St.Louis Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you’ve been seriously harmed by a medical mistake, you deserve answers. We’re here to help you figure out what went wrong and fight for the compensation you’re owed.

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Why Choose Thompson Law for Your St.Louis Medical Malpractice Case

Taking On Hospitals and Insurers

Hospitals and providers often have malpractice insurers and their own legal teams. Tyler’s experience inside the insurance industry gives him insight into how they build their defense.

Medical Expert Access

Missouri law requires a qualified provider’s opinion before a malpractice case can proceed. We work with medical experts who can clearly explain where your care fell short.

Resources for Complex Cases

Medical malpractice cases require extensive record review and often more than one expert. We commit the time and resources needed to build your case properly.

Trial-Ready Advocacy

Insurers and hospital defense teams negotiate more seriously when they know a firm is prepared to litigate. We build every case with that level of preparation from the start.

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What To Do If You Suspect Medical Malpractice in St. Louis

Learning that a provider’s mistake may have harmed you is unsettling, especially when you may still need care from the same system. These steps can help protect your health and your options.

1. Get the Care You Need

Your health comes first. Follow up with another provider if needed, including getting a second opinion about your condition or treatment.

2. Request Your Complete Medical Records

You have the right to copies of your medical records, including charts, imaging, lab results, and provider notes. These records can be important when reviewing what happened.

3. Write Down What Happened

While the details are still fresh, write down the dates, providers involved, what you were told, and how your condition changed, as it can become harder to remember these details over time.

4. Get a Second Medical Opinion

Another provider can help you understand what may have gone wrong and what treatment you may need now, separate from the provider or facility involved in your original care.

5. Be Careful About What You Sign or Say

Before signing a release or giving a recorded statement to a hospital’s insurer, consider speaking with an attorney. Early statements can later be used to challenge or minimize your claim.

6. Keep Track of Your Expenses and Lost Income

Save medical bills, treatment costs, and records of income you lost because of your injury or additional recovery time.

7. Talk to an Attorney

Missouri has specific deadlines for medical malpractice claims, and these cases often require a qualified expert’s opinion before you can file. Getting legal guidance early can help protect your ability to pursue a claim.

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How Thompson Law Handles Your Medical Malpractice Claim

Investigating What Happened

We review your complete medical records, provider notes, and hospital protocols to identify where care fell below the accepted standard.

Securing Qualified Expert’s Opinion

Missouri law requires a qualified provider’s written opinion before your case can proceed. We work with experts who can clearly explain what went wrong.

Identifying Liable Parties

A treating physician isn’t always the only one responsible. Depending on what happened, liability may reach a hospital, specialist, nurse, or pharmacy.

Preserving Key Evidence

Records, staffing logs, and internal communications can be harder to get the longer a claim sits. We move quickly to request and preserve them.

Countering Their Defense

Providers and insurers often argue the care met the accepted standard. We push back with the facts of your treatment and expert testimony.

Addressing Standard-of-Care Disputes

Providers and their insurers often argue that the care given met the accepted standard. We address these arguments with expert testimony and the specific facts of your treatment.

Documenting Your Damages

A medical injury rarely ends with the initial treatment; the costs keep adding up long after, and your claim should reflect all of it.

Taking on Insurers

We handle communication with the hospital or provider’s malpractice insurer and their legal team, including records requests and settlement discussions.

Preparing for Court

We approach every case with litigation in mind. If the insurer will not offer fair compensation, we are ready to pursue your claim in court.

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Common Causes of Medical Malpractice in St. Louis

Medical malpractice can happen at any point in your care. Common situations that lead to a claim include:

Diagnostic Errors

Failing to order the right tests, misreading a scan, or missing an abnormal result can delay treatment for a serious condition, sometimes allowing it to progress.

Surgical Errors

Operating on the wrong site, leaving a surgical instrument or sponge inside a patient, or damaging nearby tissue or organs during a procedure.

Medication Errors

Prescribing the wrong drug, an incorrect dosage, or failing to check for dangerous drug interactions or documented allergies.

Anesthesia Errors

Administering too much or too little anesthesia, or failing to properly monitor a patient during a procedure

Birth Injuries

Failure to respond to signs of fetal distress, improper use of delivery instruments, or delayed emergency intervention during labor and delivery.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Poor sterilization practices or inadequate infection control that leads to a preventable infection during a hospital stay.

Failure to Obtain Informed Consent

Proceeding with a treatment or procedure without properly informing a patient of the risks involved.

Inadequate Staffing or Communication Breakdowns

Rushed care, insufficient staffing, or a failure to communicate important information between providers can all contribute to a preventable error.

Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle in St. Louis

Thompson Law handles cases involving medical negligence, including:

  • Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of a serious condition
  • Surgical errors, including wrong-site surgery and retained surgical instruments
  • Medication and prescription errors
  • Anesthesia errors
  • Birth injuries to mother or child
  • Emergency room errors
  • Hospital-acquired infections
  • Failure to obtain informed consent
  • Nursing and post-operative care errors
  • Wrongful death caused by medical negligence

Each case involves different medical evidence, expert requirements, and insurance considerations.

