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When sepsis is missed or treatment is delayed, the consequences can be devastating. We help New Mexico families understand what went wrong.
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Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection that can worsen quickly. In hospitals, emergency rooms, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings, recognizing the warning signs and responding appropriately can be critical. When providers fail to identify a serious infection, respond to a patient's deteriorating condition, or provide timely treatment, a preventable delay may result in septic shock, organ damage, permanent disability, or death.
Dominguez Law Firm helps New Mexico patients and families understand what happened and whether medical negligence may have played a role. Sepsis cases are complex — they require a careful review of medical records, clinical timelines, and the applicable standard of care. Our team works with qualified medical experts to evaluate whether a provider's failure to recognize or treat sepsis fell below what a competent professional would have done under similar circumstances.
"When a serious infection is missed or treatment is delayed, families are left with devastating consequences and unanswered questions. We are here to help New Mexico families find answers and pursue accountability."Discuss Your Sepsis Case
Sepsis can originate from many types of infections. When healthcare providers fail to recognize, monitor, or treat these infections appropriately, a patient's condition can deteriorate rapidly. Dominguez Law Firm evaluates cases involving a wide range of infection sources across New Mexico.
Pneumonia and other lung infections are a common source of sepsis. When a pulmonary infection is not promptly identified and treated, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and trigger a systemic inflammatory response that becomes life-threatening.
Discuss Your CaseUTIs that spread — particularly in vulnerable or older patients — can progress to kidney infections and sepsis. Elderly and immunocompromised patients are at heightened risk when UTIs are overlooked or inadequately treated.
Discuss Your CaseInfections involving the appendix, gallbladder, bowel, or other abdominal organs can spread rapidly if not diagnosed and treated in time. Delayed surgical intervention or missed imaging findings may contribute to a patient developing sepsis.
Discuss Your CaseSerious wound or surgical-site infections can spread to surrounding tissue and enter the bloodstream. Failure to monitor post-operative wounds or recognize signs of infection can allow a localized problem to become a systemic emergency.
Discuss Your CasePressure injuries can become infected when they are not appropriately prevented, monitored, or treated. A serious wound infection can spread and contribute to sepsis, particularly in elderly, immobile, or medically vulnerable patients. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have a duty to prevent and respond to these injuries.
Discuss Your CaseInfections that develop following surgery — whether from contamination, inadequate sterile technique, or failure to monitor recovery — can escalate to sepsis if not caught early. Surgical teams and post-operative care providers share responsibility for infection prevention and detection.
Discuss Your CaseTake Action Today — Sepsis Cases Have Strict Deadlines
Get Your Free Case ReviewA fifth-generation New Mexican, trial attorney, and dedicated advocate for patients and families harmed by medical negligence — including sepsis misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
Managing Partner
J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in a small town in New Mexico, Paul Dominguez has deep roots in the Southwest. As a fifth-generation New Mexican, he is deeply rooted in the values of family, community, and justice. His upbringing shaped his work ethic, sense of community, and his drive to help others — values that define his legal practice today.
As a trial lawyer, Paul thrives on the challenges of the courtroom. Known for securing substantial monetary results for his clients, he has achieved significant outcomes in catastrophic auto and trucking accidents, wrongful death cases, medical malpractice, bad faith insurance claims, class actions, and mass tort litigation against Big Pharma and other institutional wrongdoers.
What sets Paul apart is his commitment to working on contingency cases, where the interests of attorney and client are fully aligned. “The more money I can make for my clients, the more successful I am,” he says. He takes pride in holding healthcare institutions accountable and making communities safer — whether in the courtroom or advocating for victims of sepsis misdiagnosis and failure to treat.
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“A difficult situation was made bearable by Paul Dominguez and his staff. They believed in me and I trusted they knew what was best. I was kept informed every step of the way.”
— Linda Gignac
“He helped when I needed help most. The staff at Dominguez Law are of the most professional I have ever known.”
— Luis Garcia
When a patient develops sepsis and a healthcare provider fails to recognize or respond appropriately, multiple parties may share responsibility for the resulting harm. Identifying all potentially liable parties is a critical part of building a strong sepsis malpractice claim.
ER doctors who fail to recognize sepsis warning signs, order appropriate testing, or initiate timely treatment may be liable for preventable deterioration.
Physicians responsible for inpatient care who overlook signs of infection or fail to escalate treatment when a patient's condition worsens may bear responsibility.
Nurses who fail to monitor vital signs, recognize clinical deterioration, or communicate significant changes to the treating physician may contribute to a delayed sepsis diagnosis.
Hospitals can be held liable for systemic failures, inadequate sepsis protocols, understaffing, or the negligent acts of their employed providers.
Facilities that fail to prevent infected pressure injuries, recognize UTIs or pneumonia, or respond to a resident's rapidly changing condition may be responsible for sepsis-related harm.
