Medical Malpractice Lawyers Hannibal, Missouri

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Hannibal, Missouri. If you or someone you care about were harmed because a physician did not provide you with the adequate treatment that you were owed, call Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or complete our online form. Our medical malpractice lawyers always get the best possible results for the vulnerable in Hannibal and throughout Missouri.

You do not have to pay because a physician, hospital or other healthcare professional in Hannibal, MO did not respect your health. When we search out medical attention, we do so believing that we are placing our health — and at times even our lives — in trustworthy hands. When doctors are negligent and you end up with even worse illnesses or injuries as a consequence, believe in the veteran and skilled Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law to get you justice and maximum financial compensation. Not only are we empathetic and committed to the injured in Hannibal, MO, but we are more aggressive than most law firms in filing litigation 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 accept nothing but full compensation. Negligent health care can have destructive, life-long repercussions, and in the dire 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 secured our clients over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. If you or a family member has been harmed by a careless medical professional in Hannibal, MO, call Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers right away 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 | Hannibal, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Data from John Hopkins Medicine found that 10 percent of all fatalities in the U.S. are due to medical error. Just one percent of physicians account for nearly 33 percent of medical malpractice claims. Too often, negligent doctors are permitted to continue practicing without any ramifications. 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 33 percent of medical malpractice claims end with the plaintiff collecting compensation. Still, between 2009 and 2018 a full $631.11 million was awarded in medical malpractice claims. You need devoted and experienced Missouri medical malpractice lawyers to make sure you receive the best possible financial recovery you are owed.

Who Your Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Hannibal, MO Can Hold Accountable in Your Case

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

Malpractice suits are typically complex; it may not be clear straight away who was accountable, or many people might be liable. The trustworthy and talented Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers at Burger Law will carry out a full investigation into your case and make sure that each party that caused you harm is held accountable for their negligent actions.

Examples of Medical Malpractice in Hannibal, MO

Medical negligence transpires when a healthcare professional breaks the standard of care, which is how a capable doctor in the same practice area and same geographic location would have addressed your health issue. Our Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen that occur in a variety of ways:

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis

This is the most frequent reason for medical malpractice lawsuits that occur in out-of-hospital care. About 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed each year. Diagnosing health issues early on is critical in realizing the most favorable outcome for a patient. A misdiagnosis, or missing a diagnosis, can cause a delay to the treatment you seriously need to get better, or can lead to improper treatment that compounds your illness or injury. Three-quarters of misdiagnoses are failing to diagnose some of the most severe 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 frequent medical malpractice case related to in-hospital treatment. There are at least 4,000 surgical mistakes in the U.S. annually, and frighteningly, the most common example is performing surgery on an incorrect organ. Other examples can include accidental incisions, anesthesia errors, foreign objects like scissors remaining inside the patient, infections or failure to treat problems show up after the surgery.

Medication Errors

An estimated 7,000 to 9,000 people in the United States die every year due to medication errors. Examples can include not knowing a patient's allergies, giving an incorrect medication, giving an incorrect dosage or neglecting to recognize interactions with other drugs.

Medication errors can also include overprescribing medications. Studies show that overprescribing is a significant factor in the opioid crisis in the U.S.

Unnecessary Care

Unnecessary medical care costs approximately $210 billion annually. John Hopkins Medicine asked 2,106 physicians and learned that physicians themselves believe that 15 to 30 percent of medical care is unnecessary, including:

• More than one-fifth of prescription medications
• 24.9 percent of medical tests
• 11.1 percent of procedures
• 20.6 percent of medical care in general

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

Birth Injuries

An estimated 6 to 8 out of a thousand children born in the United States sustain a significant birth injury Every year. Not appropriately observing the child during birth, not correctly using birthing procedures or not diagnosing a health issue of the mother during pregnancy are all examples of medical negligence that can cause long-term or lifelong health problems.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act created a Bill of Rights for nursing home residents meant to protect and guarantee their physical, emotional and social health. When a nursing home or its staff neglects those rights and your family member is harmed as a result, the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will hold them accountable.

Failure to Inform or Lack of Consent

We all have an inherent right to make choices for ourselves. When a physician neglects to inform you of risks, or fails to obtain your consent before treatment, it is a horrible infringement on your rights.

