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Malpractice Center

Best Surgical Error Lawyers in Denver, CO (2026)

To rank Denver surgical error lawyers, this evidence-based 2026 list considers their practice focus and published results, with client reviews and professional recognition also weighed.

Sources checked

5 lawyers and firms

Skyline of Denver, Colorado
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

At the top is Denver Trial Lawyers. Among its published malpractice results is a case involving unnecessary sinus surgeries. Before calling, find out who would take your surgical claim. Along with Colorado's filing rules, ask about case costs and how you'll stay in touch.

At a glance

  1. 1Denver Trial LawyersFree consultation4.9 out of 5
  2. 2Morgan & MorganFree consultation4.6 out of 5
  3. 3Lamber GoodnowFree consultation4.9 out of 5
  4. 4Parker LipmanFree consultation4.7 out of 5
  5. 5Greer Law Group4.9 out of 5

Best Surgical Error Lawyers in Denver

  1. Open spot. Feature your firm in DenverFor lawyers
  2. Denver Trial Lawyers logo1

    Denver Trial Lawyers

    4.983 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 83 reviews

    Best for: Claims involving unnecessary surgery

    Because it involved unnecessary surgery, Denver Trial Lawyers' case fits this list's focus directly. According to the firm, Dan Sloane helped a woman after repeated sinus surgeries damaged her vestibular system, and the published result was $2 million. Another reported result is a $22.3 million malpractice settlement that David Woodruff obtained in 2016.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the results it publishes and the recognition it has earned.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  3. 2

    Morgan & Morgan

    4.6153 Google reviewsRated 4.6 out of 5 on Google from 153 reviews

    Best for: Delayed C-section injury claims

    Morgan & Morgan's published birth injury result involved a delayed C-section: a Hillsborough County jury awarded $37.8 million in 2007 after the delay left a baby with severe brain injury. That result supports its malpractice track record, though it isn't a Denver surgical-error result. The firm lists surgical errors among its case areas and has an office in the Denver area.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for what its clients say and how much of its work is medical malpractice.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  4. Lamber Goodnow logo3

    Lamber Goodnow

    4.991 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 91 reviews

    Best for: Families wanting clear explanations

    When reviewers discuss Lamber Goodnow's staff, they repeatedly mention explanations of the process and time spent answering questions. If you're trying to understand what happened in the operating room, that can help. Among the matters the firm lists are surgical errors and other medical negligence.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and what its clients say.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  5. Not sure who to call first?

    Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Denver can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.

  6. Parker Lipman logo4

    Parker Lipman

    4.759 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 59 reviews

    Best for: Surgical and hospital negligence claims

    Parker Lipman's recognition in Best Lawyers in America for Medical Malpractice, Plaintiffs gives it a credential tied to malpractice. Founding partners Lorraine Parker and Dan Lipman are on its named team. The Denver firm's site lists surgical errors and hospital negligence.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and what its clients say.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

  7. Greer Law Group logo5

    Greer Law Group

    4.942 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 42 reviews

    Best for: Patients with spine or brain injuries

    Alongside medical malpractice, Greer Law Group lists cases involving traumatic brain injuries and spine injuries. If your surgical injury overlaps those areas, they're worth discussing. With Marlo J. Greer named as its Denver trial lawyer, the firm's site also lists surgical-error claims.

    CallWebsiteFree case reviewIs this your firm?
    How they were picked

    Stood out in our review for what its clients say and how much of its work is medical malpractice.

    We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made

Where they are in Denver

A few minutes that might help

Questions about your own case?
How a malpractice claim usually moves in Colorado

  1. 1.Something went wrong

    Write down dates and names while they're fresh.

  2. 2.Get your records

    Ask for your full chart and test results.

  3. 3.Free case review

    A lawyer looks at what happened, free.

  4. 4.Medical opinion

    A doctor checks whether the care fell short.

  5. 5.File before the deadline

    Your lawyer starts the claim before the deadline.

  6. 6.Settlement or trial

    Many claims settle. Some go to a judge or jury.

Your deadline: 2 years from when you found outRead the Colorado law guide

Each step in more detail

  1. Discuss the injury and dates

    When you first talk, the lawyer asks what happened and when you learned of the injury and its cause. Alongside Colorado's general 2-year filing deadline is a separate 3-year outer limit, though exceptions can apply to these deadlines.

