A published study entitled Malpractice litigation in diagnostic radiology with special focus on cases in the abdomen and pelvis: A comprehensive analysis from a national legal database analyzed medical malpractice lawsuits filed in the United States from 2008 to 2018 in which the defendant was a radiologist (2,775 cases were initially identified, and 1,165 cases fit the inclusion criteria).
The study reported that diagnostic error was the most prevalent error type (82.9 %), followed by procedural errors (9.5 %), communication errors (5.9 %), and mixed/other errors (1.7 %). Breast was the most common imaging modality implicated in medical error (26.4 % of total cases), followed by CT (23.3 %), and x-ray (18.3 %).
Out-of-court settlement was the most common outcome (44.5 %), followed by a verdict in favor of the defendant (27.2 %) and case dismissal (14.5 %). The average award in a settlement was $1,500,690, with the range of settlements from $25,000 to $10,200,000. The average award in a jury verdict for the plaintiff was $2,857,203, with the range of jury verdicts from $60,000 to $31,490,000. The average award in arbitration for the plaintiff was $1,354,497, with the range from $200,000 to $2,800,000. The gastrointestinal (GI) system and the genitourinary (GU) system accounted for 51.9 % and 25.9 % of errors in the abdomen and pelvis, respectively.
In medical malpractice cases against diagnostic radiologists with verdicts in favor of the plaintiff, the average financial awards were higher than out-of-court settlements.
A study published on August 25, 2026 entitled Insights into Radiology Malpractice Cases in the United States from the National Practitioner Data Bank found that radiology malpractice cases, compared with other specialties, more frequently involved diagnostic errors, severe patient outcomes, outpatient settings, and higher indemnity payments, and these trends increased over time and varied by state legal environment.
Of the 399, 568 medical malpractice cases involving 229, 276 physicians that were part of the study, diagnostic errors accounted for 71.3% of radiology claims versus 27.6% of claims in other specialties. Radiology malpractice cases more often involved outpatient care (50.5% vs 20.6%) and severe outcomes (64.2% vs 32.3%). Severe patient outcome and malpractice cases after 2010 predicted higher indemnity payments. The presence of noneconomic damage reform laws and insurer-paid claims were associated with lower payments. Recent cases (2010–2025) versus earlier cases (1990–2010) had higher payments (mean: $344 ,197 vs $184 ,000) and fewer filings from states with noneconomic damages reform and joint liability reform.
The authors of the study concluded: “Radiology malpractice cases, compared with other specialties, more frequently involved diagnostic errors, severe patient outcomes, outpatient settings, and higher indemnity payments, and these trends increased over time and varied by state legal environment.”
If you or a loved one may have been injured as a result of radiologist malpractice in the United States, you should promptly find a medical malpractice lawyer in your state who may investigate your radiology medical malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a medical malpractice case against a radiologist, if appropriate.
Click here to visit our website or call us toll-free in the United States at 800-295-3959 to find medical malpractice attorneys in your U.S. state who may assist you.
Turn to us when you don’t know where to turn.