Medical Malpractice Lawyers Pleasant Hill, Missouri

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. If you or a family member were harmed because a doctor did not provide you with the adequate care that you deserved, call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or complete our online form. Our medical malpractice lawyers always get great results for the vulnerable in Pleasant Hill and throughout Missouri.

You do not have to pay because a physician, medical institution or other healthcare professional in Pleasant Hill, MO broke the rules. When we seek medical attention, we do so believing that we are placing our well-being — and sometimes even our lives — in proficient hands. When doctors are negligent , leaving you with even worse illnesses or injuries as a consequence, trust in the accomplished and savvy Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law to get you justice and the best possible compensation. Not only are we sympathetic and dedicated to our Pleasant Hill, MO clients, but we are more aggressive than the majority of law firms in filing lawsuits and not waiting around for the negligent doctor to take responsibility. Our medical malpractice lawyers want medical professionals and their insurance company to know that we mean business and will accept nothing but full compensation. Negligent health care can have terrible, life-long consequences, and in the most tragic 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 secured our clients over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. If you or someone you care about has been injured by a negligent medical professional in Pleasant Hill, MO, reach out to 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 recover by filling out our free personal injury calculator.



Medical Malpractice Statistics | Pleasant Hill, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

A study by John Hopkins Medicine found that 10 percent of all deaths in the United States are due to medical error. Just one percent of doctors are responsible for just about 33 percent of medical malpractice lawsuits. Too often, negligent doctors are permitted to keep practicing without any punishment. But when the state of Missouri does not want to hold at-fault doctors to blame, you can be confident the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will.

In Missouri, less than 33 percent of medical malpractice claims end with the plaintiff being awarded damages. Still, between 2009 and 2018 a full $631.11 million was paid out in medical malpractice cases. You need devoted and seasoned Missouri medical malpractice lawyers to ensure you recover the great compensation you are owed.

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

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

Malpractice claims are often intricate; it may not be immediately clear who was liable, or many people might be liable. The trustworthy and savvy Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers at Burger Law will perform a complete investigation into your claim and make sure that each party that caused you harm is held responsible for their thoughtless behavior.

Examples of Medical Malpractice in Pleasant Hill, MO

Medical negligence transpires when a healthcare professional breaks the standard of care, which is how most doctors in the same practice area and same geographic location would have treated your health problems. Our Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen that occur in many different ways:

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis

This is the most common reason for medical malpractice suits that occur in outpatient treatment. About 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed every year. Catching health issues early on is crucial in attaining the best possible outcome for a patient. A misdiagnosis, or missing a diagnosis, can result in a delay to the treatment you acutely require to get better, or can cause improper care that exacerbates 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 vascular events
• 13.5 percent for infections

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are the most frequent medical malpractice case when it comes to inpatient treatment. There are at least 4,000 surgical errors in the U.S. each year, and frighteningly, the most common source is operating on the wrong organ. Other examples can include accidental incisions, anesthesia errors, foreign objects like scissors being left 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 each 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.

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

Unnecessary Care

Unnecessary medical care costs about $210 billion each year. John Hopkins Medicine surveyed 2,106 physicians and discovered that physicians themselves are under the impression that 15 to 30 percent of medical care is not needed, including:

• Over a fifth of prescription medications
• 24.9 percent of medical tests
• More than a tenth of procedures
• Over a fifth of all medical treatment

Unneeded care can lead to surgical mistakes, 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 Every year. Not appropriately observing the infant throughout delivery, not correctly implementing birthing procedures or not identifying a health problem of the mother during pregnancy are all examples of medical negligence that can result in long-term or permanent health problems.

Nursing Home Negligence

The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act established a Bill of Rights for nursing home residents meant to shield and ensure their physical, emotional and social health. When a nursing home or its staff shirks those rights and the person you care about is harmed as a result, the medical malpractice lawyers of Burger Law will hold them responsible.

Failure to Inform or Lack of Consent

We all have a fundamental right to make decisions for ourselves. When a healthcare institution does not inform you of risks, or fails to acquire your consent before a procedure, it is a serious breach of your rights.

At Burger Law, our Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers have seen it all. We know the horrible repercussions a healthcare professional's or institution's carelessness can cause, and the rage and grief that comes with discovering that your trust was betrayed. We hold at-fault doctors accountable and get our Pleasant Hill, MO clients the great financial recovery they are owed and that they need to move on and fully recover. Our medical malpractice lawyers also have extensive medical comprehension and will be able to identify exactly how your doctor breached the standard of care. Get in touch with our medical malpractice lawyers in Pleasant Hill, MO now at (314) 500-HURT.

