Medical Malpractice Lawyers Columbia, Missouri

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Columbia, Missouri. If you or a loved one were harmed because a physician did not give you the adequate treatment that you deserved, call Burger Law right away at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form. Our medical malpractice lawyers always get great results for the injured in Columbia and throughout Missouri.

You should not have to pay because a physician, hospital or other healthcare professional in Columbia, MO broke the rules. When we get medical care, we do so believing that we are placing our health — and occasionally even our lives — in proficient hands. When doctors are negligent , leaving you with even worse sickness or harm as a result, believe in the veteran and savvy Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law to get you justice and maximum financial compensation. Not only are we sympathetic and dedicated to the injured in Columbia, MO, but we are more aggressive than most law firms in filing lawsuits and not waiting around for the liable doctor to take accountability. Our medical malpractice lawyers want medical professionals and their insurance company to realize that we are persistent and will not take anything but the best possible compensation. Negligent health care can have horrible, life-long consequences, and in the worst cases can even lead to wrongful death.

In our three decades of experience standing up to bullies and getting the best possible results for our clients, we have won our clients over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. If you or a family member has been injured by a negligent doctor in Columbia, MO, reach out to Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

See how much compensation you may be able to receive 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 fatalities in the U.S. are owing to medical error. Just one percent of physicians are responsible for nearly 33 percent of medical malpractice cases. Too often, negligent doctors are permitted to keep practicing without any discipline. But when the state of Missouri does not want to hold at-fault doctors accountable, you can be confident the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will.

In Missouri, less than 33 percent of medical malpractice cases end with the plaintiff receiving compensation. Still, between 2009 and 2018 a full $631.11 million was awarded in medical malpractice claims. You need committed and veteran Missouri medical malpractice lawyers to make sure you recover the great financial recovery you deserve.

Who Your Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Columbia, MO Can Hold Responsible in Your Case

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

Malpractice lawsuits are frequently complicated; it may not be clear right away who was at fault, or many people could be to blame. The dependable and skilled Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers at Burger Law will conduct a complete investigation into your case and make sure that every party that caused you injuries is held accountable for their negligent behavior.

Examples of Medical Malpractice in Columbia, MO

Medical negligence happens when a healthcare professional breaches the standard of care, which is how most doctors in the same field and same geographic location would have addressed your health problems. Our Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen that occur in all sorts of ways:

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis

This is the most common reason for medical malpractice lawsuits related to outpatient treatment. About 12 million people in United States are misdiagnosed annually. Catching health problems early on is significant in attaining the best possible results for a patient. A misdiagnosis, or failing to diagnose, can lead to a delay to the treatment you desperately need to become healthier, or can cause incorrect care that compounds your illness or injury. Three-quarters of misdiagnoses are failing to diagnose some of the most serious health conditions, for instance:

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

Surgical Errors

Surgical mistakes are the most common medical malpractice case when it comes to inpatient care. There are at least 4,000 surgical mistakes in the U.S. every year, and frighteningly, the most common source is performing surgery on an erroneous organ. Other examples can include accidental incisions, anesthesia mistakes, foreign objects like instruments remaining inside the patient, infections or failure to address difficulties show up after the surgery.

Medication Errors

An estimated 7,000 to 9,000 people in the U.S. die each year because of mistakes when administering medication. Examples can include not taking a record of the patient's allergies, giving an incorrect medication, giving an incorrect dosage or failing to identify interactions with other drugs.

Medication errors can also include overprescribing medications. Studies show that overprescribing is a substantial contributor to the opioid crisis in the U.S.

Unnecessary Care

Unnecessary medical care costs an estimated $210 billion annually. John Hopkins Medicine asked 2,106 physicians 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
• 24.9 percent of medical tests
• 11.1 percent of procedures
• Over one-fifth of medical treatment in general

Unneeded treatment can lead to surgical mistakes, medication errors and overprescribed medication.

Birth Injuries

Roughly 6 to 8 out of 1,000 children born in the United States sustain a serious birth injury each year. Not properly monitoring the infant throughout delivery, not properly utilizing birthing techniques or not diagnosing a health problem with the mother during pregnancy are all instances of medical negligence that can result in long-term or lifelong consequences.

Nursing Home Negligence

The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act established a Bill of Rights for nursing home residents meant to shield and confirm their physical, emotional and social health. When a nursing home or its staff does not respect those rights and your family member is hurt as a result, the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will hold them accountable.

Failure to Inform or Lack of Consent

Everyone has a basic right to make choices for ourselves. When a physician does not inform you of risks, or does not secure your consent before treatment, it is an egregious infringement on your rights.

