Medical Malpractice Attorney Columbia MO

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Columbia, Missouri. If you or someone you care about were hurt because a healthcare professional did not provide you with the adequate treatment that you deserved, call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form. Our medical malpractice lawyers always get great financial recoveries for the injured in Columbia and throughout Missouri.

You do not have to pay because a doctor, medical institution or other healthcare professional in Columbia, MO disregarded your health. When we seek medical treatment, we do so believing that we are placing our well-being — and at times even our lives — in proficient hands. When doctors are negligent , leaving you with even worse illnesses or harm as a consequence, trust in the accomplished and knowledgeable Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law to win you justice and the best possible compensation. Not only are we empathetic and committed to the injured in Columbia, MO, but we are more aggressive than the majority of law firms in filing litigation and not waiting around for the at-fault doctor to take responsibility. Our medical malpractice lawyers want medical professionals and their insurance company to know that we are serious and will not take anything but a full financial recovery. Negligent health care can have horrible, life-long 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 the injured, we have won our clients over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. If you or a loved one has been injured by a thoughtless doctor in Columbia, MO, reach out to Burger Law’s medical malpractice lawyers now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

See the potential value of your claim by filling out our free personal injury calculator.

Medical Malpractice Statistics | Columbia, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Research by John Hopkins Medicine found that one-tenth of all deaths nationwide are because of medical error. Just one percent of physicians account for nearly 33 percent of medical malpractice lawsuits. Too often, negligent doctors are allowed to continue practicing without any discipline. But when the state of Missouri does not want to hold liable doctors responsible, you can be sure the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will.

In Missouri, less than a third of medical malpractice lawsuits end with the plaintiff collecting compensation. Still, between 2009 and 2018 a full $631.11 million was paid out in medical malpractice cases. You need devoted and veteran Missouri medical malpractice lawyers to make sure you collect the full compensation you are owed.

Who Your Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Columbia, MO Can Hold Liable in Your Claim

We usually automatically think of doctors when we think of medical malpractice, there are many people or institutions that may be guilty of medical negligence in your case. The state of Missouri defines a “healthcare provider” as a

• Physician
• Hospital
• Health maintenance organization
• Ambulatory surgical center
• Long-term care facility
• Registered or licensed practical nurse
• Optometrist
• Podiatrist
• Pharmacist
• Chiropractor
• Professional physical therapist
• Psychologist
• Physician-in-training, or
• Any other person or entity who provides health care services under the authority of a license or certificate

Malpractice lawsuits are typically intricate; it may not be immediately clear who was liable, or many people could be accountable. The trusted and talented Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers at Burger Law will carry out a full investigation into your injuries and ensure that every party that caused you harm is held responsible for their negligent actions.

Examples of Medical Malpractice in Columbia, MO

Medical negligence happens when a healthcare professional violates the standard of care, which is how a capable doctor in the same practice area and same geographic location would have care for your health problems. Our Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen that transpire in myriad ways:

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis

This is the most common reason for medical malpractice lawsuits that take place in out-of-hospital treatment. About 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed annually. Catching medical issues early on is often a deciding factor in getting the best possible results for a patient. A misdiagnosis, or missing a diagnosis, can cause a delay to the care you desperately require to become healthier, or can result in unsuitable treatment that compounds your illness or injury. Three-quarters of misdiagnoses are failing to diagnose some of the most severe health conditions, including:

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

Surgical Errors

Surgical mistakes are the most common medical malpractice case when it comes to inpatient treatment. There are a minimum of 4,000 surgical errors in the U.S. every year, and frighteningly, the most common example is operating on an incorrect body part. Other examples can include accidental incisions, anesthesia mistakes, foreign objects like scissors remaining inside the patient, infections or failure to address issues arising from the procedure.

Medication Errors

An estimated 7,000 to 9,000 people in the United States die annually owing to medication errors. Examples can include not taking a record of the patient’s allergies, giving the wrong medication, giving the wrong dosage or neglecting to identify interactions with other drugs.

Medication errors can also include overprescribing medications. Studies have found that overprescribing is a major factor in the opioid crisis in the United States.

Unnecessary Care

Unnecessary medical care costs an estimated $210 billion annually. 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:

• 22 percent of prescription medications
• 24.9 percent of medical tests
• Over one-tenth of procedures
• 20.6 percent of medical treatment in general

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

Birth Injuries

An estimated 6 to 8 out of 1,000 children born in the United States experience a significant birth injury each year. Not appropriately monitoring the child throughout delivery, not appropriately using birthing procedures or not diagnosing a health condition with the mother during pregnancy are all instances of medical negligence that can lead to long-term or permanent consequences.

Nursing Home Negligence

The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act established a Bill of Rights for nursing home residents meant to safeguard and secure their physical, emotional and social well-being. When a nursing home or its staff does not ensure those rights and the person you care about is consequently injured, the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will hold them liable.

Failure to Inform or Lack of Consent

We all have a fundamental right to make decisions for ourselves. When a healthcare professional fails to inform you of risks, or does not acquire your consent before treatment, it is an appalling infringement on your rights.

At Burger Law, our Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen it all. We know the catastrophic consequences a healthcare professional’s or institution’s carelessness can cause, and the anger and sorrow that accompanies discovering that your trust was betrayed. We hold at-fault doctors accountable and get our Columbia, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve and need to move on and be made whole again. Our medical malpractice lawyers also have extensive medical comprehension and will be able to discover exactly how your doctor violated the standard of care. Reach out to our medical malpractice lawyers in Columbia, MO now at (314) 500-HURT.

