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Denver Surgical Error Attorneys

Are You in Need of a Surgical Error Lawyer?

Surgery requires precision, preparation, and adherence to well-established medical standards. When surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, or other healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care, the consequences can be catastrophic.

If you suffered serious harm because of a preventable surgical error, you deserve answers! The Denver personal injury lawyers at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C represent patients and families whose lives have been forever changed by medical negligence. Our firm has built a national reputation for handling complex medical malpractice cases and obtaining exceptional results for injured clients.

You may wish to speak with a Denver medical malpractice attorney if:

• You suffered unexpected complications that may have resulted from a preventable surgical mistake.
• A surgeon operated on the wrong body part, performed the wrong procedure, or left a surgical instrument inside your body.
• Your surgeon failed to diagnose or promptly treat a complication after your procedure.
• You experienced nerve damage, organ injuries, excessive bleeding, or other life-changing complications after surgery.
• You required additional surgeries, extended hospitalization, or long-term medical treatment because of a surgical error.
• You want an attorney to investigate whether a breach of the standard of care caused your injuries.

Why Choose Us Over Other Surgical Error Lawyers in Denver?

Choosing the right law firm after a catastrophic surgical injury can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to take on hospitals, surgeons, and healthcare systems in high-stakes litigation.

Here’s what sets our firm apart:

• Founded in 1981 with more than four decades of trial experience.
• Recognized as one of the premier medical malpractice firms in the United States, with decades of experience handling complex, high-stakes claims nationwide.
• Attorneys who have earned AV Ratings from Martindale-Hubbell for exceptional legal ability, ethical standards, and respected professional reputations within the legal community.
• Several of our attorneys have been recognized by Colorado Super Lawyers based on peer reviews, independent research, and a demonstrated record of professional excellence.
• More than $67.3 million recovered in a single health facility negligence case, reflecting our commitment to pursuing substantial results for seriously injured clients.
• Trial-ready representation focused on catastrophic injuries and wrongful death, with attorneys who prepare every case thoroughly for litigation and courtroom advocacy when necessary.

Call to Learn More Today

Our firm has decades of experience handling complex medical malpractice claims involving catastrophic surgical injuries. Call (303) 759-9945 or (877) 433-3906 for a no-charge initial consultation.

Surgical Errors Caused by Medical Negligence

There are many ways that surgical errors can occur. Safely performing every step in the treatment is vital to the patient’s health, from getting the right test results to positioning the patient correctly to completing the surgical procedure.

Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. litigated a case where the patient suffered permanent nerve damage because the surgeon inadvertently leaned on them for hours during a procedure and cases where surgeons removed a healthy organ because of a lab mix-up. Surgical malpractice is never caused by a patient, and you shouldn’t have to bear the costs of someone else’s mistake.

Our law firm has helped clients who were injured by various types of surgical errors, including:

• Unsanitary conditions occur when someone on the medical staff fails to perform standard sanitation procedures, such as reusing a one-time instrument. This can result in infections, extended recovery time, loss of an organ, and death.
• Anesthesia errors: An anesthesiologist is always on hand during surgery to properly adjust the level of anesthesia while remaining mindful of the patient’s vital signs. Providing improper levels of medication can be fatal. It’s also essential for the hospital to verify any patient allergies or medical conditions that may affect anesthetization prior to surgery.
• Leaving medical equipment inside a patient: Sponges, drains, forceps, scopes, scissors, needles, and surgical masks and gloves have all been left inside patients by medical teams that didn’t take the time to properly conclude an operation. At the very least, this requires an additional procedure to remove the object, and it could result in medical complications.
• Operating on the wrong patient means that a hospital error resulted in a patient undergoing a surgical procedure that caused medical harm for no good reason.
• Unnecessary amputation or operating on the wrong body part: These mistakes result from improper planning and inadequate communication. Healthy tissue may be damaged, or a healthy body part may be entirely removed. As a result, the patient will have to undergo another surgery to carry out the correct procedure.
• Surgical fires: Static electricity, electrical surgical devices, or lasers may spark a fire that feeds on oxygen, alcohol, linens, or other flammable material in the operating room, frequently causing devastating results.
• Improper monitoring of the patient’s vital signs may cause unnecessary complications that could be life-threatening or damage the patient’s long-term health and recovery.

