Hospital negligence refers to the actions, inaction or oversights that impede the delivery of proper care and unreasonably (and unnecessarily) injure patients. While hospital negligence can come in various forms, at least one of the following elements generally must apply for hospitals to be liable for patient injuries or deaths:

Nurses, support staff and medical technicians are commonly considered to be hospital employees. Surgeons, anesthesiologists and doctors, however, are not typically hospital employees (and, instead, tend to be "independent contractors").

• Some examples of this form of staff negligence can include:
• A nurse administering the wrong type or amount of medication to a patient
• A medical technician misinterpreting diagnostic test results
• Support staff mishandling sensitive patient or medical records
• Nurses incorrectly inserting IV catheters resulting in infiltration, infections and other complications

This can involve poorly written, unclear or absent policies that are supposed to ensure that the proper care is delivered to patients and that any safety issues are promptly and properly addressed.

Some examples of policy problems include:

• Failure to implement adequate pre- and post-operative procedures
• Miscommunications during staff shift changes
• Failure to monitor patients resulting in fall events
• Failure to check visitors or establish clear visiting hours

This can occur, for instance, when the equipment in hospitals is not properly sanitized, leading to hospital-acquired infections. It can also occur when hospitals lack the proper:

• Lighting, which could lead to falling accidents
• Security, which could give way to patient assaults
• Safety equipment or protocols, such as a lack of fire extinguishers or broken sprinkler systems

Proving hospital negligence can require various forms of evidence, such as but not necessarily limited to:

• Hospital records and policy documents
• Diagnostic test results
• A patient's medical records
• Recorded footage (from security cameras, for instance)
• Witness statements, which may include expert witness testimony

• Explaining your rights and the claims process
• Going up against hospital lawyers and insurance companies to prove negligence and protect your rights
• Representing you in and outside of court
• Tenaciously fighting to help you obtain the compensation you need now and for future expenses related to a life-altering injury

While compensation can never undo the damage caused by medical and hospital negligence, it can help victims and their families get the care, help and support they need moving forward. To make sure this happens for you, our attorneys will handle all legal matters - including settlement negotiations - to make sure your focus stays on what's most important: Recovering and getting back to your life.

If you would like to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, contact us online or call our Denver office. All initial consultations are obligation free, and you will not be charged any fee unless we successfully recover damages for you.