Medical Malpractice Lawyers Lafayette County, Missouri

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Lafayette County, Missouri. If you or a loved one were hurt because a physician did not give you the adequate treatment that you deserved, call Burger Law straight away at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form. Our medical malpractice lawyers always get the best possible financial recoveries for the vulnerable in Lafayette County and throughout Missouri.

You should not have to pay because a physician, hospital or other medical professional in Lafayette County, MO broke the rules. When we search out medical treatment, we do so under the assumption that we are placing our health — and sometimes even our lives — in competent hands. When doctors are negligent , leaving you with even worse illnesses or harm as a result, believe in the veteran and knowledgeable Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law to get you justice and full financial compensation. Not only are we sympathetic and dedicated to our Lafayette County, MO clients, but we are more aggressive than most law firms in filing lawsuits and not waiting around for the at-fault 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 terrible, permanent consequences, and in the dire circumstances can even result in wrongful death.

In our three decades of experience pushing 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 someone you love has been harmed by a careless physician in Lafayette County, MO, get in touch with Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers straight away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

See how much compensation you may be able to collect by using our free personal injury calculator.



Medical Malpractice Statistics | Lafayette County, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Data from John Hopkins Medicine found that one-tenth of all fatalities in the United States are because of medical error. Just one percent of physicians are responsible for nearly 33 percent of medical malpractice lawsuits. Too often, negligent doctors are permitted to keep practicing without any discipline. But when the state of Missouri does not want to hold negligent doctors responsible, 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 receiving compensation. Still, between 2009 and 2018 a full $631.11 million was paid out in medical malpractice lawsuits. You need committed and accomplished Missouri medical malpractice lawyers to make certain you receive the great compensation you deserve.

Who Your Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Lafayette County, MO Can Hold To Blame in Your Case

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

Malpractice suits are typically intricate; it may not be clear right away who was responsible, or many parties might be liable. The trusted and savvy Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers at Burger Law will perform a complete investigation into your claim and ensure that each party that caused you harm is held accountable for their careless actions.

Examples of Medical Malpractice in Lafayette County, 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 Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen that transpire in myriad ways:

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis

This is the most frequent reason for medical malpractice lawsuits related to out-of-hospital care. About 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed every year. Catching medical problems early on is key in achieving the most favorable results for a patient. A misdiagnosis, or failing to diagnose, can cause a delay to the treatment you seriously need to become healthier, or can result in improper treatment that aggravates your illness or injury. Three-quarters of misdiagnoses are failing to diagnose some of the most life-threatening health conditions, for instance:

• 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 claim related to in-hospital treatment. There are a minimum of 4,000 surgical mistakes in the U.S. every year, and frighteningly, the most common source is operating on the wrong body part. Other examples can include accidental incisions, anesthesia errors, foreign objects like scissors being left inside the patient, infections or failure to treat issues surface after the surgery.

Medication Errors

An estimated 7,000 to 9,000 people nationwide die annually due to mistakes when administering medication. Examples can include not being aware of a patient's allergies, giving an incorrect medication, giving the wrong dosage or not recognizing interactions with other drugs.

Another instance of medication errors is overprescribing medications. Studies have found that overprescribing is a major contributor to the opioid crisis in the United States.

Unnecessary Care

Unnecessary medical care costs approximately $210 billion annually. John Hopkins Medicine surveyed 2,106 physicians and learned that physicians themselves think that 15 to 30 percent of medical care is not needed, including:

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

Unnecessary care can cause surgical errors, medication errors and overprescribed medication.

Birth Injuries

An estimated 6 to 8 out of 1,000 children born in the United States sustain a significant birth injury each year. Not correctly observing the child throughout delivery, not properly using birthing techniques or not diagnosing a health issue with the mother during pregnancy are all cases of medical malpractice that can cause long-term or permanent health problems.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act determined a Bill of Rights for nursing home residents meant to shield and guarantee their physical, emotional and social health. When a nursing home or its staff does not ensure those rights and the person you love is consequently injured, the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will hold them liable.

Failure to Inform or Lack of Consent

Everyone has a fundamental right to make decisions for ourselves. When a healthcare professional fails to inform you of risks, or neglects to obtain your consent before a procedure, it is a serious violation of your rights.

At Burger Law, our Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers have experience with every variety of malpractice claim. We know the terrible consequences a healthcare professional's or institution's negligence can cause, and the anger and grief that comes with finding out that your trust was betrayed. We hold at-fault doctors to blame and get our Lafayette County, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve and require to move on and be made whole again. Our medical malpractice lawyers also have substantial medical comprehension and will be able to pinpoint how your doctor violated the standard of care. Contact our medical malpractice lawyers in Lafayette County, MO immediately at (314) 500-HURT.