  2. Review the medical record

    To assess your claim, the lawyer uses your operative report and follow-up records. Before medical review, ask who pays for the opinion and how an expert in the relevant field will examine your care.

  3. File and serve the complaint

    Once the lawyer accepts your case and proceeds, the claim goes into a complaint that's served on the defendants. Before the applicable deadline expires, that complaint must be filed. If the claim involves a child, check Colorado's rules separately.

  4. File the certificate of review

    Within 60 days after serving the complaint, the plaintiff's attorney must file a certificate of review. Through it, the attorney confirms that an expert reviewed the facts and found the claim does not lack substantial justification.

  5. Develop the case and discuss resolution

    If the parties disagree, it may be over the injury's cause or the losses claimed. Before proceeding, ask about settlement discussions or a possible trial. Which Colorado damage caps apply depends on the date of the act or omission.

Malpractice claims in Denver: the rules that matter

The filing deadline in Colorado
  1. The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
  2. Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
  3. At the very most3 yearsafter the treatment, with a few exceptions
Limits on damages in Colorado
  • Pain and sufferingCapped at $530,000
  • All damages togetherCapped at $1,000,000
  • Expert paperworkThe plaintiff's attorney must file a certificate of review within 60 days after serving the complaint, confirming an expert in the field has reviewed the facts and found the claim does not lack substantial justification.

Read the Colorado law guideWork out your own deadline

Local hospitals

Star ratings from CMS Care Compare. Look up a hospital

Filing deadline for most malpractice claims in Colorado
2 years
Source
Outer limit (statute of repose)
3 years
Source
Hospitals near Denver with a CMS star rating
5
Source

What a malpractice lawyer costs in Denver

  1. The first callOften free. Ask before you book.
  2. A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
  3. If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
  4. If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
According to Morgan & Morgan, Lamber Goodnow and Kidneigh & Kaufman, P.C., their work is on contingency. If the claim fails, there's no attorney fee; otherwise, the lawyer takes a share of any recovery. Expenses aren't included. Beyond records and medical opinions, case costs include court fees, but the firms' listed information doesn't tell you who puts up that money or who ultimately has to pay it. Before you sign, find out the lawyer's share and when expenses will be deducted. Without a recovery, could you still owe costs? Ask for written terms.

According to six of the seven listed firms, the consultation is free. Contingency work is stated by three.

What to bring to your first call

  • When your surgery took place and when you first learned of the injury
  • If you have them, your operative report and the hospital's discharge paperwork
  • Names of your surgeon and hospital, along with those of your follow-up providers
  • Your symptoms and later treatment, written as a short timeline
  • Bills for your medical care, plus records of other injury-related expenses
  • Letters or messages you've received from the hospital or insurer
  • If available, photographs that show your visible injuries
  • If a child is involved, the date your child was born

Questions to ask a lawyer

  1. 1With this operation and kind of injury, what claims have you handled before?
  2. 2When I call, who answers, and who's handling my file?
  3. 3For the medical review my claim needs, what would you arrange?
  4. 4Given my case's dates, which filing deadline do I need to meet?
  5. 5If I recover money, what share would go toward your fee?
  6. 6Who puts up money for case costs? If the claim fails, could I still owe them?
  7. 7When should I expect to hear how my case is going?
  8. 8If the hospital is public rather than private, do different rules apply to my claim?

Choosing a surgical error lawyer in Denver

Rather than the firm's biggest verdict, start with your operation. If the case involves a delayed C-section, the medical questions differ from unnecessary sinus surgery. When you talk, describe your surgery and the injury that followed it. After explaining when you first learned of a possible connection, ask what experience the lawyer has with that procedure.

To find relevant experience, look at published results. While Denver Trial Lawyers reports a result involving unnecessary sinus surgery, Morgan & Morgan's reported delayed C-section verdict came from outside Colorado. Your result isn't predictable from either. When a firm lists no malpractice results, ask about comparable work it can describe without disclosing another patient's private information.

  • Before proceeding, ask who'll read your operative report and be your regular contact. Don't assume every attorney the firm names will work on your file.
  • Before signing, talk about communication. Because some Morgan & Morgan and Greer Law Group reviews describe delays, ask what happens when you send a message or have an urgent concern.
  • Where will you meet? Although these firms have Denver or Denver-area offices, your lawyer might work somewhere other than the location you've found. Check.
  • Before agreeing, get written fee terms. Although a free consultation covers the first discussion, it promises neither representation nor that you won't have to pay case expenses.

