Your Guide To Making a
Clinical Negligence Claim
The law states that a healthcare professional is negligent if the care they have provided has fallen short of what you are reasonably entitled to expect. The standards by which actions are judged relate to the ordinary skill of a competent professional in that particular field. Even if a doctor made an error of judgement it is necessary to show that no reasonable and competent member of the profession would have made that same error. It then has to be shown that the negligence by the healthcare professional caused a temporary or permanent injury to you.
If you feel this applies to you then you may have clinical negligence clam. The law is this area is very complex and it is important you speak to a solicitor specialising in these claims as soon as possible as time limits may apply.
Who do I choose to help me with a clinical negligence claim?
If you think you have been a victim of clinical negligence you should contact a specialist clinical negligence solicitor. To ensure you speak to a solicitor with the necessary expertise you should ask whether they are members of AVMA (Action for Victims of Medical Accidents). You need to consider how the claim will be funded. Ask if the solicitor will give you a free initial appointment and whether they have a legal services franchise for clinical negligence work. At 1stClaims we ensure all of our solicitors have years of experience in this specialist area, are members of AVMA.
"My reason for contacting you was to help me find a solicitor to deal with a medical negligence claim. My previous solicitor no longer does this kind of work.
I can thoroughly recommend the services that 1stClaims offer for anybody who is seeking advice regarding medical negligence. The lady who took my details was very efficient and polite. Within hours I was phoned by a solicitor who you had recommended, and matters are now proceeding in a satisfactory way.
Before contacting you, I was apprehensive that I was not going to find anybody who would be able to help me in this specialised field.
The benefits of your service are the fast response, follow up and a good understanding of what is required.
I have complete confidence in recommending your excellent service.
I am actually a retired doctor and can understand whether the people with whom I am dealing have a clear knowledge of what is required. Before I rang 1st Claims, i contacted a marketing agency and was told:-
- that as my claim was so old, it was time barred
- they were unable to help as I had already been to another solicitor.
Both the reasons that I was given are completely wrong."
Kindest regards,
Dr E A Hopkins, LRCP MRCS
What Information will my 1stClaims solicitor need?
In readiness for speaking to your solicitor you should consider and obtain the following details:
- the personal details of the person who has received the negligent treatment
- the names of the doctors/ specialists who have provided treatment
- the addresses of all doctors surgery's and hospitals where treatment has been provided
- the dates the treatment was provided
What will the solicitor tell me at the meeting?
After discussing the case with you, your solicitors should be able to:
- advise you how your claim will proceed
- discuss appropriate funding methods with you
- explain the potential compensation you could expect to recover
- advise you on the potential difficulties and strengths with your case
- give you a timescale with regards to how long things could take
How will my clinical negligence claim proceed?
The first step for the solicitor will be to obtain the medical records detailing all the treatment that has been provided to you. Your solicitor will then instruct a medical expert to look at your case. They will look through your medical records and may also meet and examine you. The expert will then produce a formal report setting out their view on the treatment you have received and whether there has been any negligence.
"After sacking our first solicitor who was hopeless 1stClaims' solicitor was a breath of fresh air. Extremely knowledgable and kept us informed regularly. I would have no hesitation in receommending them in similar circumstances. Excellent!"
Mrs B, Middlesex
What compensation will I receive?
If your clinical negligence claim is successful you will receive compensation. By the use of a specialist solicitor your claim for compensation will be maximised. Compensation can be claimed for not only the pain and suffering caused by the injuries but also the impact of these on your life including:
- loss of earnings for the past and future
- assistance required with household tasks, DIY and gardening
- medical care and assistance
- the cost of any necessary changes or special equipment for your house or car
- the cost of extra transport requirements because of your disability
Should I take legal action?
If you are even considering bringing a claim for clinical negligence it is likely you will have already been through a very traumatic and stressful experience. You therefore need to be assured that your claim will be dealt with by an experienced, sympathetic and efficient solicitor.
Why should I choose 1stClaims to help me?
At 1stClaims we understand the legal issues but more importantly we understand the human issues. We will try and make the whole process as painless as possible for you by the use of experienced, specialist clinical negligence solicitors. Our expertise can save you time and stress.
Act now to protect your rights
If you would like 1stClaims' expert Medical Negligence Solicitors on your side please call us free on 0800 2888 693 or complete our Free Claim Enquiry form now and we will be in touch with you very soon.
"What I most liked about your service is that it was easy to use. I was nervous about contacting you at first but that changed as soon as I had spoken to your staff who were very friendly. I would certainly recommend your service to other people thinking of making a medical negligence claim." Mr S, Berkshire
Remember, all initial enquiries are completely free of charge and we will investigate all funding options for you.
We are here to help you from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday,
8.30am to 6pm on Saturday and 9am to 6pm on Sundays.
Claim Now
Start your FREE claim for compensation by using our online claim form.
Remember we charge no fees and all initial enquiries are completely free of charge.
Which 7 Questions Must You Ask Before Choosing Your Medical Negligence Solicitor?
To receive our free guide advising you of all the questions you must ask before choosing your Medical Negligence solicitor please click the link below:
7 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS GUIDE - DOWNLOAD HERE
Why Choose Us for Your Medical Claim?
- Expert medical negligence solicitors selected for you by our own solicitor with over 18 years claims experience
- Legal Aid Available
- Free initial advice always
- Private treatment available
- Our service is completely free for you
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What Our Clients Say
“I am very happy to endorse your website for it's ease of understanding and use. I would also like to say how impressed I was regarding the very prompt reply from the solicitor who contacted me regarding this matter.” - Mr G Kay
