When it comes to understanding medical malpractice in Missouri, the numbers tell an important story.
Drawing from data published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), we analyzed statewide trends from 2000 to 2024 to give injured patients a clearer picture of the malpractice landscape.
The results show how payouts have evolved, how claim volumes have shifted, and why selecting the right legal team is more important today than ever.
Average Payouts Have Risen Dramatically
In 2000, the average medical malpractice payout in Missouri was approximately $196,000 (adjusted for inflation).
By 2024, it had grown to over $406,000, a 107% increase.
This trend shows that while filing a case has become more selective, successful claims are valued higher than ever. Serious injuries deserve serious compensation.
Fewer Claims, But Stronger Case Values
The number of medical malpractice claims filed in Missouri has fallen sharply over the past two decades. In 2001, there were 358 cases filed statewide.
By 2024, that number dropped to just 157 filings, a 56% decrease.
However, total malpractice payouts have continued to grow. Between 2001 and 2024, the real-dollar value of malpractice settlements and verdicts in Missouri increased by 9%.
This means that while fewer cases are making it into the system, the claims that do move forward are typically more substantial and better supported.
Physician Cases Continue to Dominate
Physicians (MDs and DOs combined) are responsible for over 77% of all malpractice claims filed in Missouri over the past 25 years, and more than 86% of total malpractice payouts.
If your case involves a doctor’s negligence, such as a failure to diagnose, surgical error, or improper treatment, you are squarely in the majority of successful claimants.
Growing Liability Among Advanced Practice Nurses
As the roles of nurse practitioners and physician assistants expand, so too has their exposure to malpractice claims.
Advanced-practice nurses accounted for less than 1% of claims in 2000. By 2024, they made up nearly 8% of all malpractice lawsuits filed.
The average payout in these cases also grew more than 30-fold over that time, from roughly $10,000 to over $320,000.
Record-Setting Verdicts Are Still Common
Missouri’s largest malpractice payout year came in 2011, when over $151 million was paid out to injured patients statewide (adjusted for inflation).
More recent years, 2022 and 2024, also saw strong settlement and verdict numbers, despite historically low case counts.
This shows that even when fewer lawsuits are filed, large verdicts for patients who suffered life-altering injuries remain possible.