Common Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice

A medical error doesn’t always show its full impact right away. The consequences can affect your health and recovery long after the initial mistake.

Worsened or Advanced Illness

A delayed or missed diagnosis can allow a condition, including cancer, to progress to a more serious and harder-to-treat stage.

Surgical Complications

Errors during surgery can cause internal injuries, infections, excessive bleeding, or the need for additional corrective procedures.

Nerve and Organ Damage

Improper technique or a failure to monitor a patient during treatment can result in permanent nerve damage or injury to internal organs.

Birth Injuries

Oxygen deprivation, improper use of delivery tools, or delayed intervention during labor can cause lasting injury to a newborn or mother.

Paralysis

Surgical errors or delayed treatment involving the spine or brain can result in partial or complete paralysis.

Infections

Inadequate sterilization or post-operative care can lead to serious, sometimes life-threatening, infections.

Additional Treatment and Recovery

A medical error can mean additional procedures, extended hospitalization, ongoing treatment, and a longer recovery than expected.

Wrongful Death

In the most serious cases, medical negligence results in a patient’s death, allowing surviving family members to pursue a claim.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for Medical Malpractice?

More than one party may share responsibility for a medical error, depending on what happened and who was involved in your care.

Treating Physician or Specialist

If the doctor who diagnosed or treated you didn’t meet the standard of care Missouri sets under §538.210 RSMo-what a similarly qualified provider would have done-they may be liable.

Hospital or Medical Facility

A hospital may be responsible for errors by its staff, inadequate staffing, or hiring a provider who wasn’t qualified to provide the care you needed.

Nurses and Support Staff

Nursing errors involving monitoring, medication, or post-operative care may lead to a malpractice claim.

Anesthesiologists

Errors in giving or monitoring anesthesia may make an anesthesiologist responsible for your injuries.

Pharmacies and Pharmacists

A pharmacy or pharmacist may be responsible for the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, or a missed drug interaction.

Multiple Liable Parties

It’s not always just one provider. More than one person or facility may share responsibility for what happened to you, with §537.067 RSMo setting out how fault is divided.

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Evidence That Can Support Your Medical MalPractice Claim

Malpractice claims rely heavily on medical documentation, and Missouri law requires expert review before a case can even be filed.

Complete Medical Records

Charts, imaging, lab results, and provider notes from before, during, and after the treatment in question are the foundation of a malpractice claim.

A Qualified Expert's Opinion

Missouri requires a written opinion from a qualified health care provider confirming that the standard of care was not met. This is a required step, not just supporting evidence.

Hospital Policies and Protocols

nternal standards and protocols can help show what the provider or facility should have done, and where their care departed from it.

Staffing and Scheduling Records

Documentation of who was on duty and their workload can be relevant when inadequate staffing may have contributed to an error.

Communication Records

Notes, messages, or logs between providers can reveal whether important information was properly shared during your care.

Billing and Treatment Records

Records of the treatment provided, and any additional treatment made necessary by an error, help document both liability and damages.

Witness Accounts

Family members present during treatment, or other patients or staff, may be able to speak to what occurred.

Medical records can be difficult to obtain the longer a claim sits untouched. We move quickly to request and preserve what your case needs.

Compensation You May Recover After a Medical Malpractice

The damages available depend on the severity of your injury, the parties involved, and applicable law. Potential compensation may include:

Medical Expenses
Past and future costs related to correcting the error, including additional surgery, hospitalization, medication, and rehabilitation.

Lost Income
Documented wages lost due to your injury, additional treatment, or extended recovery time.

Loss of Earning Capacity
Compensation if a permanent injury reduces your ability to work or earn income in the future.

Pain and Suffering
Compensation for the physical pain and emotional impact of the injury, subject to Missouri’s statutory caps on noneconomic damages.

Permanent Disability or Disfigurement
Lasting physical impairment or changes in appearance resulting from the error, which may qualify for a higher damages cap if it meets Missouri’s catastrophic injury threshold.

Wrongful Death Damages
If a loved one died as a result of medical negligence, surviving family members may pursue compensation for their losses.

Other Related Expenses
Additional costs related to your treatment and recovery, such as travel to specialists, home care, or medical equipment.

The damages available in a particular case depend on the specific facts, injuries, and applicable law. No attorney can guarantee a particular outcome or recovery amount. 

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How Much Is a St. Louis Medical Malpractice Case Worth?

