Denver Stroke Lawyer
Injured Patients Across the Nation Can Come to Us for Help
If you have suffered serious injuries from a stroke because of your doctor’s negligence, or your doctor failed to properly diagnose and treat a stroke, you deserve answers. Strokes are likely to cause brain damage that may result in a loss of some skills and functions. While recovery may be possible for some patients, others will live with the effects for the rest of their lives.
Physicians owe it to their patients to provide effective and safe medical treatment. When they fail to do so, we can help you find answers and hold them accountable. Our goal is to help our clients maximize their compensation and receive the care and treatment they need. Since our firm was founded in 1994, we have recovered over a billion dollars for clients to help them through their times of need. If you want to know what we can do for you, come speak with our team today.
We offer completely free consultations to injured patients in Colorado and nationwide. Call our medical malpractice lawyers at (303) 647-9990 to schedule yours.
What You Need to Know About Strokes
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strokes are responsible for about 140,000 deaths each year in the United States, and thousands more patients suffer long-term damage. Strokes occur when the blood supply to parts of the brain is cut off. Ischemic strokes are caused by blood clots, while hemorrhagic strokes happen when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and blood leaks into the brain.
Symptoms of a stroke can be temporary or permanent. Patients may suffer headaches, sensory impairment, difficulty speaking or walking, dizziness, and memory loss. Because a stroke cuts off the blood supply to the brain, the brain cells will begin to die within minutes. This can cause permanent brain damage that requires extensive medical care.
Filing a Malpractice Case for a Stroke
Typically, mistakes during a medical process will not cause a stroke. While this is possible, most cases of negligence are due to a missed diagnosis and/or mistreatment. Diagnosis errors are more frequent in the emergency department, where most stroke patients will go. Especially when a stroke patient is younger than typical, a doctor may fail to recognize the symptoms or take them seriously.
Strokes can be deadly—but they also can be treated. Certain medications, if given within 3 hours of a stroke, can help break up blood clots and restore blood flow to the brain. Other patients will need medical procedures, including surgery. These interventions will improve a patient’s prognosis—if they are taken within an appropriate time. A misdiagnosis of a stroke may be the thing that leads to a delay in treatment, or a hospital or facility simply may not have the resources to take the appropriate measures. If this is the case, it is their responsibility to transfer patients out to a facility that can care for them. In some cases, if your doctor overlooked warning signs of an impending stroke, you may be able to file a claim.
When we review a potential stroke malpractice claim, we look closely at the timeline of events from the first onset of symptoms through diagnosis and treatment. Medical records, imaging studies, and nursing notes often show exactly when concerning signs appeared and how quickly the care team responded. By comparing what happened to the standards that reasonably careful providers in Denver and throughout Colorado are expected to follow, we can identify where critical opportunities for diagnosis or treatment were missed.
Common Forms Of Stroke-Related Medical Negligence
Many families come to us after sensing that something about their loved one’s stroke care did not seem right, but they are not sure what specifically went wrong. Stroke-related malpractice can occur at multiple points in care, from the first call to 911 to follow-up with a primary care provider. By breaking down the most common errors, you can better understand whether what happened to you or a family member may support a stroke malpractice claim.
Some situations we frequently see in stroke malpractice cases include a failure to recognize classic stroke symptoms, not using basic screening tools, or delaying brain imaging despite concerning findings. In busy emergency departments in Denver and surrounding communities, patients with speech changes, weakness, or severe headaches may be left waiting while other cases are prioritized. If that delay means a patient falls outside the window for clot-busting medication or mechanical thrombectomy, the impact on recovery can be profound.
Other cases involve problems after a stroke has been identified, such as failing to transfer the patient promptly to a facility with a dedicated stroke team, not monitoring vital signs or neurological status closely enough, or mismanaging blood pressure and blood thinners. In Colorado, larger hospitals along the Front Range often act as referral centers for smaller facilities on the plains or in the mountains. When those transfers are not requested or are handled too slowly, patients may miss out on treatments that could have limited permanent brain damage.
How Our Stroke Malpractice Process Works
Deciding to speak with a lawyer after a stroke can feel intimidating, especially when you are already coping with medical appointments, rehabilitation, and financial worries. Understanding what the process looks like can make it easier to take the first step. We have developed a structured approach to stroke malpractice cases that is designed to uncover what happened and give you clear information about your options.
We start by listening to your story and gathering key documents, including hospital records, imaging, and follow-up notes from your providers. Our integrated team of attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and medical professionals then reviews the timeline of care, focusing on what symptoms were documented, what tests were ordered, and how quickly treatment occurred. When appropriate, we consult with independent physicians in the Denver area and beyond to evaluate whether the care met accepted standards and whether earlier diagnosis or intervention could have changed the outcome.
If the case appears viable, we explain the next steps, which may include notifying the providers involved, complying with Colorado’s pre-suit requirements for medical malpractice actions, and filing a lawsuit in the appropriate district court. Throughout the process, we keep you informed about developments, answer questions in plain language, and prepare as though your case may ultimately be presented to a jury. Our trial-ready approach is supported by litigation technology specialists who help organize complex medical evidence in a way that judges and juries in Denver and across Colorado can understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If My Stroke Was Caused By Malpractice?
It can be difficult to tell on your own whether malpractice played a role in a stroke, because the warning signs are often buried in medical records and subtle timing issues. Red flags can include unusually long waits in the emergency department, symptoms being dismissed as something minor, or a lack of imaging or specialist consultation despite clear neurological changes. A review by a legal and medical team that understands stroke care in Colorado hospitals can help clarify whether the care you received fell below accepted standards.