Medical Malpractice Cases Won

Check out the following links to see some of the latest successes Burger Law’s medical malpractice lawyers have secured for our clients in Columbia, 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

How Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Missouri Can Help

Medical malpractice lawsuits are notably difficult to win. That is why you need excellent medical malpractice lawyers that have the experience, knowledge, persistence and talent to get you the full compensation you know you are owed. When you hire us, our Missouri medical malpractice lawyers:

• Get started on your claim right away
• Connect you with honest and accomplished physicians to finally get you the medical care you deserve
• Perform a full investigation, including procuring medical records, qualified testimony and taking official statements from the defendant
• Converse with our network of Columbia, MO medical experts to ascertain standard of care in your case, show how the treatment you were given was not up to the standard and prove negligence
• Offer thoughtful, knowledgeable and trustworthy legal guidance
• Make sure you informed through the duration of your claim 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 your energy on healing
• Converse with with economic experts to determine exactly how much your claim is worth
• Negotiate with the insurance adjusters to deliver you the best possible settlement offer
• Take your case to trial when the insurance company does not want to be fair in mediation

At Burger Law, we know that most residents of Columbia, MO does not have the resources and legal know-how to combat the expensive defense teams of doctors and large insurance companies. That is why our Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. We accept no attorneys fees until we get you the best possible financial recovery you deserve. We have pledged our lives to ensuring that the injured and vulnerable in Columbia, MO have access to the highest standard of legal representation, one that rivals and eclipses that of large hospitals. Our medical malpractice lawyers always work to remove every hindrance standing between you and justice.

What You Need in a Medical Malpractice Claim

Not every mistake carried out by medical professional amounts to malpractice. In order to collect a financial recovery for negligent treatment in Columbia, MO, you must conclusively show four things. Your medical malpractice lawyers from Burger Law will help you prove that:

1. A doctor-patient relationship was determined. This amounts to proof that you hired the doctor and the doctor agreed to be hired. This is usually 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 doctor in the same practice area, in the same geographical location treating the same medical condition, would not have committed the same mistake.
3. The doctor’s negligence directly caused you harm. This is often difficult to prove, as patients being treated by a physician are customarily already sick or injured.
4. That the injury caused the patient damages. Instances can include physical pain, a disability, additional medical costs, or loss of earning capacity.

In Missouri, you will also need to give an “Affidavit of Qualified Healthcare Worker,” within 90 days of filing your suit, under Missouri Revised Statute §538.225. This is a written opinion from a legally qualified healthcare provider that opines that a) the doctor did not give you the care that a prudent healthcare provider would have in the same situation, and b) the negligence caused the alleged injuries. Our medical malpractice lawyers have a large network of accomplished and professional medical connections in Columbia and throughout Missouri who will help authenticate your claim.

What Compensation Can I Collect? | Columbia, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The compensation your medical malpractice lawyers will help you get generally falls into two categories: economic damages, which try to compensate you for the financial loss you have undergone owing to a doctor’s negligence; and noneconomic damages, which are meant to compensate for the less tangible ways in which your injuries have impacted your life:

• Economic damages include:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity if the medical negligence caused an impairment that does not permit you to conduct the tasks of your job anymore
  • Medical expenses, such as:
    • Subsequent doctors appointments
    • Surgeries
    • Physical rehabilitation
    • Medication costs
    • In-home medical care
    • Assistive devices such as crutches or required upgrades 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 relentlessly until you get every cent that you are owed. We know that some injuries are impossible to really heal from, but we fight to make certain that you are made whole again.

Malpractice cases vary from other personal injuries in Missouri in a couple of important details. Your medical malpractice lawyers at Burger Law will help you navigate 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 attempt to lower insurance premiums for doctor’s and hospitals. The bill puts in place “damage caps” on how much you can be awarded 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? | Columbia, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The damage caps for catastrophic injuries are higher because they impact your ability to function in your daily life and to find enjoyment in life. Your Burger Law malpractice lawyers will help you ascertain if your injury can be viewed 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”

How Long Do I Have to File a Medical Malpractice Claim in Columbia, MO?

If you or someone you care about were hurt by a doctor’s substandard care in Columbia, MO, it is essential to call medical malpractice lawyers straight away. While most personal injury claims have a statute of limitation of five years in Missouri, medical malpractice suits only have a time limit of two years, according to Missouri Revised Statute §516.105. That means that once you have been injured your medical malpractice lawyers only have two years to investigate your case and file suit. There are three important 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 failed to 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 your family member was under 18 at the time of the negligent, you have until their 20th birthday.

There is no time to wait. Reach out to the Burger Law Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers straight away. We get to work on your case at once and do not let up until you have been fully compensated . Delaying could bring complications to your claim and could make it difficult for even the best medical malpractice lawyers to show the full consequences of your damages. Call Burger Law’s Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers mow at (314) 500-HURT.

Call Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Columbia, MO

No one deserves to have their life turned upside down because a medical professional gave them substandard care. Burger Law’s Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers comprise the highest- and most-reviewed law firm in Columbia, MO. We fight hard for our clients and work around the clock to get them the great results they need to recover. Our medical malpractice lawyers have spent the last three decades fighting back against bullies and standing up for the “little guy.” We will not let healthcare professionals, large corporations exploit your vulnerability. Call Burger Law’s Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form to start on your road to recovery.

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!

Shaunda S.

7 months ago

I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.

Emelia M.

3 months ago

Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.

Helen L.

a year ago

We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!

Judy M.

a year ago

They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!

Chelsea C.

5 months ago

Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.

David D.

2 months ago

Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.

Lisa B.

11 months ago

Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!

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