There is no fixed payout for medical negligence in St. Louis. What your case may be worth depends on proving that your care fell below the required standard and showing the full impact of your injury. Our team considers: 

  • Severity and permanence of the injury
  • Whether the injury meets Missouri’s definition of “catastrophic”
  • Current and future medical treatment needs
  • Lost income and reduced earning capacity
  • Strength of the expert opinion and standard-of-care evidence
  • Whether multiple providers or facilities share fault
  • Available insurance coverage and policy limits
  • Overall impact on your health and daily life

Missouri Medical Malpractice Law: What Applies to Your Case

Statute of Limitations

Missouri generally gives you two years from the date of malpractice to file a claim. Special rules may apply to foreign objects, undisclosed test results, and claims involving minors.

Affidavit of Merit

Missouri requires a qualified healthcare provider to review your case and provide a written opinion that the care fell below the required standard and caused your injury. The affidavit is generally due within 90 days after filing.

Non-economic Damages Caps

Missouri limits noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, in medical malpractice cases. Missouri treats economic damages, including medical bills and lost income, separately.

Catastrophic Injury Definition

Missouri defines certain serious injuries as catastrophic, including paralysis, loss of limbs, severe brain injuries, major organ failure, and significant vision loss. This classification can affect the noneconomic damages cap. 

The information above is general. Laws change, and individual circumstances vary – consult an attorney for advice specific to your case.

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16 yrs
of legal experience
$6M+
Recovered for clients
100+
Cases resolved
MO + IL
Licensed to practice
Client Reviews
Erin D
After a very negative experience with our first personal injury lawyer, Tyler Thompson renewed our faith in the legal system and exceeded our expectations as our represention. Tyler was very communicative, compassionate, diligent in moving our case along, and found us the right specialist who finally was able to give us an accurate diagnosis and treatment options. We highly recommend Tyler and the Thompson Law STL Firm! “
Colleen Kelly
After being unsatisfied with my initial representation, I contacted Tyler who was determined, informative and confident in my case from start to finish. Through the process, he offered updates and was able to get the matter resolved to satisfaction. Beyond this, he was personable and a pleasure to be represented by- after my case finally settled, he called me that day and offered to drop the check off to me at my work. I'll be sure to share his contact with anyone who may need representation. Thank you, Tyler!
Bel da Silva
Can't speak highly enough of Tyler! He always kept me up to date on the case and was able to get my settlement higher than what the other party wanted to pay. He was timely and all around a nice guy. He even picked me up on the way to mediation. He always listened to me and I really feel like at every step of the way had my best interest at heart. I wish I could give him 10 stars out of 5!
Jason Malacarne
Tyler Thompson was my attorney during a car accident situation where I was injured. He worked for a different firm at the time I hired him originally, but I liked him so much and felt he had strong character and integrity, I made the decision to stick with him as my attorney when he no longer worked there. Well, I couldn't have made a better decision. Tyler is not just a good attorney who delivers when he says he will, he is also a good person.

Injured in a Medical Malpractice

You don’t have to handle the claim alone. Contact Thompson Law for support.

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Meet Your Attorney

Choose an Attorney Who Understands the Insurance Claims Process From Both Sides

Meet Tyler Thompson, an experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney with more than 12 years of legal experience. Before focusing on representing injured individuals, Tyler worked in insurance defense, including serving as in-house counsel for a national insurance company.

That experience gives Tyler a firsthand understanding of how insurance companies evaluate personal injury claims. He knows the questions insurers may ask, the factors they consider, and the issues that can affect the value of a claim.

Today, Tyler uses that experience to build strong cases for injured clients and negotiate with insurance companies from a position of knowledge. His goal is to help clients understand their options and pursue the compensation they deserve.

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About St. Louis Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider’s care falls below the standard reasonably expected of providers in the same field and that failure causes injury. Whether malpractice occurred depends on the facts of the case and Missouri law.

No. A poor outcome or treatment complication does not automatically mean malpractice. You generally must show that the provider fell below the accepted standard of care and that the failure caused your injury.

Generally, you have two years from the date of the malpractice to file a claim under §516.105 RSMo. Exceptions may apply in certain situations, including retained surgical objects and undisclosed test results.

Yes. Missouri generally requires an affidavit from a qualified healthcare provider stating that the care fell below the required standard and caused or contributed to your injury. The affidavit is generally due within 90 days after filing the lawsuit.

Missouri caps noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, in medical malpractice cases. For 2026, the caps are $481,493 for non-catastrophic injuries and $842,614 for catastrophic injuries; economic damages are treated separately.

A doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider may be responsible, depending on what happened. A hospital may be liable for its own negligence, including certain staffing or credentialing issues.

Certain exceptions can change when the filing deadline begins. For example, Missouri law has specific rules for retained surgical objects and a provider’s failure to disclose abnormal test results.

Surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. Missouri has specific rules about who can file and the applicable deadlines, so getting legal advice promptly is important.

Medical malpractice cases often require expert review, which can be costly. Thompson Law handles these case expenses as part of its contingency-fee arrangement, so you don’t pay or owe no attorney fee unless the firm recovers compensation for you.

Get Your Free Case Review with a St.Louis Medical Malpractice Lawyer

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