
When a healthcare provider's negligence causes serious harm, the consequences can last a lifetime. At Wolff Trial Lawyers, our St. Louis medical malpractice attorneys have been fighting for injured patients and their families for over 46 years. Led by Alvin A. Wolff, Jr. — board-certified civil trial attorney, licensed in Missouri since 1979 — our firm has handled 7,500+ personal injury and malpractice cases and has the trial experience and resources to take on hospitals, physicians, and their insurers.
Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex in personal injury law. They require qualified medical testimony, deep knowledge of Missouri procedural requirements, and an attorney who is genuinely prepared to go to trial. That is what we bring to every case.
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from the accepted standard of care, causing preventable harm to a patient. Patients entrust their health — and their lives — to physicians, nurses, and medical institutions. When that trust is violated through negligence, those providers can be held legally accountable.
These figures reflect how widespread, dangerous, and often under-recognized medical negligence is. If something felt wrong about the care you or a loved one received, it is worth speaking with an attorney.
When malpractice results in catastrophic injury — traumatic brain injury, paralysis, permanent disability, or death — the financial and personal toll on families is immeasurable. We understand how to pursue these claims fully and fight for everything our clients are owed.
To bring a successful medical malpractice claim in Missouri, a plaintiff must establish:
Missouri law also requires that before a medical malpractice lawsuit can proceed, a qualified healthcare provider must file an affidavit affirming that the claim has merit. Without that affidavit, courts will dismiss the case. This procedural requirement is one of many reasons why representation by an experienced medical malpractice attorney is essential — not optional.
Time matters. Missouri medical malpractice claims must generally be filed within two years of the date of injury — or the date the injury was discovered, in certain circumstances. Once that deadline passes, the right to pursue compensation is typically lost permanently.
Do not wait to speak with an attorney. Evidence becomes harder to preserve, medical records become harder to obtain, and witness recollections fade. The sooner we begin, the stronger the case we can build.
$111,000,000 verdict (resolved) — Medical malpractice trial; Alvin A. Wolff, Jr. as referring counsel.
$1,900,000 — Medical malpractice result, Southern Missouri.
$1,750,000 — Medical malpractice verdict, St. Louis County, MO.
Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.

Alvin A. Wolff, Jr. is a distinguished St. Louis personal injury attorney with 46 years of experience handling more than 7,500 personal injury and medical malpractice cases, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for clients.
Known as “The St. Louis Personal Injury Law Firm,” Alvin and his team have earned Wolff Trial Lawyers a reputation for relentless advocacy, compassionate client care, and results-driven representation.
Relentless Advocacy = Real Results
Real World, Down-to-Earth Advice = No Jargon, No B.S.
Family Legacy of 100+ years in Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Law








You likely have a case if someone else's negligence caused you real harm — medical bills, lost income, lasting injuries, or the loss of a loved one. Missouri law requires four things to prove negligence: a duty of care, a breach of that duty, a direct link between the breach and your injury, and actual damages. The only way to know for sure is a free consultation. Call (314) 651-8631 — we'll tell you honestly whether there's a case worth pursuing.
Most Missouri personal injury cases have a five-year statute of limitations under RSMo § 516.120 — the same five-year deadline applies to most Missouri car accident lawsuits. Medical malpractice is only two years, wrongful death is three, and claims against government entities can be much shorter. Don't wait on the longer end; evidence and witnesses disappear fast. Call (314) 651-8631 so we can protect your filing rights.
A: No recovery, no fee. We handle personal injury and medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis, agreed to in writing before we begin. Depending on what your case requires, there may still be case costs involved. We walk you through all of that at your free consultation. Your consultation is no pressure, no obligation.
You can handle it yourself, but Insurance Research Council studies have consistently found that represented claimants recover significantly more on average — even after attorney's fees. Adjusters are trained to close claims for as little as possible. An experienced St. Louis trial lawyer levels that field.
Case value depends on your medical expenses, lost wages, future care, the severity and permanence of your injuries, how clearly fault falls on the other side, and the insurance coverage available. No honest lawyer can promise a specific number, and Missouri Bar rules prohibit us from doing so. What we can promise is a thorough valuation of every component of your claim.
Get medical care immediately, report the incident in writing (police report, incident report, or hospital record), photograph everything, collect witness names, and do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company. Then call a St. Louis personal injury lawyer before accepting any settlement offer — initial offers are almost always a fraction of what the case is worth.
Yes. Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule from Gustafson v. Benda (Mo. 1983), which lets you recover even if you were up to 99% at fault — your compensation is simply reduced by your share of the blame. Insurance carriers work hard to inflate that share, which is exactly why representation matters.
Every personal injury case in St. Louis is different. A straightforward claim may resolve in a few months; a complex medical malpractice or catastrophic injury case that goes to trial can take a year or longer. We give you an honest timeline at your first consultation and keep you updated at every stage.
Most personal injury cases settle before trial, and we work hard to secure full value at the negotiating table. But insurance carriers pay more when they know the lawyer across the table will actually try the case — and Alvin Wolff, Jr. has tried over 100 cases to a jury verdict. Being trial-ready is what makes settlements bigger.
Serious personal injury and wrongful death matters throughout Missouri and Colorado — including medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, car and truck accidents, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, premises liability, slip and fall, dog bites, prescription errors, and negligent security. If you're not sure whether your situation fits, call and ask. If it isn't something we handle, we'll point you to someone who does.
Important Disclosure:
The Missouri Bar requires a disclosure that contacting an attorney on this website does not constitute an attorney client relationship. Legal advice is not given here and any past case results listed have no bearing on what your case might be worth. Every case rises and falls on its own particular merits.

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