Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Lawyer in Las Vegas
Over 45 Years of Nevada Medical Malpractice Experience. Million-Dollar Results.
A missed or delayed heart attack diagnosis narrows the treatment window when it matters most. Clot-dissolving medications and cardiac catheterization are most effective in the first hours after an acute myocardial infarction begins. When an emergency room physician or primary care provider sends a patient home with a diagnosis of indigestion or anxiety instead of ordering appropriate cardiac testing, the consequences can include permanent heart damage, disability, or death. Burris & Thomas, LLC represents Las Vegas patients and families harmed by exactly this kind of failure.
The firm brings over 45 years of combined Nevada personal injury experience to these cases, including a record of numerous million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Past results don’t guarantee a future outcome, but they reflect the depth of litigation experience Burris & Thomas, LLC applies to every claim. Case evaluations are free, and the firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered.
If a heart attack was missed or misdiagnosed in Las Vegas, Burris & Thomas, LLC can review the case at no cost. Call (702) 529-3101 to schedule a free evaluation.
Why Heart Attacks Get Missed
Heart attacks don’t always arrive with crushing chest pain. Symptoms can include jaw pain, back pain, nausea, fatigue, or shortness of breath, particularly in women, diabetics, and older adults. Atypical presentations are frequently misattributed to gastrointestinal problems or anxiety, especially in female patients whose cardiac complaints are sometimes dismissed without adequate testing. Emergency physicians may also overlook cardiac causes in younger or physically fit patients who don’t fit the typical risk profile.
Diagnostic error often occurs when providers fail to order or properly interpret an electrocardiogram (ECG) or troponin blood tests, the primary cardiac biomarkers used to detect heart muscle damage. A provider who sends a patient home without these tests, despite symptoms that warrant them, may have deviated from the accepted standard of care. Understaffing, rushed triage, and failure to follow established cardiac protocols contribute to these failures as well.
What a Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Claim Requires in Nevada
Medical malpractice claims in Nevada rest on four elements: a provider-patient relationship existed; the provider deviated from the accepted standard of care; that deviation directly caused harm; and the patient suffered measurable damages. The standard of care is defined as what a reasonably competent provider in the same specialty would have done under the same circumstances. In a missed cardiac event, this analysis typically centers on whether the provider ordered appropriate ECG and cardiac biomarker testing and how the results were interpreted.
Nevada also requires an affidavit of merit from a qualified medical expert at the time a malpractice complaint is filed. This means a cardiologist or emergency medicine physician must review the case and attest that the standard of care was breached before litigation begins. Burris & Thomas, LLC manages this requirement as part of case preparation. Steven M. Burris was appointed head of the Southern Nevada Panel, State of Nevada Medical Legal Screening Panel, giving the firm direct institutional insight into how Nevada evaluates medical negligence claims. Nevada’s modified comparative negligence rule can reduce a recovery proportionally if the patient bears any share of fault and bars recovery entirely if that share exceeds 50 percent.
Damages in a Las Vegas Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Case
Economic damages are fully recoverable and can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and long-term rehabilitation or care costs. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for a surviving spouse. Nevada law (NRS 41A.035) caps non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases; that cap is subject to ongoing legislative adjustment and increases annually through 2028, so the current applicable figure should be confirmed before any specific amount is cited. There is no cap on economic damages. In cases involving gross negligence, punitive damages may also be available.
When a misdiagnosed heart attack results in death, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim that runs alongside or in place of a personal injury claim. Both paths may allow recovery for the full scope of harm the family has suffered.
Why Burris & Thomas, LLC Is the Right Firm for This Case
Medical malpractice cases against hospitals and healthcare systems involve organized defense teams and substantial institutional resources. Challenging them requires attorneys who know how to retain and prepare qualified medical experts, navigate Nevada’s procedural requirements, and try complex cases to verdict when settlement isn’t adequate. That litigation background is what Burris & Thomas, LLC brings to heart attack misdiagnosis claims in Las Vegas.
