Sepsis cases rely on whether warning signs were missed, treatment was delayed, or infections were allowed to spiral out of control, and a Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer can help determine whether those failures rise to the level of malpractice. Regan Zambri Long’s medical malpractice team brings nearly 200 years of combined experience to cases involving delayed diagnosis, inadequate monitoring, and breakdowns in hospital care.
We have the depth and resources required to challenge hospitals and insurers that dispute responsibility, working with respected medical experts to support accountability when standards of care fall short. That approach has led to over $1 billion in personal injury recoveries, including medical malpractice outcomes of $15 million, $8 million, and $3.5 million. Recognized as one of America’s Best Law Firms, all six of our award-winning partners are rated among Washington, DC’s Top 30 Medical Malpractice attorneys by Best Lawyers.
Have you or a loved one suffered complications from sepsis due to medical negligence? Contact Regan Zambri Long today. One of our attorneys will personally reach out to you, and we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also front all case costs, so you don’t pay unless we win your case.
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Sepsis is the body’s overactive and toxic response to an infection. It occurs when a person’s immune system releases chemicals into the bloodstream to fight an infection, but instead of fighting the infection and helping the person get better, the chemicals create overwhelming inflammation throughout the body. The inflammation or severe sepsis puts an enormous amount of stress on multiple organs, causing organ failure.
If left untreated, a person with severe sepsis can go into septic shock, which is a serious drop in blood pressure. While mild sepsis can be treated, septic shock is a life-threatening condition and has a 40% mortality rate. The scale of this risk is reflected in national research. A 2025 study on sepsis mortality in the United States found that 4,177,071 Americans died from sepsis between 1999 and 2022, showing how deadly the condition can be when it is not identified and treated promptly.
The cause of sepsis is often an infection, such as pneumonia or other lung infections. Kidney, bladder, or other urinary infections can also cause sepsis. Other areas of infection that can produce sepsis are the digestive system, a bloodstream infection, or a catheter site. Finally, open wounds or burns are likely to become infected and could cause the victim to go into septic shock.
Pay attention to the following signs and symptoms if you or your loved one is being treated in a hospital or has an infection. The key to a quicker recovery is to catch sepsis early. The symptoms you should look for are:
If you or your loved one exhibits these signs, seek medical attention immediately. Remember, sepsis is a medical emergency and should be treated as such. Do not hesitate to go to a hospital or call your doctor.
In most cases, patients entering a hospital already have an infection before arriving. However, if the infection is misdiagnosed or not diagnosed in time, the infection can lead to sepsis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 3 patients who die in a hospital have sepsis. While not all sepsis cases can be prevented, many could have been completely avoided. This is not a rare outcome in hospital settings. The American Association of Medical Colleges reports that sepsis is the third leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals, highlighting how critical early recognition and treatment can be.
Patients may also develop infections during their hospital stay, which are called Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs). In these cases, the infections may have been caused by medical negligence by the facility or an individual healthcare provider.
Examples of medical negligence that can lead to a patient developing sepsis are:
If you or your loved one experienced these errors in a Washington, DC medical facility, immediately contact an experienced Regan Zambri Long DC medical malpractice attorney. You have the right to compensation; your story could help other victims avoid what you went through.
People 65 and older are at the highest risk of developing sepsis, which makes nursing homes particularly problematic for the illness. Unfortunately, many facilities meant to care for the elderly do just the opposite. Nursing home residents are mistreated, ignored, and left to suffer when they fall ill.
Like hospitals, many workers come and go, bringing in different kinds of germs and harmful bacteria, which make the patients ill. Additionally, many nursing home residents are frequently transported to and from hospitals for various illnesses, which increases their risk of HAIs.
Sepsis is also a result of nursing home neglect. If an elderly patient is not continuously monitored for infections, bedsores, bacteria, and other illnesses, sepsis can develop quickly. Because of their age and fragile health, the elderly are more likely to fall sick and go into septic shock.
There are many signs and symptoms of sepsis you can look for in your loved one who lives in a nursing home. If you notice any of the following, make sure he or she receives medical attention immediately:
If your loved one suffered neglect and abuse in a nursing home, reach out to a Regan Zambri Long medical malpractice attorney who will guide you through the claims process and offer expert legal counsel. At Regan Zambri Long, we believe our elderly population should be treated with the utmost care and respect – we do not tolerate anything less. Call today for a free initial consultation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney who will fiercely fight for the rights of the elderly and, if necessary, pursue a sepsis lawsuit.
At Regan Zambri Long, our goals are simple: our medical malpractice lawyers will help you understand your legal rights, build a rock-solid case around your claim, and secure a settlement or verdict in your favor.
Our team will work with medical consultants, review medical records, and investigate the hospital, physician, or other DC medical facilities to prove you were the victim of medical malpractice. After we uncover all the evidence in your case, we will pursue the maximum compensation possible. While you concentrate on your recovery, we will concentrate on recovering the damages you are owed.
Our DC medical malpractice firm has won millions of dollars for our clients over the years, including a $15 million settlement against a facility that failed to perform a pregnancy test on a patient before surgery, an $8 million settlement for a woman who suffered quadriplegia as a result of a surgical and an anesthetic error, and a $3.5 million settlement for the family of a man who died as a result of careless and negligent doctor and hospital conduct.
Our lawyers are routinely featured in Best Lawyers and the National Law Journal, and all six partners are currently named among America’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers by Lawdragon. Senior partner Patrick Regan has been named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice Law, and the National Law Journal has recognized him as one of the “Top Ten Power Lawyers” in Washington, D.C.
Partner Jacqueline Colclough is regarded as Washington, DC’s top nurse attorney, bringing a rare combination of clinical and legal experience to medical malpractice cases. Before practicing law, she worked as a nurse, and that background informs how she evaluates medical records, standards of care, and hospital decision-making. Jacqueline has been named a Best Lawyer for Medical Malpractice Law in both 2024 and 2025 and currently serves on the Board of Governors for the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association. She is also a member of the American Association of Nurse Attorneys.
Our client testimonials speak for themselves. Clients praise our partners for being patient, communicative, and compassionate. Our medical malpractice lawyers deeply understand what you and your family are going through, and we know you do not want to be our clients for one more minute than you have to. That is why we work hard to answer every single question you have, keep you updated on the status of your claim, and try to negotiate a fair settlement as quickly as possible.
Regan Zambri Long is not afraid of large hospitals or their insurance companies. We have the resources to take any claim to trial, so you can be sure your attorney will be with you every step of the way. Call today for a free consultation to get your claim started.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.