Little Rock Medical Malpractice Attorney
Dedicated Medical Malpractice Lawyers In Little Rock, Arkansas
Medical negligence often leads to serious personal injury or wrongful death. Healthcare is no longer the personal affair it was in the last century. Due to the tactics of managed care companies and other insurers, your doctor may have to choose between what is best for you and what the PPO or HMO will cover.
While doctors now have access to more medical devices, diagnostic tests, and drugs than ever before, insurance companies are driven to increase revenue and decrease expenses. This motivation often comes at the expense of your best interest. Pressure from insurance companies to reduce costs results in less time physicians can spend with each patient. This leads to misdiagnoses and increases in medical errors by doctors and other medical care providers. The harm caused to a patient due to misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose an illness, incorrect treatment, or misuse of prescription medications is unacceptable.
Steps to Take if You Are Involved in a Medical Malpractice Injury
If you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice, follow these steps to protect your rights and strengthen your case:
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Your health and safety come first. Seek medical treatment from another healthcare provider to address any injuries or complications resulting from the malpractice.
- Document Everything: Keep detailed records of all medical treatments, prescriptions, and communications with healthcare providers. This includes notes on your symptoms, treatments, and any changes in your condition.
- Obtain Medical Records: Request copies of all your medical records, including diagnostic tests, treatment plans, and correspondence with healthcare providers. These records are crucial evidence in a medical malpractice case.
- Photograph Injuries: Take clear, dated photographs of any visible injuries or conditions resulting from the malpractice. This visual evidence can be powerful in illustrating the extent of your harm.
- Keep a Journal: Document your daily experiences, including pain levels, emotional distress, and how the injury has impacted your daily life. This can help demonstrate the long-term effects of the malpractice.
- Avoid Discussing the Case: Do not discuss the details of your case with anyone other than your attorney. This includes posting on social media. Anything you say can be used against you in court.
- Consult a Little Rock Medical Malpractice Attorney: Contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible. The Little Rock personal injury lawyers at Pfeifer Law Firm have the experience and resources to help you navigate the complexities of a medical malpractice case.
- Preserve Evidence: Keep all physical evidence related to the malpractice, such as medical devices, prescriptions, and any other items connected to your treatment.
- Follow Legal Advice: Once you have hired a Little Rock medical malpractice attorney, follow their guidance and provide them with all the necessary information to build a strong case.
- File a Complaint: Your attorney can help you file a formal complaint with the appropriate medical board or regulatory body, which can be an important step in holding the responsible parties accountable.
By following these steps and working with an experienced attorney from Pfeifer Law Firm, you can ensure your rights are protected and improve your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.
Consulting a Little Rock medical malpractice attorney will offer you the best options to secure proper compensation. Under Arkansas law, there is a limited time to file a medical malpractice claim. Call today for a personal, no-obligation consultation to discuss your rights and learn how you can recover fair and reasonable compensation.
Why Choose Pfeifer Law Firm as Your Little Rock Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
With more than 20 years focused exclusively on personal injury and medical negligence cases in Central Arkansas, Pfeifer Law Firm has built a reputation for results in the most complex medical malpractice claims. Founding attorney Ryan Pfeifer is a board-certified civil trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and an active member of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. He has personally tried over 100 jury cases in Pulaski County and surrounding circuits, securing verdicts and settlements that have helped families recover from catastrophic medical errors.
Our attorneys work directly with board-certified physicians, surgeons, and nursing experts to review every detail of your care. This medical-legal partnership allows us to identify deviations from accepted standards of care—whether in a Little Rock emergency room, surgical suite, or outpatient clinic. We handle cases involving:
- Misread imaging studies leading to delayed cancer diagnoses
- Surgical errors, including wrong-site procedures and retained foreign objects
- Anesthesia mistakes causing brain injury or death
- Medication overdoses or contraindicated prescriptions
- Birth trauma resulting in cerebral palsy or Erb’s palsy
Every case begins with a free, in-depth evaluation of your medical records—no charge, no obligation. If we accept your case, you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.
Common Medical Malpractice Claims in Little Rock and Arkansas
Medical errors remain a leading cause of injury in Arkansas. According to the Arkansas Department of Health, hospitals in Pulaski County alone report hundreds of adverse events annually. Our Little Rock medical malpractice attorneys have successfully resolved claims involving:
| Type of Error | Real-World Example | Outcome Secured |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to Diagnose Stroke | Patient discharged from UAMS ER with “headache”; suffered permanent paralysis 12 hours later | $1.85 million settlement |
| Surgical Infection | Laparoscopic gallbladder removal complicated by unrecognized bowel perforation | $975,000 recovery |
| OB/GYN Negligence | Undetected fetal distress during labor at Baptist Health Medical Center | $2.3 million for lifelong care |
| Pharmacy Misfill | 10-fold insulin overdose at local CVS | $450,000 settlement |
Real Client Results: Medical Malpractice Verdicts and Settlements in Little Rock
- $3.1 million verdict – Pulaski County Circuit Court, 2023: Delayed diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess left a 44-year-old construction worker paraplegic. Jury found the on-call neurologist failed to order timely MRI.
- $1.4 million settlement – Confidential resolution with Little Rock cardiology group after pacemaker lead perforation caused cardiac tamponade.
- $875,000 recovery – Nursing staff at Saline Memorial Hospital failed to monitor post-op patient; undetected internal bleeding led to multi-organ failure.
All case results are anonymized to protect client privacy. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
“Ryan Pfeifer fought for my family when no one else would listen. After my wife’s misdiagnosed heart attack, he held the hospital accountable and secured the funds we needed for her care.” – D.M., Conway, AR
Arkansas Medical Malpractice Laws: What Every Patient Needs to Know
Arkansas imposes strict rules on medical injury claims. Missing a deadline or procedural step can end your case before it begins. Key statutes include:
- Statute of Limitations (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-114-203): Two years from the date of injury or discovery, with a three-year absolute repose period. Exceptions exist for minors and foreign objects.
- Expert Affidavit Requirement (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-114-209): A qualified medical expert must certify merit within 60 days of filing.
- Damage Caps: Non-economic damages capped at approximately $1.55 million (inflation-adjusted) in most cases; no cap on economic losses or wrongful death.
- Comparative Fault: Recovery reduced proportionally if patient fault exceeds 0%; barred entirely if patient 50% or more at fault.
Our team files pre-suit notices, secures expert affidavits, and manages every deadline so you can focus on healing.
Contact Our Little Rock Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
Call our Little Rock medical malpractice attorney today or contact us online for a free initial consultation. After-hours and weekend consultations are available by appointment. The consultation is free, and you don’t owe us any fees unless we recover compensation for you.
