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ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEYS

In Missouri and Illinois, patients become victims when doctors, medical facilities, and other healthcare professionals fail to provide the accepted standard of care. If you’ve been hurt by a medical error that could’ve been prevented, you shouldn’t have to pay the bill. You should focus on getting better.

What Our Clients Say

“Cofman Townsley and their staff are like family. They met every need, answered every question, called us after hours, etc. They went above and beyond and made sure that we got our settlement to the fullest amount.” Jill C.

“Cofman Townsley was persistent, professional, and did an excellent job at keeping me informed all the time.”

Ashanti M.

“The Cofman Townsley team was awesome through the entire process.”

Darlana J.

“Cofman Townsley was great at helping me. They were always on time and answered any questions I had. They were very nice and patient with everything.”

ReJeane T.

“The attorneys were very responsive to my needs. Every time I called, someone got right back to me right away. I always knew what was going on because I was kept very informed about my case. I would recommend Cofman Townsley to anyone. I feel that Cofman Townsley did a wonderful job with my case. Everything was done in a professional manner. Everyone is really nice. ”

LaDawn H.

“Cofman Townsley are like family to me. They explain things thoroughly, make sure that I understand, and that I am taken care of. David Nissenholtz and Paula were super to me, and helped me through a long and difficult process where I had years of medical treatment and much stress. They care about people and take time to listen. I would refer my friends and family members to them because I trust they will take good care of them.”

William V.

“Cofman Townsley treats you like family and like you are the only client. They answered all of my questions and took time to make sure I understood. I wouldn’t change to another attorney. They have done a good job for me and I trust them, which is very important. The whole office of people is friendly. They make me feel like I am number one, and they will do the same for you.”

Darlene W.

“Cofman Townsley diligently represented me in my personal injury work comp claim and got me a fair settlement in a timely manner.”

Jeff R.

“It was a great experience. Cofman Townsley handled all the leg work for me. I appreciate all the help.”

Chris S.

“I was very pleased with the way in which my case was handled. I was treated with great respect and care. I have never had to have legal services in my life, so for a first time event this has been very easy. I would like to say that the work ethic and determination of this company was the greatest thing that I will be left with. I thank you all very much!”

Johnny M.

“David did an amazing job with my case and communicating with me. His professionalism and concern with my progress meant a lot to me. I really appreciate everything he and his staff did for me. Thank you all.”

Carey G.

“Cofman Townsley are a great team of lawyers who go out of their way to do the BEST for their clients. They stay on you and get you the largest settlement they can.”

Peggy T.

“I really appreciate what they have done for me. I was treated excellently and if something ever happens again, they would be the first people I would call.”

Amber A.

“They have great attention to detail and [provide] a wonderful level of comfort during tough times.”

Matt C.

“Thank you. You guys were very fast, considerate, and friendly. I really appreciate it.”

Michael S.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when doctors or healthcare providers injure patients by failing to provide a professional standard of care. Proving medical malpractice can be complex, and strong cases require investigating your incident, gathering expert witness testimony, and examining hospital records.

Proving Medical Malpractice

A successful medical malpractice claim must prove that a doctor, nurse, or medical facility:

  • Had a “duty of care” at the time of your incident.
    Duty of care means that a medical provider was responsible for your care and agreed to provide treatment to you.
  • Breached the duty of care.
    Doctors and hospitals must provide a standard of care that is considered acceptable by other physicians within the same area of medicine.
  • Injured you by breaching the duty of care.
    Your injuries must be the result of a medical provider’s negligence or carelessness.
  • Caused you to suffer serious damages.
    The injuries caused by your medical provider must have caused you to suffer physical, emotional, or financial damages, such as pain and suffering, lost wages, or the need for future medical care.

Who can be held responsible for medical malpractice?

Doctors and nurses aren’t the only ones who can be held responsible for medical malpractice. Other responsible parties may include:

  • Facility staff
  • Hospitals
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Pharmacists
  • Rehabilitation centers

Our St. Louis medical malpractice lawyers can review the details of your case and help determine which parties may have contributed to your injuries.

How We Can Help

Whether you’ve been the victim of a surgical error or a medication mistake, we know you want to focus on getting better. We allow you to focus on your medical needs while we prepare your claim for trial. It’s our job to help take the worry out of your legal claim by:

  • Determining who was responsible for your injuries.
    Hospital documents, medical records, and witness reports can all help prove that a medical error caused your injuries. We’ll investigate your incident to collect the evidence necessary to build a strong claim on your behalf.
  • Filing your legal documents.
    Medical malpractice filings are subject to strict deadlines. Our team will ensure documents related to your claim are accurate and filed on time.
  • Gathering expert witness testimony.
    Testimony from other doctors within the medical community can be used to show that your caregiver failed to provide an accepted standard of care. We’ll use this testimony to help prove your injuries were caused by negligence.

