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Hospital negligence can leave patients facing serious injuries, unanswered questions, and lasting consequences, and a Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer at Regan Zambri Long helps families pursue clarity and justice when hospital care falls short. We bring the resources and skills required to take on large hospitals and insurance carriers, working closely with top medical specialists who can evaluate treatment decisions, identify failures in care, and explain how those failures caused harm. Clients point to our approach and responsiveness in more than 100 5 star Google reviews.
With almost 200 years of combined experience, our award-winning malpractice attorneys have achieved over $1 billion in personal injury recoveries, including hospital negligence awards of $15 million, $8 million, $4.2 million, and $3.5 million. We are recognized as one of America’s Best Law Firms, and our board-certified partners are all named among the nation’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers.
Have you or a loved one been harmed by hospital negligence? Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our attorneys will reach out personally for a free consultation. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we front all case costs, so you don’t pay unless we win your case.
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Hospital negligence occurs when a hospital or an employee of the healthcare facility makes a mistake due to negligence. Healthcare providers have a duty of care to their patients, and failure to meet the standard of care can lead to the patient suffering from an injury.
In Washington, DC, the standard deadline is three years after the incident. Once the deadline has passed, you will no longer be able to file a lawsuit.
The statute of limitations has a couple of exceptions. Known as the discovery rule, the timer does not start if the patient could not reasonably have known about the medical malpractice. The three-year deadline begins once the person knows they were injured and has some evidence of the hospital’s wrongdoing. Every state and the District of Columbia has its own rules regarding the statute of limitations for medical malpractice.
If the victim was a minor, they have until they turn 21 to file a lawsuit. Other exceptions are if the healthcare provider intentionally hid the malpractice or left the District of Columbia after the incident.
If the hospital continues to provide staff privileges to the negligent employee, the facility may be held responsible for the healthcare professional’s negligent actions. Patients may have a case if the hospital knew or should have known a doctor became unsuitable or dangerous for the job, yet failed to act.
However, it can be challenging to prove hospital negligence, especially on your own. These types of cases require a medical expert to review the details of your medical records to discover where the negligence occurred and how it affected you in the long term.
Regan Zambri Long’s medical malpractice attorneys have been helping medical malpractice victims in the DC Metro area for decades. We will hold medical professionals responsible for your injuries and show how the hospital’s negligence contributed to the medical error. Contact us today to speak with one of our DC personal injury lawyers.
Hospital negligence occurs more frequently than it should. Medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Every year, victims suffer millions of dollars in economic losses. All states and the District of Columbia have medical malpractice laws to protect the rights of patients who place their trust in hospitals and other facilities.
Some instances where a healthcare facility can be held responsible include:
Injured patients must file a Certificate of Merit in many states before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. After reviewing the patient’s claim, this is a statement given by an independent physician who believes that the hospital or physician was negligent in the patient’s care.
Although Washington, DC does not require a Certificate of Merit, according to DC law, patients must inform all parties of their intent to sue within 90 days before filing the claim. In addition, the parties will need to attend a non-binding mediation in an attempt to reach a settlement.
Misdiagnosis is the most common form of medical malpractice, causing harm to an estimated 800,000 patients each year. It occurs when employees lack the proper time, resources, or experience to diagnose a patient. This can result in a patient receiving a delayed diagnosis or having to deal with expensive, invasive treatments that were unnecessary.
Other types of hospital negligence include:
One example of hospital negligence is administering the incorrect dosage of anesthesia before surgery. The wrong amount could damage the patient’s liver. In many cases, proving negligence can be tricky since plenty of gray areas exist. An experienced anesthesia error lawyer will distinguish between an actual accident and a preventable error.
One example of hospital negligence is administering the incorrect dosage of anesthesia before surgery. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, anesthesia-related medication errors occur in one in every 133 doses administered, resulting in over 780,000 errors annually. The wrong amount could damage the patient’s liver. In many cases, proving negligence can be tricky since plenty of gray areas exist. An experienced anesthesia error lawyer will distinguish between an actual accident and a preventable error.
Other anesthesia mistakes include delaying the administration to patients or providing too little, causing the patient to suffer. The failure to provide proper preoperative instructions or monitor vital signs during surgery may count as negligence.
Childbirth tends to be a difficult time for everyone involved. Sometimes, the hospital can make a mistake, leading to an injury.
When those mistakes involve delays in care, missed warning signs, or failures during labor and delivery, the consequences can be severe. Birth injuries are involved in roughly 20% of the 20,000 infant deaths reported in the United States each year.
For instance, an umbilical cord prolapse can occur. The issue can be life-threatening to the child unless the doctor performs a C-section. Negligence happens if the doctor fails to realize what has happened and delays the procedure. Delaying a C-section may result in the baby suffering from brain damage. A birth injury lawyer can argue that the healthcare professional failed to provide adequate care.
