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Hospitals are meant to be places where people go to get better — not worse. You trust that the doctors, nurses, and staff will take care of you safely. But sometimes, things don’t go as they should. A small mistake or poor judgment can lead to serious, even life-changing harm. When that happens, you have the right under Virginia law to hold the hospital accountable.
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At Regan Zambri Long PLLC, we’ve seen firsthand how devastating hospital negligence can be. For decades, our Virginia hospital negligence lawyers have helped patients and families pick up the pieces after medical mistakes. We know you’re looking for answers — and we’re here to help you find them. Our job is to hold hospitals responsible and fight to get you the compensation and peace of mind you deserve.
Not every law firm is built for these kinds of cases. Hospital negligence claims are complex, and hospitals don’t make it easy to prove what went wrong. You need lawyers who know how to take on large healthcare systems — and win.
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Our team has done just that, again and again.
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We’ve recovered millions for clients over the years, including:
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$15 million for a patient who suffered a stroke after doctors failed to run a simple pregnancy test before heart surgery.
$8 million for a woman left paralyzed after surgical and anesthesia errors.
$5.8 million for the family of a woman whose rectal cancer went undiagnosed for nearly two years.
$4.7 million in a D.C. medical malpractice case — one of the largest verdicts in recent years.
$3.65 million for a child whose brain tumor went undiagnosed, causing lifelong harm.
These results reflect our commitment to fighting for patients who were failed by the very institutions meant to protect them.
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People often use the terms hospital negligence and medical malpractice like they mean the same thing — but there’s a small difference.
Medical malpractice usually happens when a specific doctor, nurse, or technician makes a serious mistake while treating a patient. Hospital negligence, on the other hand, happens when the hospital itself fails in its duties — like not hiring enough nurses, skipping safety checks, or using broken equipment.
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Here’s the simple way to think about it:
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Sometimes, both problems overlap. For example, if a hospital doesn’t have enough staff on duty and that leads to a nurse making a mistake, both the nurse and the hospital may share responsibility.
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If you think your injury or illness could be linked to poor hospital practices, it’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer as soon as you can. Our Virginia hospital negligence attorneys can look into what happened and help you figure out the next steps.
Hospitals can make mistakes in many ways. Below are some of the most common problems we see in Virginia hospital negligence cases.
Every hospital must keep its rooms, hallways, and equipment clean and safe. When they don’t, patients can get infections, fall, or suffer other preventable injuries.
Examples include:
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Failing to disinfect surgical tools or patient rooms
Slippery floors or poor lighting
Using outdated or broken medical devices
If you got sick or injured because the hospital wasn’t kept safe, the hospital may be responsible.
When a doctor, nurse, or technician employed by the hospital makes a mistake, the hospital can also be held accountable.
Common examples include:
Hospitals must make sure their employees are properly trained and following safe medical practices.
Hospitals are supposed to check the background and qualifications of every doctor and nurse they hire. They’re also required to have enough trained staff on duty.
Problems happen when hospitals:
Hire staff without checking credentials or past complaints
Skip important training or safety updates
Leave patients waiting or unattended due to short staffing
When hospitals cut corners like this, patients can pay the price.
Patients recovering from surgery or in intensive care need close attention. If hospital staff don’t keep a proper watch, a small issue can quickly become life-threatening.
This can include:
Ignoring changes in a patient’s vital signs
Skipping infection control steps
Sending a patient home too early
Even a short delay in treatment can make a huge difference in a patient’s outcome. Hospitals can be held responsible if they cause dangerous delays, like:
Long waits in the emergency room
Failure to transfer a patient to a specialist in time
Holding up treatment for insurance approval
Hospitals have written safety rules for a reason. When staff ignore them, patients can get hurt.
Examples include:
Not washing hands or changing gloves between patients
Poor record keeping
Releasing patients without proper discharge instructions
When hospital negligence causes harm, the impact can reach every part of your life. You may face medical bills, time away from work, lasting pain, and emotional stress. The law allows you to seek compensation for those losses.
You may be able to recover money for:
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Medical costs – including surgery, rehab, medication, and future care
Lost income – both now and in the future
Pain and suffering – physical pain and emotional distress
Loss of companionship – for the harm caused to family relationships
Wrongful death – funeral costs and the loss of support for surviving family members
Our attorneys can help calculate what your case may be worth and guide you through the claims process.
Virginia law gives you two years from the date of the injury or negligent act to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Missing this deadline can mean losing your right to recover compensation.
There are a few exceptions that may give you more time:
Discovery Rule – If the harm wasn’t obvious right away, you may have one year from when you discovered it (up to ten years total).
Minors – The clock often doesn’t start until the child turns 18.
Fraud or Concealment – If a provider hid the mistake, you may have more time.
Continuous Treatment – The two-year limit might start after your treatment ends.Â
An experienced Virginia hospital negligence lawyer can determine if these exceptions apply to your case. Don’t wait—contact us today to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Yes. As of July 2025, Virginia caps total damages in medical malpractice cases at $2.70 million, increasing each year until it reaches $3 million in 2031. Punitive damages are separately capped at $350,000.
Yes, you can sue a hospital for a doctor’s mistake in some situations. If the doctor works for the hospital and the mistake happened while doing their job, the hospital can be held responsible. This is called vicarious liability. Even if the doctor isn’t a full-time employee, the hospital could still be at fault if it didn’t check the doctor’s background, failed to supervise them properly, or if the problem was caused by poor hospital policies or systems.
If you suspect that you or a loved one has been a victim of hospital negligence, it’s important to act quickly. Start by documenting everything related to the treatment, including dates, times, names of medical staff, and the details of what occurred. Obtain copies of your medical records and consult with an experienced medical negligence attorney as soon as possible. They can help you determine if you have a case and guide you on the next steps.
Our medical negligence attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay any upfront fees.
If you or someone you love was harmed by hospital negligence in Virginia, don’t wait to take action. The lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC are ready to help.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations to review your case, explain your rights, and guide you through the legal process. Let our team handle the legal fight while you focus on healing.
Patrick M. Regan, Esq., is the President and Senior Partner at Regan Zambri Long PLLC in Washington, DC. A nationally recognized trial attorney with decades of experience, he has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients in personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. Known for his commitment to justice and excellence in advocacy, Patrick has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell for his outstanding legal achievements.
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.