How Long Do I Have To File A Stroke Malpractice Claim In Colorado?
Colorado law sets time limits, called statutes of limitations, on when you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit, including cases involving strokes. The deadline that applies depends on factors such as when the injury occurred, when it was discovered, and whether any special rules apply to your situation. Because calculating these time limits can be complex and missing them can end your claim, it is important to speak with a lawyer promptly after you suspect stroke malpractice.
What Compensation May Be Available In A Stroke Malpractice Case?
Compensation in a stroke malpractice case is intended to address the losses caused by preventable harm, which can be extensive when a brain injury is involved. Damages may include past and future medical bills, rehabilitation and in-home care, lost income or loss of earning capacity, and the cost of making your home or vehicle accessible. In addition, Colorado law allows recovery for physical pain, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of life that often follows a significant stroke.
Do I Have To Go To Court For A Stroke Malpractice Claim?
Many medical malpractice cases, including those involving strokes, resolve through negotiated settlements rather than a full trial. However, some cases do proceed to court when liability or the amount of damages is disputed. Preparing your case as if it may be tried in a Denver-area district court can strengthen your position in settlement discussions and help protect your rights if a trial becomes necessary.
What Information Should I Bring To An Initial Consultation?
For an initial consultation about a potential stroke malpractice case, it is helpful to bring any documents you already have, such as discharge papers, medication lists, follow-up instructions, and notes about when symptoms started. If you have information about the hospitals or clinics involved, including any facilities in the Denver metro area where you received emergency or follow-up care, that can also assist with an early review. Even if you do not have complete records yet, a conversation can help determine what additional information is needed to assess your claim.
Compassionate Legal Assistance for Stroke Malpractice Victims in Denver
Denver Trial Lawyers cares about helping you receive the maximum compensation if you are injured due to medical malpractice in the United States. We want to hold negligent health providers accountable when they mistreat patients. By filing a malpractice case, you may help others avoid ending up in the same position as you.
With a robust support staff and over 175 years of combined experience, we have the resources necessary to fully investigate your medical malpractice case. Our lawyers thoroughly understand the issues that arise in these claims and—more importantly—know how to present them to judges and juries. Let us know if we can help you if you or a loved one suffered unduly from a stroke.
Call us today at (303) 647-9990 to schedule a free consultation. Denver Trial Lawyers is here to fight for patients like you.
LANDMARK VERDICTS & SETTLEMENTS
Over a Billion Dollars Recovered for Our Clients-
Record Settlement $90 Million
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Birth Injury Involving Misuse of Drug to Induce Labor $70 Million
$70 million arbitration award, the largest known medical malpractice arbitration award in U.S. history. David S Woodruff handled this birth injury case involving an HMO labor/delivery unit that misused Cytotec, a drug used to induce labor.
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Largest Medical Malpractice Settlement in Colorado $22.3 Million
$22.3 million medical malpractice settlement. In 2016 David Woodruff obtained the largest known medical malpractice settlement in Colorado.
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Medical Malpractice Verdict for Victim of Paralysis $15 Million
A jury handed down a $15 million verdict to a man who was paralyzed from the chest down just hours after a doctor at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs discharged him. It’s the largest sum ever awarded in a medical malpractice suit in Colorado.
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Birth Injury Verdict and Settlement $9.2 Million
$9 million birth injury verdict and settlement - Rudnicki v. Bianco. The case changed the law in Colorado, allowing children to recover their own medical expenses and allowing prejudgment interest to exceed the $1 million overall cap on damages.
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Birth Injury Verdict Involving a Misplaced Device $7.2 Million
$7 million medical malpractice jury verdict. David Woodruff handled this birth injury case, which culminated in a 2-week jury trial in Colorado Springs. The case involved a physician who misplaced a “vacuum extraction device” while delivering the infant.
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Largest Verdict in Fort Collins, for a Woman Paralyzed Due to Misdiagnosis $3.9 Million
David Woodruff helped his client receive a $3.9 million verdict, the largest ever in Fort Collins, in a case where a woman was paralyzed on her right side due to a misdiagnosis in the Emergency Room in 2006.
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Case Against Hospital That Failed to Recognize Spinal Injury $3 Million
A Colorado man was awarded $3 million after hospital staff failed to recognize a spinal injury, causing him to become permanently paralyzed.
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Settlement for Baby With Brain Injury $2.4 Million
Dan Sloane secured a settlement for client who sustained a brain injury at birth.
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Unnecessary Sinus Surgeries $2 Million
Dan Sloane helped a young woman whose doctor performed several unnecessary sinus surgeries resulting in damage to her vestibular system
WHY HIRE DENVER TRIAL LAWYERS?
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Over a Billion in Recoveries
We have represented thousands of individuals against insurance companies and corporations, recovering more than a billion dollars in the process.
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A Voice for Change
Attorneys at our firm have been at the helm of cases that have gone on to influence legislation, change laws, and impact society for the better.
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We Won't Settle for Less
We are trial lawyers through and through, and we will take your case as far as it can go. Our attorneys have tried 100+ cases with extraordinary results.
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No Cost Unless We Win
We represent clients on a contingency fee basis. We only get paid if we win your case.
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Serving Our Community
Giving back to our community is extremely important to us. We support a number of charitable programs.
Client Testimonials
REAL STORIES FROM REAL PEOPLE-
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