The mother might also suffer from childbirth injuries due to medical malpractice. Sometimes, the patient has high blood pressure before delivery. High blood pressure is a sign of preeclampsia, which can lead to seizures or stroke during childbirth. If a hospital employee fails to note the issue, they can be liable for any injuries from the seizure.
Another example of hospital negligence is a surgical error. Errors may happen due to several reasons, such as an improper work process or incompetence. Even poor communication can lead to the surgeon making a mistake.
In 2023, the American College of Surgeons documented 1,411 serious, unexpected patient safety incidents. Of those cases, 8% involved the wrong surgery being performed, and another 8% involved surgical tools or materials being left inside a patient after the procedure.
If a patient suffers an injured nerve from surgery or receives an incision in the wrong location, they can have a malpractice case. Another instance of surgical error is the surgeon leaving a piece of equipment in the patient. In some cases, the doctor will operate on the wrong body part or even the incorrect person.
Often, victims can easily establish how the treatment led to substandard care. Various types of errors can occur, so you should consult a surgical error lawyer if you believe you suffered an injury from one.
Malpractice often results from an incorrect diagnosis. One cause of misdiagnosis is the failure to provide the correct test results. Patients need to know the state of their condition promptly. Whether recording or reading the results, mistakes can lead to dire consequences.
You might not get any treatment when you need one, or you could get the wrong kind. The healthcare provider may provide an incorrect diagnosis or medication. The real issue may get ignored or worsen due to the lab test error. Patients who suffer damages could be entitled to compensation.
No matter the cause of your medical negligence case, Regan Zambri Long can help.
When you file a lawsuit for hospital negligence, you will need to fulfill specific requirements to prove malpractice occurred. Also known as the four elements of healthcare negligence, you must show:
You went to your local hospital for appendicitis. The inexperienced surgeon looks at the wrong chart and instead of removing your appendix, they remove one of your kidneys.
When you wake up from the surgery, you learn what happened. In the meantime, your inflamed appendix ruptures, causing you to have emergency surgery. You spend the next few weeks in the hospital to recover.
When the hospital learns of the incident, instead of firing the surgeon or placing them on leave, it sends you a letter apologizing for the mistake. There is no mention of paying the medical bills associated with the surgeries.
Because the surgeon was negligent, it caused an accident that resulted in an injury to the patient. And since the hospital failed to act and had hired an incompetent medical professional, it can be held responsible for the accident.
The timeline of a healthcare negligence lawsuit can vary from case to case. A claim goes through different stages, so you might find yourself waiting months to over a year for a resolution. The complexity of the case can contribute to the duration as well.
The first step in a hospital malpractice lawsuit is to speak with a DC law firm specializing in medical malpractice. The firm will talk with the patient about the initial diagnosis or treatment leading up to the alleged hospital negligence. Then, the medical malpractice lawyer will collect records related to the case. Any condition or care in the person’s medical history could impact the case, and the attorney may also request a report of those.
This stage can take months to complete. The lawyer reviews everything to determine whether the client has a valid case.
Our DC medical malpractice lawyers often seek a medical expert witness to prove negligence. The expert typically works in the same field as the defendant. The qualified professional needs to review the patient’s relevant medical records to learn where the negligence occurred and how the patient’s health was affected.
This step usually occurs before a lawsuit gets filed. The expert may provide a statement on how the negligent medical professional failed their duty of care.
In several states, the plaintiff’s lawyer must submit either the Offer of Proof or the Certificate of Merit. In Washington, DC, the law does not require such submission. Instead, the plaintiff must notify the defendant 90 days before filing a lawsuit.
The District of Columbia requires both parties to attend non-binding mediation early on before the discovery.
Some medical malpractice cases do settle before a lawyer files a lawsuit. The other party’s insurance company often does not negotiate compensation until you establish one. An attorney produces a document called the Complaint to start the lawsuit.
The case undergoes a couple of pre-trial procedures before the trial. Generally, the claim can take over a year to three years to go to the courtroom.
Once litigation starts, both parties will go through the discovery phase. During this step, they will investigate one another’s claims and defenses. The attorneys may request documents and send interrogatories to each other.
Depositions often occur during discovery. In a deposition, lawyers ask the plaintiff, defendant, and witnesses questions. The process may last over a year, depending on the court’s deadlines. One side might not be happy with the other’s responses, and the attorney may file a motion for further responses with a judge. The action can happen multiple times.
The negotiation occurs toward the end of the lawsuit process. The attorneys start talking about a possible settlement. They may do so by themselves or in front of a mediator with the clients.
Most medical negligence cases settle before going to trial. The patient will most likely receive a favorable outcome and get reimbursed quicker.