Human Error and Surgical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a hospital, doctor, or some other healthcare professional performs a negligent action that harms a patient. To establish negligence in a Denver medical malpractice claim, a surgical malpractice attorney must prove that the standard of care was violated. This means the healthcare professional did something that a reasonable physician would not have done. To prevail in a malpractice case, your attorney will demonstrate that the violation of the standard of care caused your injuries.

Medical professionals are obligated to maintain the standard of care before, during, and after surgery. Unprofessional behavior, a lapse in judgment, and unresolved deficiencies in the treatment process have devastating consequences. No one should be forced to suffer because the hospital where they received treatment is poorly managed.

Surgical errors that result in medical malpractice may be caused by:

• Failure to communicate by the operating team
• Poor administrative oversight
• Prescription medicine errors
• Incompetence
• Inadequate hospital policies
• Insufficient staffing
• Miscommunication
• Negligent hiring
• Failure to provide a surgical checklist
• Poor planning
• Inadequate staff training
• Failure to follow hospital rules
• Clerical errors
• Personality conflicts
• Failure to use software correctly
• Drug or alcohol use

Injuries Caused by Surgical Malpractice

Patients who are harmed by the careless actions of doctors and other hospital personnel suffer tragic consequences, including constant pain and severe disabilities. Victims of medical malpractice will require extensive medical treatment and in-home nursing care. These injuries may prevent the patient from resuming their career, and patients may not be able to perform many of the day-to-day activities that they enjoyed before they were injured.

Life-altering injuries caused by surgical malpractice include:

• Nerve damage. A careless incision may damage nerves around the surgical site, resulting in chronic pain, muscle weakness, or paralysis.
• Organ failure may be life-threatening, and additional procedures may be required to repair the harm caused by the original surgical mistake.
• Sepsis. When unsanitary surgical conditions allow bacteria, fungi, or viruses to enter the patient’s body, it may trigger an extreme reaction that can be life-threatening.
• Paralysis. Incision errors affecting the brain or spinal column may cause paralysis. If the anesthesiologist fails to provide enough oxygen to the brain during surgery, the patient may suffer hypoxia, which can also cause paralysis.
• Strokes. Surgical errors that cause excessive bleeding can lead to strokes and other complications.
• Respiratory failure. Careless puncturing of the lung tissue during surgery can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
• Burns. Misuse of lasers and overheated surgical equipment causes damage to the patient’s skin, sweat glands, nerve endings, and other soft tissue.

Put Proven Trial Lawyers on Your Side

A surgical error may result in lifelong medical needs, lost income, and permanent disability. Call (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to find out how we can help.

Who Is Liable for Surgical Errors?

Every member of the surgical team is a highly trained professional who is fully responsible for their own actions. Who can be held accountable depends on a variety of factors our attorneys will evaluate. But administrators also have a considerable amount of influence over what happens in a hospital. Supervisors are responsible for making staffing decisions, determining budgetary priorities, and developing procedures that determine how a hospital will function.

Hospitals are ultimately responsible for hiring and evaluating employees, overseeing programs, and providing safeguards to prevent mistakes from happening. Anyone who commits a negligent action that contributes to your injuries may be liable for medical malpractice, including:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Laboratory technicians
• Hospitals
• Pharmaceutical and medical device companies

How To File a Medical Malpractice Claim

Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. will investigate your case by reviewing your medical records and interviewing everyone involved in the surgical process. We will also fight to obtain internal hospital communications, surgical notes, and other relevant documents. Then, we will file claims against the negligent parties.

Our attorneys will negotiate to get you compensation that covers the true cost of your injuries. If the other side refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer, Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. is always prepared to file and take them to court.

In Colorado, there are filing deadlines, certification standards, and other requirements that must be met when bringing a medical malpractice case to trial, so it’s important to find a medical malpractice attorney who will make sure everything is done correctly.

Our firm has won substantial verdicts in medical malpractice cases. A medical malpractice claim or lawsuit will include the following types of damages:

• Treatment costs
• Medical devices
• Pain and suffering
• Medications
• Loss of income
• Reduced quality of life
• Rehabilitation
• Medical bills
• Loss of consortium
• Occupational therapy
• In-home nursing care
• Wheelchair ramps for your home

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in Colorado

In Colorado, certain surviving family members may have the right to file a wrongful death claim when medical malpractice results in the loss of a loved one. These claims may seek compensation for losses such as funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and the emotional impact of the death, as permitted under Colorado law.