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Medical Malpractice Cases Won

Browse the links below to see some of the recent successes Burger Law's medical malpractice lawyers have won for our clients in Lafayette County, 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 suits are infamously hard to win. That is why you need stellar medical malpractice lawyers that have the experience, knowledge, tenacity and savvy to get you the best possible compensation you know you are owed. When you hire us, our Missouri medical malpractice lawyers:

• Get to work on your claim at once
• Connect you with trusted and competent physicians to finally get you the medical attention you need
• Conduct a comprehensive investigation, including obtaining medical records, professional testimony and taking depositions of the defendant
• Confer with our network of Lafayette County, MO medical experts to ascertain standard of care in your case, demonstrate how the care you were given was substandard and prove negligence
• Offer compassionate, wise and trustworthy legal direction
• Make sure you informed throughout your lawsuit 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 healing
• Work alongside with economic experts to determine exactly how much your claim is worth
• Negotiate with the insurance adjusters to win 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 people in Lafayette County, MO does not have access to the resources and legal comprehension to oppose the expensive defense teams of doctors and large hospitals. For that reason, our Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We accept no attorneys fees until we get you the great financial recovery you deserve. We have devoted our lives to making certain that the injured and vulnerable in Lafayette County, MO have access to the highest form of legal representation, one that compares with and surpasses that of large insurance companies. Our medical malpractice lawyers always work to eliminate every hurdle standing between you and justice.

Basic Requirements for a Medical Malpractice Claim

Not every mistake committed by healthcare institution or physician constitutes malpractice. In order to get compensation for substandard treatment in Lafayette County, MO, you must prove 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 usually very easy to prove.
2. The doctor or healthcare provider was breached the standard of care. You need to be able to demonstrate that a capable doctor in the same practice area, in the same geographical location treating the same medical condition, would not have committed the same error.
3. The doctor’s breach of the standard of care directly caused you harm. This is often hard to prove, as patients under a physician's care are usually already sick or injured.
4. That the injury caused the patient damages. Examples include physical pain, a disability, additional medical costs, or loss of future earning potential.

In Missouri, you will also be required to give an “Affidavit of Qualified Healthcare Worker,” within 90 days of filing your lawsuit, pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute §538.225. This is a written opinion from a a medical professional in the same practice area that states that a) the doctor did not give you the treatment that a careful healthcare provider would have in the same situation, and b) the negligence contributed to the alleged injuries. Our medical malpractice lawyers have a large network of accomplished and qualified medical connections in Lafayette County and throughout Missouri who will help confirm your claim.

What Compensation Can I Receive? | Lafayette County, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The compensation your medical malpractice lawyers will help you recover usually falls into two categories: economic damages, which are intended to compensate you for the financial damages you have experienced owing to a physician'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 led to an impairment that does not permit you to conduct the tasks of your job anymore
  • Medical bills, for instance:
    • Follow up appointments
    • Surgeries
    • Physical rehabilitation
    • Medication costs
    • In-home medical care
    • Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or needed 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 dollar that you deserve. We know that some injuries are impossible to truly heal from, but we fight to ensure that you get justice.

Malpractice cases vary from other personal injuries in Missouri in two key details. 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 attempt to diminish insurance premiums for medical liability. The bill puts in place "damage caps" on the amount you can be awarded in a medical malpractice case 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? | Lafayette County, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The limits 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 ascertain 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"

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

If you or someone you care about were injured by a physician's substandard care in Lafayette County, MO, it is vital to get in touch with medical malpractice lawyers at once. While most personal injury claims have a statute of limitation of five years in Missouri, medical malpractice lawsuits only have a statute of limitations of two years, according to Missouri Revised Statute §516.105. That means that once you have been hurt your medical malpractice lawyers only have two years to investigate your case and file your claim. There are three key 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 substandard care, you have until their 20th birthday.

There is no time to delay. Get in touch with the Burger Law Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers straight away. We get started on your case at once and do not stop until you have been fully compensated . Waiting could bring complications to your claim and could make it tough for even the best medical malpractice lawyers to show the full effects of your damages. Call Burger Law's Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers immediately at (314) 500-HURT.

No one deserves to have their life upended because a medical professional was negligent in their care. Burger Law's Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers comprise the highest- and most-reviewed law firm in the Region. 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 doctors, large hospitals exploit your vulnerability. Call Burger Law's Lafayette County, MO medical malpractice lawyers today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form to start on your road to recovery.