If neither party can agree, the case moves to trial, which extends the timeline further. Due to the court’s schedule and other possible delays, trials can be rescheduled multiple times.
Most people prefer to settle beforehand since trials may make it harder for the patient to win. One challenge of winning a trial is convincing the jury of the hospital’s wrongdoing.
A case of hospital negligence can be a lengthy and complex process. A DC hospital negligence lawyer can help you through each step. They know a malpractice victim must recover from their injuries, making the process less stressful.
An experienced hospital negligence attorney can provide insight into how much you can recover for damages. Since most cases end in a settlement, they can negotiate for the best outcome for their client. A skilled negligence lawyer also has enough experience to answer some of your questions.
Even if you are unsure whether you suffered from hospital negligence, you should consult a personal injury lawyer. You might be surprised that you could have a valid case. You should speak with your local malpractice attorney to see what compensation you might be entitled to receive.
Washington, DC, is home to some of the country’s most renowned hospitals and medical centers. Many of the hospitals in our region are teaching hospitals — from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, one of the oldest teaching hospitals in the area, to Howard University Hospital, the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically Black university. Despite the high standard of physicians you expect from these prestigious hospitals, medical malpractice can and does occur, causing significant harm to patients.
As experienced malpractice attorneys located in the heart of Washington, DC, we deeply understand the local healthcare landscape and the challenges patients face when seeking justice.
Regan Zambri Long’s attorneys are renowned throughout the region for their work in medical malpractice and personal injury law, and all six of our partners named among the Top 30 medical malpractice plaintiff lawyers in Washington, DC.
Partner Jacqueline Colclough’s experience as an obstetrical and neonatal nurse, combined with 30 years of practicing law, has led to her reputation as Washington, DC’s foremost nurse attorney, bringing a unique combination of skillsets and insight to medical malpractice cases.
Salvatore Zambri is rated among Washington, DC’s Top 10 Super Lawyers, with Patrick Regan and Paul Cornoni joining him in the Top 100 list, while Best Lawyers has named our attorneys as Lawyer of the Year on multiple occasions, including Patrick Regan for Medical Malpractice Law.
Paul and Salvatore have both also been named as the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association’s Trial Lawyer of the Year, and Paul was named as the District of Columbia Bar Association’s 2025 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award for his work on behalf of the District’s most vulnerable residents.
Our three founding partners are all board certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, as well as being AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest peer-reviewed rating an attorney can receive.
Over the last 30 years, we have achieved in excess of $1 billion in settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases, including multimillion-dollar medical malpractice recoveries such as:
If you were injured by medical negligence in the Washington, DC area, consider seeking the help of Regan Zambri Long PLLC.
Our team works to find justice for those who suffered harm from hospital negligence. We passionately stay by their side as we maximize the value of their case.
Our malpractice lawyers have helped many clients obtain large settlements. While each outcome may differ, you can rest assured that we have your back. If you want to learn more, contact us for a confidential case review today.
Anyone who is an employee at the hospital who administers medical care to the injury victim could be liable for negligence. This includes nurses, lab technicians, and support staff.
If a doctor caused the injury and is an employee of the hospital, the hospital can be held liable. However, the hospital may not be responsible if the doctor is an independent contractor.
It can be difficult for victims to determine whether they have a case alone. That’s why speaking with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible is important to learn their legal options.
Not necessarily. Medical mistakes, unfortunately, happen often. But for that mistake to be considered medical malpractice, you will need to show that the doctor had acted negligently when the mistake was made.
Sometimes, a patient could be held responsible for an injury. For example, the patient ignored the doctor’s orders and moved heavy furniture after a knee replacement.
Under Washington, DC’s contributory negligence rule. This regulation states that if the plaintiff is found to be even one percent at fault for the accident, they cannot recover damages in a lawsuit. If you feel you may have some responsibility for your injury, it’s still important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long to learn your legal options.
Request all medical records immediately and keep a detailed journal of symptoms, treatments, and staff interactions. Save any physical evidence, such as medication or devices, and take photos of visible injuries. Collect witness names and contact information. Avoid posting details online. Consult a DC medical malpractice attorney to help secure expert reviews and preserve evidence properly.
Seek a second opinion or transfer care if needed. Report the incident to hospital administration and the DC Department of Health. Request complete medical records and begin documenting everything. Avoid confronting staff directly. Preserve evidence and consult a local medical malpractice attorney promptly, as DC has a three-year statute of limitations for most cases.
If you were injured by a hospital’s mistake or a negligent medical professional anywhere in the DC area, you need to speak with an attorney with the experience necessary to help you with your claim. Our medical malpractice team has years of experience and the medical knowledge required to protect your claim and get you the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait any longer. Contact Regan Zambri Long PLLC today to schedule a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case.
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.