Medical Malpractice Lawyers Chesterfield, Missouri

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Chesterfield, Missouri. If you or a family member were harmed because a physician did not offer you the competent treatment that you deserved, call Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form. Our medical malpractice lawyers always get the best possible compensation for the injured and vulnerable in Chesterfield and throughout Missouri.

You do not have to pay because a doctor, hospital or other medical professional in Chesterfield, MO broke the rules. When we seek medical treatment, we do so under the assumption that we are placing our health — and occasionally even our lives — in competent hands. When doctors are negligent and you end up with even worse sickness or injuries as a result, believe in the seasoned and savvy Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law to get you justice and full financial compensation. Not only are we empathetic and devoted to the injured in Chesterfield, MO, but we are more aggressive than the majority of law firms in filing lawsuits and not waiting around for the liable doctor to take responsibility. Our medical malpractice lawyers want medical professionals and their insurance company to understand that we are persistent and will accept nothing but full compensation. Negligent health care can have destructive, permanent consequences, and in the dire cases can even lead to wrongful death.

In our three decades of experience fighting back against bullies and getting great results for our clients, we have secured our clients over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. If you or someone you care about has been injured by a negligent physician in Chesterfield, MO, call Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

See how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

Medical Malpractice Statistics | Chesterfield, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

A study by John Hopkins Medicine found that one in ten of all deaths in the United States are due to medical error. Just one percent of physicians are responsible for almost a third of medical malpractice claims. Too often, negligent doctors are permitted to keep practicing without any consequences. But when the state of Missouri does not want to hold liable doctors to blame, you can be certain the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will.

In Missouri, less than a third of medical malpractice claims end with the plaintiff receiving damages. Still, between 2009 and 2018 a full $631.11 million was recovered in medical malpractice lawsuits. You need devoted and seasoned Missouri medical malpractice lawyers to make certain you receive the great financial recovery you are owed.

Who Your Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Chesterfield, MO Can Hold Responsible in Your Claim

We often immediately think of doctors when we think of medical malpractice, there are many people or institutions that may be to blame for medical negligence in your claim. The state of Missouri defines a “healthcare provider” as a

Malpractice suits are often complex; it may not be clear straight away who was at fault, or many people could be responsible. The trusted and knowledgeable Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers at Burger Law will perform a full investigation into your injuries and make certain that every party that caused you injuries is held accountable for their negligent behavior.

Examples of Medical Malpractice in Chesterfield, MO

Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare professional disobeys the standard of care, which is how a capable doctor in the same practice area and same geographic location would have addressed your health problems. Our Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen that transpire in a variety of ways:

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis

This is the most common reason for medical malpractice claims that occur in outpatient care. About 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed each year. Diagnosing health problems early on is significant in realizing the best possible outcome for a patient. A misdiagnosis, or failing to diagnose, can result in a delay to the care you desperately require to get better, or can result in inappropriate care that exacerbates your illness or injury. Three-quarters of misdiagnoses are failing to diagnose some of the most deadly health conditions, for example:

• 37.8 percent for cancer
• 22.8 percent for vascular events
• 13.5 percent for infections

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are the most frequent medical malpractice case when it comes to inpatient care. There are a minimum of 4,000 surgical errors nationwide annually, and frighteningly, the most common example is operating on an erroneous body part. Other instances can include accidental incisions, anesthesia errors, foreign objects like instruments remaining inside the patient, infections or failure to address problems emerge after the procedure.

Medication Errors

An estimated 7,000 to 9,000 people nationwide die every year because of mistakes when administering medication. Examples can include not knowing a patient's allergies, giving the wrong medication, giving the wrong dosage or neglecting to identify interactions with other drugs.

Another example of medication errors is overprescribing medications. Studies show that overprescribing is a substantial contributor to the opioid crisis in the United States.

Unnecessary Care

Unnecessary medical care costs an estimated $210 billion each year. John Hopkins Medicine asked 2,106 doctors and discovered that physicians themselves are of the opinion that 15 to 30 percent of medical care is not needed, including:

• More than a fifth of prescription medications
• Almost a quarter of medical tests
• 11.1 percent of procedures
• More than one-fifth of medical care in general

Unneeded treatment can result in surgical errors, medication errors and overprescribed medication.

