests
- Prescription errors
- Not referring a patient to a hospital when necessary
It’s important to understand that these facilities are not immune from litigation simply because they operate on a walk-in basis. Michigan law treats licensed healthcare professionals including those working at urgent care centers the same as those in other medical settings when it comes to accountability for negligent care.
Most Common Urgent Care Malpractice Lawsuits
Urgent care centers operate in fast-paced environments where quick decisions are often made without full diagnostic resources. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious medical errors that harm patients and result in legal action. The table below outlines typical urgent care mistakes and how they may lead to malpractice claims:
| 🩺 Urgent Care Error | 🧾 Example Scenario | ⚖️ Potential Legal Claim |
|---|---|---|
| ❌ Misdiagnosis | Heart attack diagnosed as acid reflux | Delayed treatment → worsened condition |
| 🚫 Failure to refer | Refused to send patient to ER for head injury | Brain trauma → lack of proper intervention |
| 💊 Prescription mistake | Wrong medication or dosage given | Adverse reaction → hospitalization |
| 📋 Incomplete patient history | Missed allergy or chronic condition | Complication from standard treatment |
| 🧼 Improper wound care | Infected laceration not treated correctly | Sepsis or prolonged recovery |
| ⚠️ Ignored warning signs | Dismissed stroke symptoms as anxiety | Permanent disability → missed critical care |
These types of errors can have serious and lasting consequences. If you’ve experienced anything similar, you may have grounds to pursue an urgent care malpractice claim.
How Misdiagnosis at Urgent Care Can Lead to a Lawsuit
Misdiagnosis is one of the most common and dangerous forms of medical malpractice especially in urgent care settings. These clinics often rely on limited time, testing, and patient history, which can lead to serious conditions being overlooked or mistaken for something minor.
For example, a patient experiencing chest pain may be told they have acid reflux when they’re actually having a heart attack. Or a child with early signs of meningitis might be sent home with a diagnosis of the flu. These types of diagnostic errors can lead to delayed treatment, worsening symptoms, and even permanent injury or death. To successfully bring a misdiagnosis lawsuit, you must prove:
- The urgent care provider failed to act as a reasonably competent professional would under similar circumstances
- This failure led to harm that could have been avoided with a proper diagnosis
While not every misdiagnosis amounts to malpractice, those that result in significant injury and damages often justify a legal claim, especially when early intervention could have made a difference.
Who Is Legally Responsible? The Urgent Care Clinic or the Provider?
When malpractice occurs at an urgent care clinic, one of the first legal questions is: Who can be held accountable? The answer depends on the relationship between the medical provider and the facility.
In many cases, the individual healthcare provider such as a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant may be personally liable if they failed to meet the standard of care. However, the urgent care clinic itself could also be responsible under vicarious liability if the provider was an employee or acting on behalf of the center.
In Michigan, it’s also possible for a corporate entity that owns or operates the urgent care facility to be named in a lawsuit, especially if:
- The clinic failed to hire properly trained staff
- There were unsafe protocols or policies in place
- The provider was under pressure to prioritize speed over patient care
Determining who is legally responsible often requires a careful review of employment relationships, internal procedures, and the specifics of what went wrong. An experienced malpractice attorney can investigate these details and identify all liable parties.
Do You Have a Case for Urgent Care Medical Malpractice in Michigan?
Not every mistake at an urgent care clinic qualifies as malpractice. To have a strong case, you need to show that a provider’s negligence caused serious harm. Because malpractice lawsuits in Michigan are expensive and time-consuming, they’re typically only pursued when the injuries are severe such as long-term disability, permanent damage, or major financial losses.
If the harm is minor or the issue resolved quickly, it’s unlikely a claim will be worth pursuing. But if the mistake led to significant and lasting consequences, it may be worth exploring your legal options. The table below highlights how malpractice cases involving urgent care facilities differ from those involving hospitals:
| 🏥 Setting | ⏱️ Pace & Resources | ⚖️ Common Legal Issues |
|---|---|---|
| 🏪 Urgent Care Clinic | Fast-paced, limited diagnostics | Misdiagnosis, failure to refer, lack of follow-up |
| 🏨 Hospital ER or Inpatient | More extensive staff and equipment | Surgical errors, charting mistakes, inpatient neglect |
| 🧠 Legal Implications | Brief visits, faster decisions | Higher chance of overlooked conditions |
| 👥 Typical Defendants | Individual provider and/or clinic entity | Hospital system, attending physicians, nursing staff |
Contact a Lansing Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
If you believe an urgent care provider’s mistake caused serious harm to you or a loved one, you may have grounds for a malpractice claim. These cases are complex, but you don’t have to figure it out alone.
At The Clark Law Office, we take the time to investigate what went wrong and whether the care you received fell below acceptable medical standards. We offer honest guidance and personalized attention — not canned responses or pressure tactics.
Speak with a trusted medical malpractice lawyer today to explore your legal options. Consultations are always free, and there’s no fee unless we win your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Urgent Care Malpractice
Can you sue an urgent care clinic for misdiagnosis in Michigan?
Yes. If an urgent care provider misdiagnosed your condition and it led to serious harm, you may be able to sue for malpractice. A medical malpractice lawyer in Lansing can help you determine if the error rises to the level of legal negligence.
What types of mistakes lead to urgent care malpractice claims?
Common urgent care errors include misdiagnosis, failure to refer a patient to the ER, prescribing the wrong medication, and not recognizing serious symptoms. These issues often result from rushed evaluations or limited resources.
How is urgent care malpractice different from hospital malpractice?
Urgent care clinics typically operate with fewer resources and on a walk-in basis, which can lead to quicker — and sometimes less accurate — decision-making. While hospitals often have more oversight and advanced testing, urgent care settings still carry the same legal duty of care.
What should I do if I was hurt after visiting an urgent care clinic?
Get medical attention right away to address your injuries. Then, consult with a skilled Lansing medical malpractice attorney to discuss whether you have a claim. Acting quickly can help preserve important evidence.
References & Resources
- Where Do Most Personal Injuries Happen in Lansing? A Local Guide to High-Risk Places - April 21, 2025
- What Michigan Drivers Get Wrong About Bicycle Accidents - April 18, 2025
- Injured While Biking Near Campus? Your Rights After a Crash at MSU - April 17, 2025
