Medical Negligence Solicitors in London

When you receive medical care that falls below the acceptable standard of care, the outcome can be devastating. At this time, it is best to seek legal advice and support from a specialist medical negligence solicitor in your local area. At Medical Negligence Direct, our team of medical negligence solicitors in London can give you practical and invaluable support and guidance to help you get answers as regards what went wrong, and secure the maximum compensation you deserve.

Sadly, due to the nature of some injuries, it is not always possible to for life to be restored to how it was prior to the injury, but our medical negligence solicitors in London will use their experience to help you live life to the best possible level. No matter how complex your case may be, our solicitors can help you if you have been a victim of medical negligence. We have successfully claimed medical negligence compensation from various medical institutions in London, and will be happy to help you.

What is Medical Negligence?

In the broadest form, medical negligence is a term that describes a situation where a medical professional or health institute breaches the legal duty of care they owe a patient. Different types of medical negligence include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical errors, and incorrect treatment. Whatever the nature of the claim, for your treatment to be classed as medical negligence, you need to prove that your healthcare professional failed to fulfill their duty of care towards you, resulting in an illness or injury.

How Do I Know I Have a Claim?

Usually, you will have a medical negligence claim if the care you received has resulted in an injury, or any condition you already have was worsened by that care.

The two components you must prove are:

• Fault

Your health professional failed to provide reasonably expected level of care to you, causing you an injury or illness, or worsening your existing condition. At the time, your health was the responsibility of your medical professional, and any consequences are their fault.

• Causation

This shows that your injury or illness was a result of medical negligence, rather than an underlying condition. Essentially, the injury or illness was entirely avoidable had your health professional fulfilled their duty of care.

If you believe you are been a victim of negligent treatment, get in touch with our medical negligence lawyers in London to evaluate and discuss your case, and determine whether there are valid grounds for a claim. One of our solicitors will ask you a series of questions – either in person or over the phone – in confidence. This initial, no obligation consultation is free.

These questions will help us better understand what impact the negligent treatment has had on your life. This, and any supporting evidence, will strengthen your case, and your chances of making medical negligence claims in London.

How Much Compensation Could My Claim Be Worth?

The compensation amount you could be awarded will vary depending on the nature and impact of your injury or illness, and the negligent treatment you suffered. The compensation award can cover the cost of the pain and suffering caused by medical negligence, as well as its impact on the quality of your life. It could cover:

• Medical care
• Rehabilitation
• Specialist equipment
• Travel expenses
• Adaptations to vehicle and accommodation
• Loss of earnings

How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim for Medical Negligence?

Claims for medical negligence are generally subject to a strict three-year time limit (also known as limitation period). If missed, a claimant could lose the chance to make a claim forever. We recommend that you avoid trying to calculate your limitation period without seeking the advice and support of specialist medical negligence solicitors. Calculating the time limit for medical negligence can be very complex, so it is important to seek legal advice as early as possible if you wish to make a claim.

The three-year time limit can slip very quickly, and delay can increase the risk of losing supporting evidence. Therefore, we recommend that you get in touch with a solicitor no later than 12 months after the negligent treatment happened, to avoid delay-related problems and enhance your chance of success.

However, there are a few exceptions to the three-year limitation period. The most common include:

• If a person has passed away as a result of negligent treatment, the time limit will begin from the date of the injured person’s death or the date of knowledge of the person’s representative, whichever is later.
• Where the claimant lacks mental capacity to make their decisions, there is not limitation period for starting court proceedings. The time limit only begins if/when they recover; solicitors must apply caution when determining whether a claimant lacks mental capacity, as evaluating capacity is not exactly straightforward.
• Where the medical negligence victim is a child, a claim can be brought by a ‘litigation friend’ – usually a family member – at any time until the child’s 18th birthday. When the child turns 18, they will have three years (until their 21st birthday) to start a claim.
• The Court can apply its discretion to allow the issuance of court proceedings outside a claimant’s time limit. This happens in exceptional cases, and the court uses specific criteria to make this decision.
  

How Long Will My Claim Take?

Typically, the medical negligence claims process takes anywhere from a few months to a few years. The length of time will depend on a number of factors, such as:

• The nature of your injury
• Time spent gathering evidence
• Time taken for the responsible party to respond
• If the individual or body you are claiming against accepts or denies fault
• Length of court proceedings (the vast majority of cases are resolved before trial)

Some of the Claims Our London-based Solicitors Can Handle

Negligence on the part of a private healthcare professional or a medical expert at the NHS can give rise to a variety of injury types. This is why we work with a panel of experienced solicitors for victims of medical negligence in London. Some of the cases we handle include:

• Claims against a GP

If you have suffered an injury or illness due to negligent treatment by a GP or doctor, our experienced medical negligence experts in London can help you demonstrate that your GP failed to meet the acceptable standard of care. Whether your case is pretty straightforward or very complex, we realize that GP Negligence can have devastating consequences for your health. We will help you fight for justice and get the compensation you deserve.

• Dental Negligence Claims

Has your dentist failed in their duty of care towards you? Has this caused you pain – mental or physical – in some way? If so, you could be eligible to make a claim for medical negligence in London. Dental errors can have painful and traumatic consequences; this is why our medical negligence experts are here to support you if you have been a victim of dental negligence. Our London-based solicitors would be happy to help with your dental negligence compensation claim.

• Hospital Negligence Claims

At Medical Negligence Direct, our medical negligence solicitors in London are experienced when it comes to holding the NHS and private healthcare professionals and organizations accountable for their actions. This means you can count on our knowledge and experience in providing you with the best solicitors for your medical negligence claims in London.

Local Expertise

Based in the heart of the country, Medical Negligence Direct is easily accessible from London. Our local network and expertise make us qualified and ready to offer London residents the best possible advice and support when it comes to medical negligence.

With a strong and proven track record of helping claimants in London secure compensation, we are your best bet. We have dealt with cases involving NHS organizations, GPS, dentists and private healthcare providers, and will be happy to discuss how we can help you make a claim.

How Our Solicitors Can Help

We will review your case and let you know whether we think you have valid grounds for a medical negligence claim. If we do, we will help you make your claim on a No Win No Fee basis, which means you do not incur any financial risks while making the claim. Our specialist medical negligence solicitors in London will advice you on the best course of action as regards your case.