Birth Injuries

About 6 to 8 out of a thousand children born in the United States suffer a significant birth injury Annually. Not appropriately observing the child throughout birth, not correctly utilizing birthing procedures or not identifying a health problem of the mother during pregnancy are all cases of medical negligence that can cause long-term or permanent consequences.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act put in place a Bill of Rights for nursing home residents meant to safeguard and ensure their physical, emotional and social health. When a nursing home institution or staff does not ensure those rights and your family member is consequently hurt, the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will hold them to blame.

Failure to Inform or Lack of Consent

We all have a basic right to make choices for ourselves. When a medical professional neglects to inform you of risks, or neglects to acquire your consent before a procedure, it is an appalling breach of your rights.

At Burger Law, our Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers have experience with every variety of malpractice case. We know the destructive consequences a healthcare professional's or institution's thoughtlessness can cause, and the rage and grief that comes with finding out that your trust was broken. We hold at-fault doctors responsible and deliver our Chesterfield, MO clients the full compensation they deserve and need to move on and fully recover. Our medical malpractice lawyers also have substantial medical comprehension and will be able to pinpoint how your doctor violated the standard of care. Reach out to our medical malpractice lawyers in Chesterfield, MO right away at (314) 500-HURT.

View More FAQs

Medical Malpractice Cases Won

Take a look at the links below to see some of the latest successes Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers have secured for our clients in Chesterfield, MO:

• $1 Million Settlement for Family of a Man With Sepsis Infection
• $1 Million Settlement for Permanent Brain Injury
• $900,000 Settlement for Unnecessary Surgery Leading to Blindness in One Eye
• $200,000 Settlement for Misdiagnosis
• $175,000 Verdict for Surgical Error During a Cesarean Section
• Confidential Settlement for Failing to Diagnose Cancer and Lost Chance of Survival
• Confidential Settlement for Nursing Home Neglect
• Confidential Settlement for Wrongful Death Due to Fentanyl

What Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Missouri Can Do For You

Medical malpractice suits are infamously tough to win. That is why you need stellar medical malpractice lawyers that have the experience, knowledge, perseverance and talent to win you the great compensation you know you deserve. When you hire us, our Missouri medical malpractice lawyers:

• Get to work on your claim at once
• Connect you with honest and accomplished physicians to finally get you the medical care you need
• Perform a complete investigation, including procuring medical records, professional testimony and taking official statements from the defendant
• Converse with our network of Chesterfield, MO medical experts to determine standard of care in your case, show how the treatment you received was below standard and prove negligence
• Offer sympathetic, sound and direct legal counsel
• Keep you informed throughout your case so you are aware of what is going on and have all the information you need to make the best decision for your family
• Handle every legal aspect of your case so you can focus on healing
• Confer with with economic experts to ascertain exactly how much your claim is worth
• Negotiate with the insurance adjusters to deliver you a full settlement offer
• Take your case in front of a judge and jury when the insurance company does not want to be fair in mediation

At Burger Law, we know that the average person in Chesterfield, MO does not have the resources and legal savvy to fight the expensive defense teams of doctors and large corporations. That is why our Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay us anything until we get you the best possible financial recovery you deserve. We have devoted our careers to ensuring that the injured and vulnerable in Chesterfield, MO have access to the highest quality legal representation, one that rivals and surpasses that of large corporations. Our medical malpractice lawyers always work to eliminate every hurdle standing between you and justice.

Basic Requirements for a Medical Malpractice Claim

Not every error carried out by healthcare institution or physician constitutes malpractice. In order to receive compensation for improper care in Chesterfield, MO, you must conclusively show four things. Your medical malpractice lawyers from Burger Law will help you show that:

1. A doctor-patient relationship was intiated. This means proof that you hired the doctor and the doctor agreed to be hired. This is commonly not difficult to prove.
2. The doctor or healthcare provider was breached the standard of care. You need to be able to show that a competent physician in the same field, in the same geographical location caring for the same health condition, would not have committed the same mistake.
3. The doctor’s negligence directly caused the injury. This can often be hard to prove, as patients under a physician's care are normally already sick or injured.
4. That the injury caused the patient harm that they need to be compensated for. This can include physical pain, impairment, additional medical expenses, or loss of earning capacity.

