Practice areas: Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, General Litigation; view more
Licensed in Illinois since: 2007
Education: Northern Illinois University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2021 - 2022 Call today:
877-227-1857
Free Consultation Napleton & Partners
140 S Dearborn StSuite 1500
Chicago, IL 60603 Visit website
A judicious legal advocate for his clients, David J. Gallagher strives to provide them with the top-quality representation they deserve in contentious personal injury matters pertaining to motor vehicle accidents and medical malpractice, among many others. At the law office of Napleton & Partners in Chicago, Illinois, he serves residents throughout the surrounding region and beyond.
Mr. Gallagher completed his undergraduate studies in 2004, graduating with his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the University of Illinois Chicago. He went on to attend the Northern Illinois University College of Law, where he strengthened his legal acumen through his involvement in student organizations, such as the Student Bar Association – where he served as treasurer and vice president – as well as competitions, including the 24th Annual NIU College of Law Moot Court Competition, where he was a semifinalist. He received his Juris Doctor in 2007, and in the same year, he obtained his license to practice law in Illinois.
A consummate professional through and through, Mr. Gallagher is a stalwart champion for his clients, pursuing every available legal avenue to get them the compensation they deserve for the injuries they have sustained. Some of his notable verdicts and settlements include many medical malpractice cases, including a settlement of $7 million, a verdict of $3.8 million in a case involving a spinal procedure, a settlement of $6.75 million and a verdict of $1.7 million, among many others. For his many contributions, he has been included in the Chicago Law Daily Bulletin’s 40 Under 40 up-and-coming lawyers list.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, General Litigation, Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff, Professional Liability: PlaintiffFocus areas
Animal Bites, Birth Injury, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Informed Consent, Legal Malpractice, Litigation, Medical Devices, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Defects, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Pharmaceutical, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Professional Malpractice - Other, Toxic Mold, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 40% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
- 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 10% General Litigation
- 10% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
- 10% Professional Liability: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2007, Illinois
Professional Webpage: https://rjnlawoffice.com/attorneys/david-j-gallagher/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Illinois State Bar Association, Member
- Chicago Bar Association, Member
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- $6.75M settlement for the wife and two adult children of a 60-year-old male patient who had suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while unattended and awaiting treatment in the hospital waiting room. The settlement was secured against a Cook County hospital in the Chicago area for medical negligence that resulted in the death of the patient.
- Trial counsel on a $1.7M verdict in Grundy for a 34-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a blood clot in her leg and, subsequently, was not properly monitored by her primary care physician following the discovery of the condition. The woman suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism as a result. She was survived by her husband. This matter is reported to be the largest medical negligence verdict in Grundy County history to date.
- Trial counsel on a $3.8M verdict in Will County. The plaintiff had a lumbar spinal fusion procedure performed. During the surgery, despite the fact that the displacement of a right L4 pedicle screw had been noted, the screw was left in the incorrect position. After the development of severe, post-operative, right-thigh pain, a CT scan confirmed the error, showing medial displacement of the screw into the spinal canal, forcing compression of the L4 nerve. Although the screw was removed the following day, Ms. McFarland subsequently developed permanent chronic right leg pain, weakness, and a partial right-foot drop.
- Lead trial attorney on a medical malpractice case involving a 17-year-old heart patient who died as a result of medical malpractice. Mr. Gallagher obtained a $7,000,000.00 settlement on behalf of the estate on the second day of trial.
Educational Background
- Northern Illinois University College of Law - Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, and named to the Dean’s List of the College of Law, 2007
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Received scholarships from the Intermodal Trucking Association and the Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association.
Honors
- Recognized by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as one of the attorneys selected to the list of 40 under 40 in an annual survey of up-and-coming lawyers.
- Recognized as an Emerging Lawyer by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company from 2015 to 2022.
- Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2019 to 2022.
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026
Office location for David J. Gallagher
140 S Dearborn St
Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 877-227-1857
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2026
- Rising Stars: 2021 - 2022
