Compensation claims for medical or clinical negligence

When we talk to you, we’ll put together a full account of the treatment you’ve received, as well as any relevant information from your medical past.

Any extra evidence you have in the form of official documents, notes and letters will also be useful.

If you’ve been expressly told by a doctor or healthcare professional that you’ve received negligent treatment, this is always very helpful – so do let us know if so. If not, however, don’t see it as a problem.

Once we’ve assessed the evidence, we’ll determine how strong a case you have. We’ll always be open and honest, and if we feel confident that we can help you receive compensation, we’ll move onto the next step: funding your case.

Yes, by far the majority of our clients are awarded compensation on a no-win, no-fee basis, or occasionally through legal aid. We’re always happy to explain the process in more detail if there’s anything you’re unsure about.

The key thing to understand is that you’ll have no costs to pay if your case is unsuccessful.

The next step is usually that we’ll request access to your medical records, to further strengthen your case and to check no other mistakes have been made.

After weighing up these records, we’ll combine them with all other evidence that might prove helpful to your case. This might include a medical examination by an independent expert, and any relevant witness statements.

You can rest assured that we’ll keep you informed and included at every step of the process.

This varies according to each particular case. If the other party admits liability for the negligent treatment – which sometimes happens early on – the whole process can be wrapped up in a few months. In more complicated cases, things can sometimes take longer.

We take all relevant factors into account when working on your claim for compensation, including the impact on your day-to-day life or professional prospects, and any related costs you might have incurred.

Once the other party has admitted liability, we can often arrange an interim compensation payment to be made, before a final settlement is reached. This can be vital in helping you fund your rehabilitation safely and securely.

The law states that in most cases, you need to begin a negligence claim within three years. This time period starts from the date at which you became aware of the negligence, or first suspected it, rather than when the treatment was provided.

We would always recommend that you contact us as early as possible, to allow us to begin work on your claim while information is still fresh. In certain cases, however, the effects of negligent treatment can take months, or even years, to become fully apparent.

There are two exceptions to the three-year limitation period. You can make a negligence claim on behalf of a child at any time before they turn 18. Similarly, if someone lacks the mental capacity to make a claim themselves, no time limit applies.

Yes, it is. If you can prove that you’ve received negligent treatment from a mental health professional, you may have a case for a claim. This might relate to anything from being prescribed the wrong medication to being discharged too early from your treatment, causing you harm.

Again, we can advise you in gathering as much evidence as possible to back up your case.

On a separate note, in some cases it can also be possible to make a claim for medical or clinical negligence relating to the psychological damage from the effects of medical malpractice.