Your Questions Answered
Can I Claim Compensation?
You are entitled to claim compensation if you can show that the treatment given to you by a hospital or GP was negligent, and that this caused loss and damage to you. To succeed in a claim, we must produce expert evidence about the standard of treatment that you received. We obtain your medical records and instruct specialist doctors to comment on the treatment and how it has affected you. We choose the experts very carefully, to make sure that they are the best people for your case.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
Probably not. Most clinical negligence cases are settled out of Court, although often the Defendants do not agree to a fair settlement until we have started Court proceedings and they have seen our expert evidence.
Can I Wait Before Claiming?
Most claims have to be brought within 3 years of the negligent treatment. However, you may not realise straight away that you have been injured or that the injury was caused by negligent treatment. In this situation, the 3 year limit may start on the day that you found this out. It is best to contact us as soon as possible so that we can advise you on the time limit for your case.
What Can I Claim For?
You are entitled to:-
- Damages for pain, suffering and disability caused by the negligent treatment.
- Compensation for expenses and other losses incurred as a result of the negligent treatment.
- Compensation for loss of earnings.
- In cases where a relative has died, funeral costs, bereavement damages and compensation for loss of dependency.
- Compensation for future losses and expenses where there are ongoing needs.
How Much Will I Receive?
This depends on the effect that the negligent treatment has had on you. We will choose an appropriate medical expert to comment on this, and will then be able to advise you on the amount that you are likely to receive. In some cases, we will also use the expertise of other professionals, for example accountants or rehabilitation experts, when calculating your financial losses.
How Long Will it Take?
This depends on the medical situation and the attitude of the Defendants. Most claims take at least 12 months if the job is done properly.
How Can I Fund a Case?
We were one of the first firms to be granted a Community Legal Service franchise for clinical negligence work. This means that, if you are eligible, we can apply for public funding (“legal aid”) for you to bring a claim. We have also been at the forefront of the development of conditional fees (“no win, no fee” arrangements) and also act for private paying clients and those with legal expense insurance.
We are happy to give a free initial interview to discuss the case.
