Hospital Errors in Denver: Common Causes and Legal Remedies
Hospitals are places we turn to in times of vulnerability, trusting that medical professionals will provide competent and lifesaving care. But when errors occur within these facilities, the consequences can be devastating.
At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we have seen firsthand how preventable mistakes in Colorado hospitals can lead to long-term injury, disability, or even death.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a hospital’s actions or omissions, a qualified Denver medical malpractice lawyer can help you understand your rights and seek accountability through a medical malpractice claim.
Understanding Hospital Negligence
Hospital negligence occurs when a hospital or its staff fails to meet the standard of care, and that failure results in harm to a patient.
While not every poor outcome is legally actionable, Colorado law does provide recourse for patients injured due to medical malpractice, which includes systemic errors as well as individual mistakes.
In Colorado, a hospital may be legally responsible for errors made by:
- Nurses and medical technicians
- Administrative personnel
- Pharmacists
Hospitals may also be liable for corporate negligence, such as understaffing, inadequate training, poor recordkeeping, or failing to enforce patient safety protocols.
Common Hospital Errors in Denver
Every year, countless patients in Denver and across Colorado suffer preventable injuries due to mistakes that should never happen in a modern healthcare setting.
Surgical Mistakes
Surgical errors are among the most serious and visible forms of hospital negligence. These may include:
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Performing the wrong procedure
- Leaving surgical instruments inside the patient
- Postoperative infections due to poor sterilization
Even routine procedures, when protocols are not followed, can result in catastrophic harm. Victims may require additional surgeries, experience permanent disability, or suffer wrongful death.
Medication Errors
Medication mistakes can occur at any point during a patient’s hospital stay, from prescribing to dispensing to administration. Common medication errors include:
- Incorrect dosage
- Wrong drug prescribed
- Failure to check for allergies or drug interactions
- IV administration errors
- Delayed or omitted doses
Because medications are critical to patient recovery and stability, even small errors can lead to dangerous outcomes, such as organ damage, strokes, or fatal reactions.
Inadequate Patient Monitoring
Continuous monitoring is essential in surgical recovery, intensive care, and labor and delivery settings. Inadequate monitoring can quickly lead to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or brain injury.
Hospitals may be liable if staff fail to:
- Monitor vital signs
- Recognize signs of infection or internal bleeding
- Respond to alarms or changes in patient condition
The Impact of Hospital Errors on Patient Safety
Hospital errors are not just statistics—they are life-altering events. Patients injured by hospital negligence may experience:
- Chronic pain or disability
- Psychological trauma
- Loss of income and independence
- Prolonged hospital stays and further surgeries
- Loss of a loved one due to wrongful death
Families are often left with massive medical bills and unanswered questions about how a trusted institution allowed such harm to occur.
Proving Medical Malpractice in Colorado
To bring a successful medical malpractice claim in Colorado, the plaintiff must demonstrate:
- The healthcare provider (or hospital) owed a duty of care
- That duty was breached through negligence or omission
- The breach is a cause of harm
- The patient suffered damages
In hospital error cases, proving these elements requires a deep investigation of records, internal protocols, and expert testimony. At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we work with leading medical experts across the country to identify lapses in care and build persuasive legal claims.
The Statute of Limitations for Hospital Negligence in Colorado
Generally, a hospital malpractice lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date the patient knew or should have known of the injury.
Because timing is critical, we urge potential clients to consult an experienced hospital error attorney in Denver as soon as they suspect malpractice has occurred.
What Compensation Is Available to Victims?
Patients injured by hospital errors may be entitled to recover damages for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death (for families who lost a loved one)
Reasons to Choose Leventhal Puga Braley P.C.
At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we are recognized across Colorado and the nation for our success in medical malpractice litigation. And we don’t take every case. Instead, we focus our resources and trial experience on the most serious and complex cases, such as those involving:
- Wrong-site surgery
- Brain injury due to delayed diagnosis
- Fatal infection caused by hospital negligence
- Birth injuries resulting from obstetric errors
Our firm has earned some of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in Colorado history, and we are trusted by families and referring attorneys to take on even the most powerful hospitals and healthcare systems.
When you hire us, you’re not just hiring an attorney—you’re gaining access to an elite team of litigators, investigators, and medical experts committed to achieving justice.
What to Do If You Suspect Hospital Negligence
If you believe a hospital mistake caused injury or death, take the following steps:
- Request medical records immediately. These documents are critical for the investigation.
- Preserve evidence, such as prescriptions, medication labels, and correspondence with the hospital.
- Contact a Denver medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.
Do not rely on internal reviews or assume the hospital will admit fault. Let our legal team evaluate your case and protect your rights.
Speak to Our Trusted Hospital Error Attorneys in Denver Today
You trusted the hospital to care for you or your loved one. When that trust is broken, and negligence causes harm, you deserve answers—and justice.
Call Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to schedule a no-charge initial consultation. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys will review your case, explain your options, and help you take the next steps with confidence.