What Clients Are Saying About Us

Excellent firm! - Kimberly Merriman (5-Star Google Review)

My experience with this firm and my attorney Brian Alienikoff was amazing. The communication from the very start was prompt, informative, and knowledgeable. I was incredibly satisfied with the outcome of my case and felt I was on the same page with Brian the entire time. Excellent firm!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much - Eugenia Brady (5-Star Google Review)

Words cannot express my gratitude to Jim Leventhal and his great professional team for representing me in a case that was extremely hard for me personally and emotionally. Their understanding, compassion, and professionalism make a perfect mix to deal with cases that are attached to trauma. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much again for representing me for one of the hardest things I had to face in my life and making sure that every outcome will be in the best interest of me and my family! I can't recommend them enough. God bless you!

Case Results

Surgical Malpractice - $15 Million Verdict

A Douglas County jury has found an ambulatory surgical center negligent and awarded its patient millions of dollars in damages after she was paralyzed following a medical procedure.

Speak With a Trusted Denver Surgical Error Attorney

At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. our clients and their families come first. We will remain in touch with you throughout the legal process, and we’re always happy to speak with our clients.

Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. has the experience and resources to go up against any hospital or insurance company in the nation. We’ve won record-breaking verdicts for clients.

If we take your case, you won’t owe us anything unless we win.

Give us a call at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to schedule a no-charge initial consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Surgical Errors

What is a surgical error?

A surgical error is a preventable mistake that occurs before, during, or after surgery because of a breach of the standard of care. Examples include operating on the wrong body part, leaving surgical instruments inside a patient, damaging organs unnecessarily, anesthesia mistakes, or failing to recognize serious complications.

How do I know if I have a surgical error case?

An experienced surgical error attorney can review your medical records and consult qualified medical experts to determine whether there was a breach of the standard of care.

Who may be held responsible for a surgical error?

Depending on the circumstances, liability may involve a surgeon, anesthesiologist, surgical nurse, hospital, outpatient surgery center, or another healthcare provider involved in your care.

What compensation may be available after a surgical error?

Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability, rehabilitation costs, and future in-home care needs.

Why should I hire a lawyer for a surgical error claim?

Surgical malpractice cases are highly complex and often involve extensive medical evidence and expert testimony. An experienced attorney can investigate the circumstances of your injury, identify liable parties, negotiate with insurers, and prepare your case for trial if necessary.

Meet Our Surgical Error Attorneys

Jim Leventhal

Jim Leventhal is a founding partner of Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. For decades, Jim has handled complex litigation involving surgical errors, birth injuries, hospital negligence, brain injuries, and wrongful death. Jim is known for his meticulous case preparation, strategic courtroom advocacy, and unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for clients facing life-altering injuries. He works closely with medical experts to analyze complicated healthcare issues and build strong cases supported by evidence.

Jim Puga

Jim Puga is a partner at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. He represents patients and families whose lives have been changed by preventable medical errors, including surgical mistakes, hospital negligence, birth injuries, and delayed diagnoses. Jim approaches every case with careful attention to detail, working alongside respected medical experts to evaluate whether healthcare providers breached the applicable standard of care.

Brian Aleinikoff

Brian Aleinikoff is an attorney at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. He represents individuals who have suffered serious harm because of negligent healthcare providers, dangerous products, and other preventable incidents. Brian carefully investigates every claim, reviews complex medical records, and collaborates with qualified experts to determine whether a breach of the standard of care contributed to a client's injuries.

Alex Wilschke

Alex Wilschke is a partner at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. His practice centers on medical malpractice, surgical malpractice, birth injuries, hospital negligence, wrongful death, and catastrophic personal injury litigation. Alex has extensive experience representing clients who have suffered devastating injuries because of preventable medical errors and unsafe conditions.

Julia Thompson

Julia Thompson is an attorney at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. whose practice focuses on medical malpractice and serious personal injury cases. Her medical malpractice work includes matters involving spinal cord and brain injuries, delayed cancer diagnoses, medication errors, and nursing negligence. This experience provides a strong foundation for representing patients who suffer significant harm following surgical errors and other failures in medical care.

Additional Information

• Building a Wrongful Death Claim After a Surgical Error in Denver
• What Are the Most Common Errors Made by Surgeons?
• The Horrors Of Wrong Site Surgery
• Surgery - MedlinePlus
• Surgery - Merck Manuals