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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 Pleasant Hill, 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 cases are notoriously tough to win. That is why you need exceptional medical malpractice lawyers that have the experience, knowledge, tenacity and skills to deliver you the great financial recovery you know you deserve. When you hire us, our Missouri medical malpractice lawyers:

• Start working on your case immediately
• Connect you with honest and accomplished doctors to finally get you the medical treatment you need
• Perform a comprehensive investigation, including obtaining medical records, qualified testimony and taking official statements from the defendant
• Work alongside our team of Pleasant Hill, MO medical experts to determine standard of care in your case, show how the care you were given was not up to the standard and prove negligence
• Offer sympathetic, knowledgeable and honest legal advice
• Make sure you informed through the duration of your claim so you are aware of what is going on and know everything you need to make the best decision for your family
• Oversee every legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on healing
• Work with with economic experts to ascertain precisely how much your claim is worth
• Negotiate with the insurance company to get you a full 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 people in Pleasant Hill, MO does not have access to the resources and legal knowledge to fight the high-priced defense teams of doctors and large hospitals. That is why our Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. We accept no attorneys fees until we get you the maximum compensation you deserve. We have dedicated our lives to making sure that the injured and vulnerable in Pleasant Hill, MO have access to the highest quality legal representation, one that compares with and exceeds that of large insurance companies. Our medical malpractice lawyers always work to abolish every hurdle standing between you and justice.

What You Need in a Medical Malpractice Claim

Not every mistake carried out by healthcare providers amounts to malpractice. In order to be awarded compensation for substandard care in Pleasant Hill, MO, you must demonstrate 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 commonly not difficult to prove.
2. The doctor or healthcare provider was negligent. You need to be able to prove that a capable healthcare professional in the same field, in the same geographical location caring for the same medical problem, would not have made the same mistake.
3. The doctor’s violation of the standard of care directly caused the injury. This can frequently be difficult to prove, as patients being treated by a doctor are usually already sick or injured.
4. That the injury caused the patient harm that they need to be compensated for. Instances can include physical pain, impairment, additional medical costs, or loss of future earning potential.

In Missouri, you will also be required to provide an “Affidavit of Qualified Healthcare Worker,” within 90 days of filing your suit, 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 provide the care that a prudent healthcare provider would have under the same circumstances, and b) the negligence caused the alleged harm. Our medical malpractice lawyers have a wealth of accomplished and professional medical connections in Pleasant Hill and throughout Missouri who will help substantiate your claim.

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

The compensation your medical malpractice lawyers will help you collect generally falls into two categories: economic damages, which look to compensate you for the financial loss you have sustained due to a doctor's substandard care; and noneconomic damages, which look 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 caused an impairment that does not permit you to conduct the tasks of your job anymore
  • Medical costs, for instance:
    • Follow up appointments
    • Further procedures
    • Physical rehabilitation
    • Medication expenses
    • In-home medical care
    • Assistive devices such as crutches or needed 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 relentlessly until you get every dime that you are owed. We know that some injuries are impossible to truly recover from, but we fight to ensure that you are made whole again.

Malpractice cases diverge from other personal injuries in Missouri in two 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 put into law Senate Bill 239 in an effort to diminish insurance premiums for doctor's and hospitals. The bill puts in place "damage caps" on the amount you can collect 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? | Pleasant Hill, MO Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The damage caps for catastrophic injuries are greater because they impact your ability to function in your daily life and to enjoy life. Your Burger Law malpractice lawyers will help you establish if your injury can be considered catastrophic. Senate Bill 239 says 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 Pleasant Hill, MO?

If you or a loved one were injured by a healthcare professional's negligence in Pleasant Hill, MO, it is vital to contact 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 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 care about was a minor at the time of the substandard care, you have until their 20th birthday.

Do not wait. Get in touch with the Burger Law Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers straight away. We start working on your case right away and do not stop until you have been fully compensated . Delaying could create difficulties for your suit and could make it tough for even the best medical malpractice lawyers to show the full extent of your damages. Call Burger Law's Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers immediately at (314) 500-HURT.

No one deserves to have their life halted because a doctor gave them substandard care. Burger Law's Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers comprise the highest- and most-reviewed law firm in the Region. We fight hard for our clients and work tirelessly 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 corporations take advantage of your vulnerability. Call Burger Law's Pleasant Hill, MO medical malpractice lawyers today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form to start on your road to recovery.