Formerly Padberg, Corrigan & Appelbaum

St. Louis Medical Malpractice Attorney

The team of St. Louis medical malpractice attorneys at Padberg Appelbaum Knepper has successfully recovered millions of dollars for our clients. We are uniquely positioned to investigate and try complex medical malpractice cases. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of trial experience. The team also includes Kelly Casey, an on-staff registered nurse. She stays current on medical care standards and acts as a liaison with medical experts. She works with clients to learn their story, attend their meetings, and get answers.

Medical malpractice is when a health care provider deviates from accepted standards of practice, resulting in serious injury or death to a patient. Medical error is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Doctors, nurses, technicians, hospitals and other parties found liable for this type of professional negligence can be ordered to compensate a victim for damages and suffering.

Examples of medical malpractice include, but are not limited to:

  • Never Events (e.g. Stage III and IV Bed Sores, Air Embolism, Patient Falls)
  • Surgical Complications
  • Operating on the Wrong Body Part
  • Retained Objects Left in the Body After Surgery
  • Error in Prescribing or Administering Medication
  • Insufficient Warning of Risks
  • Misdiagnosis of an Illness or Condition
  • Improper Medical Procedure or Treatment
  • Birth Defect due to Malpractice
  • Failure to Monitor a Patient

Any instance of a medical malpractice “Never Event” should be immediately reported to the appropriate agency. Patients and their families should seek the advice of the best medical malpractice lawyers in Missouri. Schedule a free consultation today.

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Notable St. Louis Medical Malpractice Attorney Cases

$4,850,000 Settlement

In a medical malpractice lawsuit for an eight-year old girl who sustained a brain injury due to negligent medical treatment. Her hospital and treating doctors, including her pediatrician and a geneticist, were liable for a misdiagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism as a result of the hospital losing her Newborn Screen Test, which tests for congenital hypothyroidism.

$1,500,000 Settlement

For the family of 45-year-old man who died as a result of failure to diagnose bacterial meningitis.

$1,100,000 Settlement

For the death of a man who suffered an air embolism after undergoing a cardiac catheterization.

More Cases

FAQs: Questions to ask a medical malpractice attorney

Click to jump to a question and answer:

Can I file a claim?

Any patient injured while under the care of a medical professional who did not provide adequate standard of care can file a claim. If the injured person is a minor under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian can pursue the claim on behalf of their child as a guardian ad litem.

If the patient died as a result of their injury, the surviving family can file a claim for wrongful death.

There is a time limit or filing deadline to pursue a medical malpractice claim which varies from state to state. Missouri medical malpractice claims must be brought forth within two years from the date of the negligent act. As soon as you believe you have a claim, contact a medical lawyer to discuss the details of your case.

How much money can be recovered from a medical malpractice case?

Missouri malpractice lawyers must review a case before determining the sum of potential damages. In determining the value of a case, lawyers factor in economic losses, such as medical bills and lost wages. They also look at non-economic damages without an exact monetary value. This includes loss of consortium, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of function and more.

For more information, consult with our medical malpractice attorneys in St. Louis.

How long does a medical malpractice lawsuit take?

There are many reasons a medical malpractice case can be lengthy — because of complex medical issues, multiple liable parties, numerous witnesses and/or large sums of money at stake. At Padberg Appelbaum Knepper, we always anticipate our cases will go to trial. However, our St. Louis medical malpractice lawyers seek to recover the highest compensation for clients in the quickest amount of time, accomplished through mediation or settlement.

The initial investigation of a medical malpractice case can take up to six months. After filing a case with the courts, the litigation process can take at least two years. Throughout the process, clients need to attend meetings with their medical malpractice attorney, have their deposition taken, and be present for the entire length of the trial.

How do you prove medical negligence?

Every case has its own criteria to determine if a medical provider deviated from the accepted standards of care, and if negligence caused or directly contributed to a patient’s damages. If your case meets these criteria, an independent expert will sign a healthcare affidavit saying the case has merit.

If the case goes to trial, a jury will ultimately determine if there was medical negligence. To learn more, contact our medical malpractice attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri.

How much does a medical malpractice lawsuit cost?

At Padberg Appelbaum Knepper, our team of medical malpractice lawyers in St. Louis works with clients on a contingency fee basis, which means our clients don’t pay anything unless we recover damages. After a case is successfully resolved, the client is responsible for paying back expenses incurred during the litigation process, as well as a percentage of the settlement or judgment which is mutually agreed upon prior to starting work on the case.

These situations are complicated, and we have the top malpractice lawyers in St. Louis to help make the process as easy as possible.

If you believe you or a loved one are a victim of medical malpractice, contact our office today for a free consultation.