Medical Negligence Claims Solicitors in Canterbury

In the vast majority of cases, the quality of care and treatment you receive from healthcare professionals will be excellent and help you feel better. Occasionally, however, things can and do go wrong and, when they do, there can be devastating consequences. If the quality of care you received from a medical practitioner in Canterbury fell below the expected standard of care and you have suffered harm as a result, our medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury can help you make a medical negligence claim.

Compensation claims for medical negligence in Canterbury represent more than just a financial award – they can go a long way to help you recover from your injury and move on with your life. At Medical Negligence Direct, our aim is to help you secure the compensation you deserve so you can continue with your life. Our medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury can offer a free, no obligation consultation to discuss details of your case and determine whether you can make a claim.

Making Medical Negligence Claims in Canterbury

Medical negligence is a term that describes when a GP, surgeon, nurse or other health professionals fail in their duty of care towards a patient. The do not only provide substandard medical care, but one that causes you physical and/or psychological harm.

Examples of medical or clinical negligence include:

• Surgical errors
• Misdiagnosis of a condition
• Incorrectly prescribed medication

While all medical negligence claims are unique, they generally have three things in common:

• A healthcare professional who had a duty of care towards the patient;
• A medical professional who failed in their duty of care and caused harm to the patient;
• The harm or resulting injury was avoidable.

If this feels like your case, then contact Medical Negligence Direct today. We work with a panel of specialist medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury who have a strong track record of helping victims of negligent treatment secure compensation, be it against the NHS or a private practice.

Medical Negligence Claims in Canterbury We Handle

Medical Negligence Direct handles all types of medical negligence claims. Our medical negligence lawyers in Canterbury have earned a reputation for providing a high standard of service while ensuring a fair outcome for our clients. Some of the claims for medical negligence in Canterbury we handle include:

•  Hospital Negligence

Medical negligence in a hospital can happen in a variety of forms, from less complex cases of inadequate patient monitoring to serious cases involving misdiagnosis and surgical errors. Our medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury handle all hospital negligence cases with the same high standard of professionalism, no matter how serious it may be.

• GP Negligence

Making a medical negligence claim against your GP can be tough, especially if you have developed a good relationship with them over the years. Proving liability against a GP ca be complex, as it will usually require examination by an independent medical expert to demonstrate negligent treatment on the part of your GP. If your situation requires local medical examination, Medical Negligence Direct can make arrangements for you as part of our claims service.

• Care Home Negligence

As a care home resident, you are entitled to a certain standard of care. If they fail to keep up with this level of care, it can expose you to harm. For instance, you may suffer injury if you did not receive adequate supervision; in this case, a serious ailment can even go unnoticed.

• Cancer Negligence

Cancer negligence can have devastating consequences. Early cancer diagnosis and/or treatment can enhance a patient’s chances of survival. When diagnosis or treatment is delayed, the impact can be life-threatening.

• Birth Negligence

When some form of oversight or incompetence on the part of a medical professional occurs, the mother or baby can suffer harm; in some cases, both may even suffer harm. Examples of injuries to mother include broken pelvis or tears to the pelvic floor muscles. Examples of injuries to the baby include cerebral palsy and broken bones.

Am I Entitled to a Claim for Medical Negligence in Canterbury?

If you have suffered injury as a result of negligent treatment within the last three years, you may be entitled to a medical negligence claim. The three-year time limit applies to most medical negligence claims, except in cases involving children under 18 or those who lack the mental capacity to make a claim on their own.

In claims involving children, the three-year time limit begins to run from their 18th birthday; for those who lack mental capacity, they may be able to make a claim when they regain their abilities. Our Experts medical negligence Solicitors in Canterbury will be able to provide the legal support and guidance you need if you or a loved one has suffered harm due to negligence.

Can I Make Claims for Medical Negligence in Canterbury for Someone Else?

At Medical Negligence Direct, our specialist solicitors provide support for those who wish to make compensation claims on behalf of a loved one who is unable to do so on their own either because they are mentally disabled or under the age of 18. For instance, a parent can make medical negligence claims on behalf of a child who has suffered brain damage following a birth injury. A person who makes a claim on behalf of someone else is known as a litigation friend.

A litigation friend may also be appointed by your solicitor if you do not want to take on the role yourself. Claims made by a litigation friend are similar to the ones made by the victims themselves. The only difference is that claims made by a victim can be resolved out of court; on the other hand, claims brought by a litigation friend must be taken to court before a resolution is reached and take longer as a result.

How Long Will My Medical Negligence Claim Take?

Unlike the statutory three-year time limit for starting medical negligence claims, there is no strict processing time for completing a claims process. Usually, claims may be completed within 18 months, but this can take longer if the alleged negligent party:

•  Denies liability in the case, or;
•  Refuses to pay what we consider a fair compensation amount for your injury.

Your claim may also take longer if it goes to trial, as court processes can take as long as 12 months to complete. Our medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury do everything possible to build an undeniable claim on your behalf so the process can be completed as early as possible. However, if the case has to go to court, you can count on us to support you.

How Much Compensation Can I Expect for Medical Negligence in Canterbury?

Compensation for medical negligence claims UK are awarded on a case by case basis. There is no specific amount for a birth injury, surgical error or misdiagnosis.

The Judicial College provides a guidepost that indicates how much compensation will be appropriate, depending on the nature and severity of the injury. These guidelines are also reviewed by experts every few years so they remain relevant.

Compensation claims are usually divided into two parts:

•  General damages

This is compensation for the direct impact of the negligent treatment, such as the pain, suffering and loss of amenity endured by the victim. General damages are non-economic losses and compensation amounts here depend on the severity of the injury you suffered.

• Special damages

This is compensation for the financial losses incurred by a victim. Examples of special damages include cost of medical care, travel expenses for medical appointments, loss of earnings due to taking time off work or loss of future earnings if you would no longer be able to continue with work due to your injury.

No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Claims in Canterbury

With Medical Negligence Direct, you do not need to worry about how your claim will be funded. This is because our medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury offer a No Win No Fee agreement if they believe you have valid grounds for a claim.

Under a No Win No Fee agreement (also known as Conditional Fee Agreement), anyone who has suffered mistreatment at the hands of a medical professional can get access to quality legal advice and representation as it takes away the need to pay upfront legal fees without the guarantee of success.

Our medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury shoulder the financial risk of making a claim on your behalf. If you lose, you will not pay us a penny. If your case is successful, a success fee (0-25%) of your compensation will be deducted from your financial settlement.

Get in Touch with Us Today

To arrange for a free and confidential consultation with one of our medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury, call our expert team of medical negligence today on 0800 644 4240. Our medical negligence experts in Canterbury will determine whether you have a reasonable chance of success and if your claim can be handled on a No Win No Fee basis.

Once we decide to take on your case, our medical negligence solicitors in Canterbury will notify the alleged negligent party of your intentions and begin collecting supporting evidence to build a case on your behalf. Alternatively, you can fill our online claims assessment form and find out how or legal experts can help you.