Specialists who are consulted but fail to provide appropriate guidance or timely recommendations for sepsis management may share in liability.
Failures to process, report, or communicate critical lab results — including blood cultures and inflammatory markers — can delay a sepsis diagnosis and worsen outcomes.
Surgeons who fail to identify or adequately treat the source of infection — or who discharge a patient prematurely following a procedure — may contribute to sepsis development.
Sepsis malpractice can take many forms. The following are examples of provider failures that may give rise to a medical negligence claim in New Mexico.
To establish a sepsis medical malpractice claim, a patient or family must demonstrate that: (1) the provider owed a duty of care; (2) the provider breached that duty by failing to meet the applicable standard of care; (3) the breach directly caused harm; and (4) the patient suffered damages as a result.
Not every case of sepsis involves negligence — sepsis can develop even with appropriate care. The question is whether the provider's conduct fell below what a competent professional would have done under similar circumstances, and whether that failure caused or worsened the patient's outcome.
Sepsis cases require careful review of medical records, clinical timelines, and expert analysis. New Mexico law also imposes strict filing deadlines. Do not wait to seek legal guidance.
Talk to a New Mexico Sepsis AttorneyNew Mexico law imposes strict time limits on medical malpractice claims, including those involving sepsis misdiagnosis or failure to treat. Missing a filing deadline can permanently forfeit your right to seek compensation — no matter how strong your case. Contact a New Mexico sepsis attorney as soon as possible after an injury.
Sepsis malpractice claims in New Mexico are subject to statutes of limitations that can vary depending on the facts of your case, the type of provider involved, and whether a government entity played a role. Special notice requirements may also apply — including shorter deadlines under the New Mexico Tort Claims Act when a public hospital or government-employed provider is involved.
In addition to filing deadlines, early action matters because medical records, nursing notes, and other critical evidence must be preserved and reviewed promptly. The sooner an attorney can evaluate your case, the better positioned you will be to pursue a claim.
The rules are complex, and exceptions are narrow. An attorney can evaluate the specific deadlines that apply to your situation before time runs out.
The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Deadlines vary by case. Consult a qualified attorney to understand the specific time limits that apply to your situation.
Sepsis malpractice cases demand a legal team with the medical knowledge, resources, and trial experience to take on hospitals and healthcare institutions. Here is what sets Dominguez Law Firm apart.
We work with qualified medical experts to evaluate sepsis timelines, clinical standards, and provider failures — building the strongest possible foundation for your case.
We prepare every sepsis case as if it will be decided by a jury. Healthcare insurers know we are willing to go to trial when they refuse fair compensation.
We prioritize transparency and responsiveness at every stage — so you always know where your case stands and what comes next during a difficult time.
Clients work directly with a dedicated team. You receive one-on-one interaction with your attorney and direct access to lead counsel throughout your case.
Attorney Paul Dominguez and our bilingual team serve clients in both English and Spanish across all of New Mexico — from Albuquerque to rural communities statewide.
We handle all sepsis and medical malpractice cases on contingency. There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
If you or a family member may have been harmed by a failure to diagnose or treat sepsis, you likely have questions. Here are answers to the questions our clients ask most.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to an infection becomes dysregulated and begins to damage its own tissues and organs. It can develop from virtually any type of infection — including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, abdominal infections, skin infections, and infected wounds.
Sepsis is a medical emergency because it can progress rapidly. Without prompt recognition and treatment, sepsis can advance to septic shock — a state of dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure — which carries a high risk of death. Early identification and treatment are critical to improving outcomes.
Healthcare providers are trained to recognize clinical indicators of sepsis. Common warning signs include:
When a patient presents with these findings — particularly in the context of a known or suspected infection — providers are expected to consider sepsis and respond appropriately. Failure to do so may constitute a departure from the standard of care.
It can be, but not every case of sepsis involves negligence. Sepsis can develop and progress even when providers act appropriately. The legal question is whether the provider's conduct fell below the standard of care that a competent professional would have met under similar circumstances — and whether that failure caused or worsened the patient's harm.
Examples of conduct that may constitute sepsis-related malpractice include failing to recognize warning signs, delaying testing or treatment, failing to escalate care, or discharging a patient prematurely despite signs of serious infection. A thorough review of the medical records and clinical timeline — often with the assistance of a medical expert — is necessary to evaluate whether negligence occurred.
Liability in a sepsis malpractice case can extend to multiple parties, depending on the circumstances. Potentially responsible parties may include:
Identifying all potentially liable parties is an important part of building a comprehensive sepsis malpractice claim.
The damages recoverable in a sepsis malpractice case depend on the specific facts and the harm caused. Potential categories of damages may include:
Dominguez Law Firm does not make promises about outcomes or compensation amounts.