Before proceeding, the claim needs medical review. Within 60 days after serving the complaint, Colorado requires the plaintiff's attorney to file a certificate of review. By filing it, the attorney confirms that an expert in the field reviewed the facts and found substantial justification for the claim. Before that review, ask who arranges it and how its cost will be handled.

If someone promises you'll recover money or dismisses your expense questions, be wary of them. Under a contingency agreement, the lawyer's fee comes out of a recovery. Because case costs are separate, ask whether you might owe for medical opinions even if your claim fails. If a child or public health care entity is involved, the deadlines or claim need individual review under Colorado's rules. Treat this as general information, not legal advice.

Questions people ask

What should I do first if I suspect a surgical error in Denver?
Start by writing down when you had surgery and what injury followed, including when you learned what might have caused it. If you already have an operative report or discharge paperwork, gather it. To check the filing deadline, ask a Colorado lawyer. Before asking for an initial review, you don't have to determine whether the care you received supports a malpractice claim.
How long do I have to file a surgical malpractice claim in Colorado?
Once you knew or should have known of the injury and its cause, you generally have 2 years under Colorado's filing statute. Unless an exception applies, there's also a separate 3-year outer limit running from the act or omission. To find out which rule controls, have a Colorado lawyer review your dates with you.
What medical review does Colorado require?
Within 60 days after serving the complaint, the plaintiff's attorney has to file a certificate of review. Through that certificate, the attorney confirms that an expert in the field reviewed the facts and found the claim does not lack substantial justification. Before proceeding, ask how the lawyer would arrange review. Also ask who would pay for that work.
Can I speak to a Denver malpractice lawyer for free?
Six firms on this list say they offer a free consultation. Greer Law Group's consultation terms aren't stated. A free first conversation doesn't mean a firm will take your case or waive later expenses. Ask what that conversation covers and whether the lawyer needs to see records before deciding to represent you.
Will I owe anything if my claim fails?
If there's no recovery, a contingency agreement means you don't owe an attorney fee. According to Morgan & Morgan, Lamber Goodnow and Kidneigh & Kaufman, P.C., that arrangement is available. Expenses aren't included. Because their listed information doesn't say who pays case costs when a claim fails, get that explanation in writing before signing an agreement.
How long will a surgical error case take?
There's no fixed case duration in Colorado's rules described here. Reviews of Parker Lipman and Greer Law Group include accounts of lengthy matters, but those accounts don't predict your timeline. Ask the lawyer what medical review is needed, what could delay the case and how you'll receive updates while it moves forward.
Are the filing rules different if my child was injured?
Yes. If a child was under 6 when the act happened, they can sue any time before the eighth birthday. For other minors, Colorado's general disability statute applies, and the normal deadline runs against the child if a parent or legal representative is in place. Even during childhood, the clock doesn't necessarily stop running. To check your child's dates, speak with a Colorado lawyer.
What if my loved one died after surgery?
Among the case areas several firms on this list describe is wrongful death. When you contact a Colorado lawyer, provide the surgery and death dates and any hospital records you have. Before proceeding, ask which deadline applies and who can bring the claim. To understand a family's right to pursue a death-related claim, you'll need more than the general malpractice filing rules alone.
Does Colorado limit medical malpractice damages?
Yes. Under HB24-1472, Colorado's medical malpractice caps increased on a schedule based on when the act or omission took place. If public employees or public health care entities are involved, the Governmental Immunity Act applies instead. To learn which rules cover the provider involved, ask a Colorado lawyer. When considering your possible recovery, don't measure it against a firm's past verdict.

Sources

  1. Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-80-102.5, Public.Law (official text from the Colorado General Assembly)
  2. HB24-1472, enrolled act (Session Laws 2024, ch. 325), Colorado General Assembly
  3. Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-81-103, Public.Law
  4. Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-20-602, Public.Law
  5. State Enactments of Selected Medical Liability Reforms (as of 8/27/2026), Medical Professional Liability Association
  6. Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States (updated 6/10/2026), Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.
  7. Hospital General Information, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  8. Malpractice Center methodology, Malpractice Center

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