At Burger Law, our Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers have experience with every type of malpractice claim. We know the horrible consequences a healthcare professional's or institution's negligence can cause, and the exasperation and sorrow that accompanies learning that your trust was broken. We hold negligent doctors accountable and get our Columbia, MO clients the full financial recovery they are owed and that they require to move on and be made whole again. Our medical malpractice lawyers also have vast medical comprehension and will be able to discover precisely how your doctor breached the standard of care. Call our medical malpractice lawyers in Columbia, MO now at (314) 500-HURT.

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Medical Malpractice Cases Won

Browse the following links to see several of the recent successes Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers have gotten 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

What Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Missouri Can Do For You

Medical malpractice lawsuits are infamously hard to win. That is why you need stellar medical malpractice lawyers that have the experience, knowledge, perseverance and skills to win you the best possible financial recovery you know you are owed. When you hire us, our Missouri medical malpractice lawyers:

• Get started on your case at once
• Connect you with trusted and accomplished physicians to finally get you the medical treatment you need
• Perform a comprehensive investigation, including procuring medical records, expert testimony and taking official statements from the defendant
• Confer with our network of Columbia, MO medical experts to determine standard of care in your case, demonstrate how the care you were given was below standard and prove negligence
• Offer empathetic, sound and direct legal counsel
• Keep you informed through the duration of your case so you are not left in the dark and you know everything you need to make the best decision for your family
• Handle every legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on recovering
• Consult with with economic experts to precisely value your damages
• Negotiate with the insurance company to win you the best possible settlement offer
• Take your case to court 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 expertise to oppose the high-priced defense teams of doctors and large insurance companies. For that reason, our Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay us anything until we get you the maximum compensation you are owed. We have devoted our lives to making sure that the injured and vulnerable in Columbia, MO have access to the highest form of legal representation, one that equals and exceeds that of large hospitals. Our medical malpractice lawyers always work to remove every hurdle standing between you and justice.

What You Need in a Medical Malpractice Claim

Not every mistake committed by medical institution or physician amounts to malpractice. In order to get a financial recovery for substandard treatment in Columbia, 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 determined. This means proof that you hired the doctor and the doctor agreed to be hired. This is commonly not hard to prove.
2. The doctor or healthcare provider was breached the standard of care. You need to be able to demonstrate that a capable physician in the same practice area, in the same geographical location treating the same health issue, would not have committed the same error.
3. The doctor’s negligence directly caused you injured. This can often be tough to prove, as patients under a physician's care are usually already sick or injured.
4. That the injury caused the patient harm that they should be compensated for. Instances can include physical pain, a disability, additional medical bills, or loss of earning capacity.

In Missouri, you will also be required to include an “Affidavit of Qualified Healthcare Worker,” within 90 days of filing your lawsuit, under Missouri Revised Statute §538.225. This is a written opinion from a legally qualified healthcare provider that states that a) the doctor did not give you the care that a prudent healthcare provider would have in the same situation, and b) the failure caused the alleged injuries. Our medical malpractice lawyers have a massive network of experienced and qualified medical connections in Columbia and throughout Missouri who will help substantiate your claim.

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

The compensation your medical malpractice lawyers will help you collect usually falls into two categories: economic damages, which look to compensate you for the monetary loss you have undergone because of a doctor's substandard care; 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 caused a disability that does not allow you to carry out the tasks of your job anymore
  • Medical bills, for instance:
    • Subsequent doctors appointments
    • Further procedures
    • Physical therapy
    • Medication expenses
    • In-home medical care
    • Assistive devices such as crutches or necessary 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 penny that you deserve. We know that you can never fully recover from some injuries, but we fight to make certain that your pain and suffering is alleviated.

Malpractice cases vary from other personal injuries in Missouri in a couple of crucial aspects. 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 lessen insurance premiums for physicians and hospitals. The bill puts in place "damage caps" on how much you can collect in a medical malpractice suit in noneconomic damages. As of 2022, those limits 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 limits for catastrophic injuries are greater 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 establish if your injury can be viewed as catastrophic. Senate Bill 239 defines catastrophic injuries as:

• 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 love were harmed by a doctor's negligence in Columbia, MO, it is crucial to call medical malpractice lawyers immediately. While most personal injury cases have a time limit of five years in Missouri, medical malpractice lawsuits only have a time limit of two years, under 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 notable 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 a minor at the time of the negligent, you have until their 20th birthday.

There is no time to delay. Call the Burger Law Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers immediately. We get to work on your case right away and do not rest until you have been fully compensated . Delaying could bring complications to your case and could make it tough for even the best medical malpractice lawyers to show the full extent of your damages. Call Burger Law's Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers today at (314) 500-HURT.

No one deserves to have their life disrupted because a healthcare professional gave them substandard care. Burger Law's Columbia, MO medical malpractice lawyers make up the highest- and most-reviewed law firm in the Midwest. We fight hard for our clients and work tirelessly to get them the great results they need to recover. 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 physicians, 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.