Recognized Legal Credentials
Steven M. Burris holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and was named a Las Vegas Life Top 5 Lawyer. He received Nevada Super Lawyers recognition in 2007 and 2008 and Mountain States Super Lawyers recognition from 2009 through 2011. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Client-Centered Communication
The firm is consistently recognized for responsive communication and keeping clients informed at every stage of their case.
Contingency Fee Basis
The firm handles heart attack misdiagnosis cases on a contingency fee basis. No attorney fees are owed unless compensation is recovered.
Contact a Las Vegas Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Attorney for a Free Case Review
Patients and families throughout Las Vegas and Southern Nevada who suspect a heart attack was missed deserve a direct answer about whether a claim may exist. Burris & Thomas, LLC provides free case evaluations with no obligation and no upfront costs.
To speak with a Las Vegas medical malpractice attorney about a missed cardiac diagnosis, call (702) 529-3101 today.
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 702-529-3101 today!
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How much is my case worth?
There are many factors that go into evaluating the settlement value of a personal injury case. It is not a simple matter of applying a formula. Typically, everyone thinks that their case is “simple” and “clear-cut”. Everyone tends to think that the amount of money they are seeking is “fair and reasonable”. That is human nature. However, the reality is that, in the end, a personal injury case is worth what a jury says it is worth. The job of the victim’s personal injury lawyer is to come up with a settlement that reflects the risk of going to trial (odds of winning vs. odds of losing), together with the range of what value a jury might actually return on the case.
In deciding settlement values, we need to consider the following:
- Is fault clear, or contested?
- Are the injuries severe or mild?
- Is there an issue with insurance coverage?
- Is the client a good communicator?
- Is the defendant/wrongdoer likable or unlikable?
Normally, I am able to give a very general estimate range of settlement value and odds soon after taking on a case, with the understanding that these are just estimates and not guarantees. The longer the case goes on, the more definite I can be about the settlement value range.
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Do I have a personal injury case?
It is often times said by attorneys that in order for there to be a viable personal injury case, there must be “three legs on the stool.” These legs are: liability (or fault); damages (or injury); and collectability (insurance). If any one of the “legs” is missing, then there is not a viable case.
- Liability - A clear example of liability would be someone running through a red light. That person would be at fault. On the other hand, let us say that somebody is hit by a meteorite falling from the sky, and seriously hurt. In that case, although there is injury, there is no earthly entity at fault.
- Damages - An example of damages would be someone getting hit in the nose by an airbag, which breaks their nose. That person has an injury caused by the collision. On the other hand, what if that same person is almost hit by a car running a red light, but by the grace of God is able to avoid the collision? That person might say “I was almost killed, but I didn’t get a scratch.” In that case, the person was not injured and there is no case.
- Collectability - To give an example of collectability, imagine that a drunk driver runs through a red light, and the driver is Donald Trump. In that case, if Donald Trump hit and injured someone when he ran the red light, the victim will be able to collect upon any judgment that they receive. Imagine, on the other hand, that the drunk driver is someone who just got out of prison, and has no insurance and no property. Although that person will probably go to jail, there is no practical way to collect money from him, as he is a “scofflaw” living outside responsibilities of society.
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What Is the Nevada Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases?
When it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit, it's important to pay attention to the statute of limitations for the state you're filing in. A statute of limitations is the time limit that a state puts on how long after your accident you are allowed to file a personal injury lawsuit. Statutes vary from state to state.
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e) (2016) states that individuals wishing to file a personal injury lawsuit must do so within 2 years of the date of their accident. However, there are certain exceptions that can be made depending on your circumstances. For example, if you have been injured as a result of medical malpractice, you generally only have 1 year to file your lawsuit after the date of your injury (Nevada Revised Statutes section 41A.097).
Statute of limitations can be complex, and if you fail to file your lawsuit within the allotted amount of time your case will most likely be dismissed. Don't put your compensation on the line! Contact our experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorneys today to schedule a free consultation and determine what your next steps should be.