3 Common Types of Medical Malpractice Claims

Medical malpractice claims can result from medical negligence in any area of professional medicine. Three common types of claims include:

  1. Medication Mistakes
    Patients can suffer severe or fatal injuries when doctors, hospitals, or pharmacies fail to check for potential drug interactions or prescribe wrong dosages.
  2. Misdiagnoses
    When doctors fail to quickly or accurately diagnose treatable illnesses, their errors can lead to expensive medical treatment, pain and suffering, or even wrongful death.
  3. Surgical Errors
    Surgeons operating on the wrong body sites, performing wrong procedures, or leaving equipment in patients’ bodies can cause costly and life-threatening injuries.

The healthcare industry hires powerful legal teams that fight to protect corporate profits. At Cofman Townsley, we’re your advocates against insurance companies. Our St. Louis, Missouri medical malpractice lawyers will even work with you to help take care of your medical needs while we prepare your case for trial.

Doctor and Hospital Negligence

We trust doctors and hospitals to act with our best interests in mind. But healthcare providers often fail to meet accepted standards of care and make mistakes that lead to serious health complications and even death. If you’ve been injured by a doctor or hospital’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills.

Types of Doctor and Hospital Negligence

Medical mistakes happen in every area of medicine—regardless of a doctor’s experience or a hospital’s reputation. Some common types of doctor and hospital negligence include:

  • Birth injuries
  • Failure to diagnose
  • Failure to monitor patients
  • Hospital infections
  • Improper use of anesthesia
  • Medication errors
  • Misdiagnoses
  • Surgical mistakes
  • Wrong site surgeries

Injuries caused by hospital or doctor negligence can lead to physical, financial, and emotional stress for you and your family. A strong medical malpractice claim holds healthcare providers responsible for the injuries they cause, so victims like you can focus on getting better.

Medical Malpractice FAQ

  1. What is medical malpractice?
    Medical malpractice occurs when doctors, hospitals, or other healthcare professionals injure or kill patients by failing to provide proper treatment and care.
  2. What are some examples of medical malpractice?
    Medical malpractice claims may result from a variety of medical errors, such as:
    • Failure to warn a patient of known risks
    • Failure to perform correct surgical procedures
    • Misdiagnoses
    • Prescription or medication errors
    • Surgery on the wrong body part
    • Unauthorized or unnecessary treatments
  3. What time limits do I need to be aware of if I’ve been injured as a result of medical malpractice?
    The time limit—or statute of limitations—to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Missouri is two years from the date the injury occurred. In cases involving foreign objects in bodies or failure to inform patients of medical test results, victims have two years from the date an injury was discovered. The Illinois statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is two years from the date of injury, or two years from the date an injury was discovered—or should’ve been discovered—in cases where an injury isn’t apparent right away.There are exceptions to these rules, and building a strong claim can take time, so it’s important to talk to an attorney as soon as possible after your injury.
  4. Do I have a medical malpractice claim?
    In order to file a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that a medical caregiver:
    • had a “duty of care”—or responsibility to care for you,
    • failed to provide an accepted standard of care,
    • caused your injuries by failing to care for you properly,
    • caused you to suffer damages, such as economic or emotional distress.
  5. What should I look for in choosing an attorney to represent me in a medical malpractice case?
    Three factors you should consider when choosing a medical malpractice attorney include:
    • Advocacy 
      You want an attorney who isn’t afraid to stand up to big insurance companies to get the money you need. At Cofman Townsley, we prepare every claim as if it’s going to court, and the hard work we put into our cases is reflected in the results we obtain for our clients.
    • Compassion
      We know you’re experiencing physical, emotional, and economic trauma. That’s why we strive to give all of our clients the individual attention they need. If you call us about your claim, we’ll do our best to ensure you speak with your lawyer and your questions are answered.
    • Experience
      Cofman Townsley has protected the rights of injured victims in Missouri and Illinois since 1973. We’re an experienced law firm with the knowledge to help get you the best possible results.

If you’ve been injured by a doctor’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis, Missouri medical malpractice attorneys can review the details of your accident and help protect your legal rights. Fill out a free initial consultation form or dial (314) 499-1190 to get help now.

We’re Here for You

Insurance companies see dollar signs when they negotiate medical malpractice claims. We see people: mothers, fathers, spouses, and children who are in need of compassionate legal help. We know you have questions, so we do our best to ensure you talk directly to your lawyer when you call us about your case.

Contact the St. Louis, Missouri medical malpractice lawyers at Cofman Townsley today, and let us work for you. Dial (314) 499-1190 or use our free initial consultation form to get in touch with us.