In Missouri, you will also be required to provide an “Affidavit of Qualified Healthcare Worker,” within 90 days of filing your claim, pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute §538.225. This is a written opinion from a legally qualified healthcare provider that opines that a) the doctor did not offer the care that a careful healthcare provider would have in the same situation, and b) the negligence caused the alleged harm. Our medical malpractice lawyers have a wealth of accomplished and professional medical connections in Chesterfield and throughout Missouri who will help substantiate your claim.

What Compensation Can I Recover? | Chesterfield, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The compensation your medical malpractice lawyers will help you recover usually falls into two categories: economic damages, which seek to compensate you for the financial damages you have undergone owing to a physician's negligence; and noneconomic damages, which try to compensate for the less tangible ways in which your injuries have impacted your life:

• Economic damages include:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential if the medical negligence led to a disability that does not permit you to perform the duties of your job anymore
  • Medical expenses, such as:
    • Subsequent doctors appointments
    • Surgeries
    • Physical rehabilitation
    • Medication costs
    • In-home medical care
    • Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or required improvements to your home or vehicle
    • Future estimated medical expenses, such as further physical therapy or medication, or replacement costs for assistive devices
• Noneconomic damages, which the state of Missouri defines as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of capacity to enjoy life
  • Loss of consortium

Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers work tirelessly until you get every cent that you deserve. We know that some injuries are impossible to fully heal from, but we fight to make sure that you are made whole again.

Malpractice cases differ from other personal injuries in Missouri in two crucial aspects. Your medical malpractice lawyers at Burger Law will help you maneuver damage caps and the statute of limitations in Missouri:

Damage Caps in Missouri Medical Malpractice Cases

In 2015, Missouri state legislature passed Senate Bill 239 in an effort to lower insurance premiums for physicians and hospitals. The bill enforces "damage caps" on the amount you can recover in a medical malpractice lawsuit in noneconomic damages. As of 2022, those caps are $450,098 for a "non-catastrophic injury" and $787,671 for a "catastrophic injury."

What is Catastrophic Injury? | Chesterfield, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The limits for catastrophic injuries are greater because they affect your ability to carry out basic tasks and to find enjoyment in life. Your Burger Law malpractice lawyers will help you establish if your injury can be seen as catastrophic. Senate Bill 239 states that catastrophic injuries are:

• Quadriplegia, or loss of function in all four limbs
• Paraplegia, or loss of function in your legs and lower body
• Loss of two or more limbs
• A brain injury resulting in permanent cognitive impairment that results in permanent inability to:
• Make independent decisions
• Perform basic daily tasks such as eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, transferring and walking
• Irreversible failure of one or more major organ systems
• Legal blindness in your "best eye"

What is the Statute of Limitations in a Medical Malpractice Claim in Chesterfield, MO?

If you or a family member were injured by a medical professional's negligence in Chesterfield, MO, it is key to reach out to medical malpractice lawyers immediately. While most personal injury claims have a statute of limitation of five years in Missouri, medical malpractice cases only have a statute of limitations of two years, according to Missouri Revised Statute §516.105. That means that following an injury from medical negligence your medical malpractice lawyers only have two years to investigate your case and file your claim. There are three noteworthy exceptions:

1. If a foreign object was left inside of you after surgery, you have two years from the date you discovered the object, or should have discovered the object.
2. If a doctor did not inform you of test results, you have two years from the date you discovered or should have discovered that you were not informed. This does not include failure to inform of negligent or incorrect test results.
3. If you or someone you love was a minor at the time of the malpractice, you have until their 20th birthday.

Do not wait. Contact the Burger Law Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers now. We get started on your case right away and do not stop until you receive the best possible compensation . Delaying could bring complications to your case and could make it hard for even the best medical malpractice lawyers to show the full scope of your damages. Call Burger Law's Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers today at (314) 500-HURT.

No one deserves to have their life halted because a physician gave them substandard care. Burger Law's Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers make up the highest- and most-reviewed law firm in Chesterfield, MO. We fight hard for our clients and work relentlessly to get them the great results they need to move forward with their lives. Our medical malpractice lawyers have spent the last 30 years fighting back against bullies and standing up for the "little guy." We will not let healthcare professionals, large corporations manipulate your vulnerability. Call Burger Law's Chesterfield, MO medical malpractice lawyers today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form to start on your road to recovery.