At Burger Law, our Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen it all. We know the terrible consequences a healthcare professional's or institution's negligence can cause, and the rage and grief that accompanies discovering that your trust was betrayed. We hold negligent doctors to blame and deliver our Hannibal, MO clients the best possible compensation they deserve and require to move on and be made whole again. Our medical malpractice lawyers also have substantial medical knowledge and will be able to determine exactly how your doctor violated the standard of care. Reach out to our medical malpractice lawyers in Hannibal, MO at once at (314) 500-HURT.

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Medical Malpractice Cases Won

Take a look at the following links to see some of the latest successes Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers have won for our clients in Hannibal, 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, determination and prowess to deliver you the maximum compensation you know you deserve. When you hire us, our Missouri medical malpractice lawyers:

• Get working on your case right away
• Connect you with trusted and accomplished physicians to finally get you the medical care you deserve
• Conduct a full investigation, including collecting medical records, professional testimony and taking depositions of the defendant
• Work with our network of Hannibal, MO medical experts to substantiate standard of care in your case, show how the treatment you were given was substandard and prove negligence
• Offer thoughtful, informed and trustworthy legal counsel
• Keep you informed through the duration of your suit so you are not left in the dark and you 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 recovering
• Work alongside with economic experts to exactly value your damages
• Negotiate with the insurance company to get you the best possible 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 most residents of Hannibal, MO does not have the resources and legal savvy to stand up to the expensive defense teams of doctors and large hospitals. That is why our Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We charge no attorneys fees until we get you the full compensation you are owed. We have devoted our careers to making sure that the injured and vulnerable in Hannibal, MO have access to the highest quality legal representation, one that equals and exceeds that of large hospitals. Our medical malpractice lawyers always work to get rid of every hurdle standing between you and justice.

What You Need in a Medical Malpractice Claim

Not every mistake committed by medical institution or doctor constitutes malpractice. In order to be awarded compensation for negligent treatment in Hannibal, MO, you must demonstrate four things. Your medical malpractice lawyers from Burger Law will help you demonstrate that:

1. A doctor-patient relationship existed. This means proof that you hired the doctor and the doctor agreed to be hired. This is typically not hard to prove.
2. The doctor or healthcare provider was negligent. You need to be able to prove that a competent physician in the same field, in the same geographical location caring for the same medical issue, would not have committed the same error.
3. The doctor’s negligence directly caused the injury. This is often difficult to prove, as patients being treated by a doctor are customarily already sick or injured.
4. That the injury caused the patient harm that they need to be compensated for. Instances can include physical pain, a disability, additional medical costs, or loss of earning capacity.

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

What Compensation Can I Get? | Hannibal, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

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

• Economic damages include:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential if the medical negligence led to a disability that does not permit you to carry out the duties of your job anymore
  • Medical bills, such as:
    • Follow up appointments
    • Surgeries
    • Physical therapy
    • Medication expenses
    • In-home medical care
    • Assistive devices such as crutches or necessary 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 around the clock until you get every nickel that you are owed. We know that you can never truly heal from some injuries, but we fight to ensure that you get justice.

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

Damage Caps in Missouri Medical Malpractice Cases

In 2015, Missouri state legislature put into law Senate Bill 239 in an attempt to decrease insurance premiums for physicians and hospitals. The bill enforces "damage caps" on the amount 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? | Hannibal, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The damage caps for catastrophic injuries are greater because they affect 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 seen 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 Hannibal, MO?

If you or a family member were injured by a doctor's substandard care in Hannibal, MO, it is key to reach out to medical malpractice lawyers right away. While most personal injury cases have a time limit of five years in Missouri, medical malpractice cases only have a statute of limitations of two years, pursuant 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 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 someone you care about was under 18 on the date of the malpractice, you have until their 20th birthday.

There is no time to delay. Contact the Burger Law Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers immediately. We get to work on your case right away and do not stop until you receive the best possible compensation . Waiting could bring complications to your case and could make it difficult for even the best medical malpractice lawyers to show the full extent of your damages. Call Burger Law's Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers mow at (314) 500-HURT.

No one deserves to have their life disrupted because a medical professional gave them substandard care. Burger Law's Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers make up the highest- and most-reviewed law firm in Hannibal, MO. We fight hard for our clients and work relentlessly to get them the great results they need to be made whole again. 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 doctors, large corporations take advantage of your vulnerability. Call Burger Law's Hannibal, MO medical malpractice lawyers today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form to start on your road to recovery.