When you place your health in the hands of medical professionals, you trust that they will provide competent and appropriate care. When that standard is not met, providers rarely acknowledge the failure, often leaving patients and families to wonder whether a devastating outcome was unavoidable or the result of preventable negligence. Stoops Law Firm helps patients and families across Colorado uncover the truth and pursue accountability for medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex and heavily defended personal injury claims. They require detailed medical investigation, qualified expert testimony, and a law firm that’s prepared to fight back.

Start With a Free Case Evaluation

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, and that failure causes injury. Healthcare providers owe patients a duty to act with the skill, care, and judgment expected of reasonably careful physician in the same specialty under similar circumstances.

Not every poor medical outcome is malpractice. In short, a valid medical malpractice claim must show:

  • The provider breached the standard of care, and
  • The patient suffered damages as a result of the breach

Because these cases depend heavily on medical evidence and expert testimony, working with an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Colorado is critical.

A clean, well-lit hospital hallway with blue crash rails on white walls. A person in medical uniform walks down the long corridor.

Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle

Stoops Law Firm represents clients in a wide range of medical malpractice and hospital negligence matters, including:

  • Surgical Errors:
Wrong-site surgery, retained surgical instruments, or avoidable operative complications.
  • Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis:
Failure to timely diagnose cancer, heart attack, stroke, infection, or other serious conditions.
  • Medication Errors:
Incorrect prescriptions, dosage mistakes, dangerous drug interactions, or pharmacy errors.
  • Anesthesia Errors:
Improper administration, inadequate monitoring, or delayed response to anesthesia complications.
  • Hospital Negligence:
Unsafe conditions, inadequate staffing, poor communication, or failure to follow established protocols.
  • Failure to Treat or Monitor:
Ignoring symptoms, premature discharge, or failure to provide appropriate follow-up care.

Proving Medical Malpractice in Colorado

Colorado medical malpractice claims require proof of four essential elements:

  1. Duty of Care – A provider-patient relationship existed
  2. Breach – The provider failed to meet the standard of care
  3. Causation – The breach directly caused injury
  4. Damages – The patient suffered physical, financial, or emotional harm

Colorado law also requires a Certificate of Review, supported by a qualified medical expert, early in the case. This requirement is one reason many attorneys decline medical malpractice claims—they are resource-intensive and procedurally demanding.

Colorado Medical Malpractice Laws You Should Know

Medical malpractice claims in Colorado are governed by strict statutory rules.

Statute of Limitations

Most medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Certain exceptions may apply, but missing a deadline can permanently bar a claim.

Damages Caps

Colorado law limits certain damages in medical malpractice cases, including non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. These caps are complex and subject to change, requiring careful legal analysis.

Three surgeons in blue scrubs are intensely focused on performing an operation under bright surgical lights in a modern operating room setting.

The Colorado CANDOR Act: An Early Opportunity for Resolution

In 2019, Colorado adopted a unique law known as the CANDOR Act, which is intended to provide an opportunity for early resolution following an adverse medical event.

Under the CANDOR Act, healthcare providers and hospitals may voluntarily initiate a structured process that can include:

  • Privileged and confidential discussion of the adverse incident,
  • Investigation of the incident by the health care provider or facility,
  • Identification of the steps the health care provider or facility will take to prevent future occurrences, and
  • An offer of compensation.

The purpose of the CANDOR process is to provide an opportunity to confidentially resolve certain medical injury claims without litigation or implications for the healthcare provider’s medical license.

What Patients Should Understand About CANDOR

Time is of the essence. The CANDOR process must be initiated within one hundred eighty days (180) of the incident. While CANDOR can be an early opportunity for resolution, participation is not mandatory and many providers fail to respond.

Colorado Medical Malpractice Claim Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I know if I have a medical malpractice case in Colorado?
    You may have a medical malpractice case if a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that failure caused you harm. Not every bad medical outcome qualifies as malpractice. A Colorado medical malpractice lawyer can review medical records, consult experts, and determine whether negligence occurred.
  • What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Colorado?
    In most cases, Colorado medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Some exceptions apply, but strict deadlines govern these cases. Waiting too long can permanently bar your claim, even if negligence clearly occurred.
  • What is a Certificate of Review, and why is it required?
    Colorado law requires a Certificate of Review in medical malpractice cases. This certificate confirms that a qualified medical expert has reviewed the case and believes the claim has substantial justification. Failing to file a proper Certificate of Review can result in dismissal of the case, which is why experienced legal representation is essential.
  • Are there caps on medical malpractice damages in Colorado?
    Yes. Colorado law limits certain damages in medical malpractice cases, including non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Economic damages, such as medical bills and lost income, are generally treated differently. Damage caps are complex and can change, so an attorney must carefully evaluate how they apply to your case.
  • What does it cost to hire a Colorado medical malpractice lawyer?
    Stoops Law Firm handles medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay attorney’s fees unless compensation is recovered.
  • Can a family bring a medical malpractice claim after a death?
    Yes. If medical negligence caused or contributed to a patient’s death, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death medical malpractice claim under Colorado law. These cases involve additional legal considerations and strict timelines.

Why Choose Stoops Law Firm for Medical Malpractice Claims?

Medical malpractice claims require careful case selection, thorough preparation, and personal attention. At Stoops Law Firm, we offer:

  • Thorough and honest case evaluation,
  • Direct communication at every stage of your case,
  • A disciplined, evidence- and research-driven approach to proving negligence, and
  • Passionate advocacy from attorneys prepared to see the case through to trial.

If there is no viable claim, we will tell you. If there is, we will pursue it with passion and determination.

Speak With a Colorado Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice claims are time-sensitive and evidence-dependent. Delays can jeopardize your ability to recover compensation.

If you or a loved one was harmed by medical negligence, contact Stoops Law Firm to schedule a confidential consultation with a Colorado medical malpractice lawyer. You deserve clear answers and informed guidance about your next steps.

Start With a Free, Confidential Case Evaluation