All medical care providers, including doctors, nurses, hospitals, and pharmacists, have a professional responsibility to provide a certain level of care and treatment for their patients. If you believe that your medical care provider was negligent, you may have the basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Chalat Hatten & Banker is a trusted personal injury law firm with experienced medical malpractice attorneys in the Denver metro area. We’re widely regarded as a premier personal injury law firm, often handling some of the most challenging medical malpractice cases resulting in some of the largest settlements in the state.
Medical mistakes are often traumatic and made more so by the difficulty of understanding the facts surrounding the injury. Finding out what happened is the first concern of most malpractice victims. Sadly, one of the only certain ways of discovering the truth is to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Hospitals, nurses, and doctors are trained NOT to share compromising information with a patient. To learn the “what and why” typically requires litigation.
Pursuing a medical malpractice case is a significant personal and financial decision – you will invest about two years in the process until your case is ready for settlement or trial. And though personal matters become public in any personal injury lawsuit, it is particularly true for medical malpractice victims. You will be forced to share the most intimate details of your daily life with strangers, many of whom may be openly hostile. Choose a medical malpractice lawyer with whom you are comfortable and who is experienced in protecting medical malpractice victims from further harassment. Choose wisely. Choose Chalat Hatten & Banker in the Denver metro area and surrounding Colorado communities.
Because medical malpractice claims arise from state law, they are pursued in the state where the negligent care occurred. Regardless of where you are now, your lawsuit for negligent care from a doctor or hospital in Colorado will need to be filed in Colorado.
In Colorado, you have two years from the date you knew or should have known of the malpractice and the injury to file, but no longer than three years from the date of the malpractice, with very few exceptions – for example when the victim is minor. Other limitations may apply so it is important to talk with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Doctors and other medical professionals are typically trained not to share compromising information with their patients and their families. All too often, litigation is the only way to discover what truly happened when it comes to medical mistakes resulting in catastrophic injuries.
The simple answer is that a medical expert will tell you. Unique to medical malpractice claims, by Colorado law, you must have your matter reviewed by a medical care provider prior to the filing of the complaint. This medical expert must have experience in the same area of care as the negligent doctor or nurse and must state there is a good-faith basis for the claim. Beyond the certificate of review, medical experts play key roles in establishing the standard of care owed to a patient and whether a specific care provider (the defendant) failed to meet that standard.
Begin your case review process
Start with a free, no-obligation conversation with one of our experienced attorneys. We’ll listen to the details of your accident, answer your questions, and provide initial guidance on your legal options.
If you decide to move forward, we’ll get to work gathering the evidence needed to support your claim. This may include reviewing incident reports, speaking with witnesses, and assessing any medical documentation.
Once we’ve reviewed your case, we’ll explain your rights and provide a clear, step-by-step plan tailored to your situation. You’ll always know what to expect next.
Whether it’s negotiating a settlement or going to court, we’ll be by your side every step of the way, working to secure the best possible outcome for you.
Begin your case review process
Start with a free, no-obligation conversation with one of our experienced attorneys. We’ll listen to the details of your accident, answer your questions, and provide initial guidance on your legal options.
If you decide to move forward, we’ll get to work gathering the evidence needed to support your claim. This may include reviewing incident reports, speaking with witnesses, and assessing any medical documentation.
Once we’ve reviewed your case, we’ll explain your rights and provide a clear, step-by-step plan tailored to your situation. You’ll always know what to expect next.
Whether it’s negotiating a settlement or going to court, we’ll be by your side every step of the way, working to secure the best possible outcome for you.
Whether you or a loved one was injured due to a medication error, misdiagnosis, or surgical mistake, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact Chalat Hatten & Banker to schedule a free initial case review and consultation.