Sepsis Negligence Claims

Sepsis negligence claims refers to a situation where an individual takes legal action against a medical professional for negligent treatment or below-standard care which has caused the individual or a loved one to suffer the sepsis condition.

What Is Sepsis?

Sepsis is a rare complication arising from the body’s response to an infection which can be fatal. It is also known as Septicemia or blood poisoning.

Sepsis occurs when the body responds to an infection in such a way that the immune system overreacts causing inflammation in many parts of the body. This leads to multiple organ failure, damages to body tissues and death if not diagnosed and treated as an emergency.

Sepsis is more likely to occur in the following category of persons;

• People who have a weak immune system
• Those already in hospital with a serious illness
• The elderly or very young persons
• Persons who injured themselves in an accident
• People who have just had surgery.
• People with a serious illness

According to UK Sepsis trust, there are about 150,000 cases of Sepsis each year and about 52,000 prove fatal. It also reports that approximately 14,000 of these UK deaths from sepsis were preventable. 

Cases of severe sepsis and septic shock where one experiences a dangerously low blood pressure drop are medical emergencies.

Delayed diagnosis of sepsis is the cause of more than 33% of sepsis death cases. This is according to an independent report by the National Confidential Enquiry, into patient outcome and death. Diagnosing the condition early enough is very vital towards preventing deterioration and causing permanent damage. This ultimately increases chances of survival and total recovery.

Common Signs Of Sepsis

• Slurred speech
• Confusion or disorientation
• Chills/Shivering
• Loss of appetite
• Pain of your muscles 
• Severe breathlessness 
• Abdominal pain
• Skin discolouration
• Skin rashes

Can A Person Die From Sepsis? 

According to the CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust, Dr Ron Daniels who is a frontline consultant, a patient has more than an 80% survival rate when diagnosed and treated within the first one hour following presentation with sepsis. However, after the sixth hour, the survival rate plummets to 30%. Actually, about four out of every 10 people who suffer sepsis will die if there is delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Therefore, you can make sepsis wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one has suffered septicemia death as a result of incorrect diagnosis, delayed diagnosis or delayed treatment or any other form of negligent treatment.

Can You Contract Sepsis In Hospital?

It is possible to contract sepsis in hospital although it is rare and most times starts outside of the hospital. Sepsis in the elderly occurs most frequently after experiencing a lung infection like pneumonia. “Death by hospital negligence” can be enough grounds to make sepsis hospital compensation claims. You may also have a strong ground to make a nursing home sepsis lawsuit if the sepsis was caused by negligent treatment by nursing home staff.

Is Sepsis Contagious?

Although Sepsis is very dangerous, it is not contagious. However, the infections that can cause sepsis can be contagious. The germs that lead to sepsis do not automatically infect a person with sepsis but will cause an illness which when left untreated can become septic.

Symptoms Of Septic Shock

• Low blood pressure
• Fainting
• Confusion or altered mental status
• Extreme lethargy

Negligent Treatment Leading To Sepsis Negligence Claims

• Misdiagnosis Of The Condition
• Delays In Diagnosis
• Failing To Carry Out The Proper Diagnostic Tests
• Delays In Commencing Treatment
• Medication Errors

If you or a loved one suffered avoidable harm as a result of sepsis-related medical negligence, please contact our solicitors. They are specialists who’ll give you the needed legal advice, and make a thorough evaluation of your claim. This to be sure your claims are valid and that you are entitled to a sepsis compensation. If this is the case, you can be sure of quality legal representation.

Making A Sepsis Claim

To sue the NHS for negligence, you need to establish that indeed the medical professional acted negligently. If your claims are successful, you will be awarded a deserving compensation. The settlement payout you receive is vital towards your recovery, rehabilitation costs and other needs. It will also be very vital to help you cover financial losses and other out of pocket expenses.

Also, if you have had to give up work or your loved one who is the victim is the provider of the family, then the settlement fee you receive will go a long way to ensure that the family does not suffer financially as a result of the unfortunate incident.

We must therefore be able to demonstrate that the treatment you received was negligent. But importantly, we have to show that you or your loved one have suffered because of the treatment received.

By this, we have to prove the following;

• Liability
• Causation 

In establishing liability, we show that your doctor had a duty of care towards you but failed in that duty. This may through actions, inactions or substandard care which fell below acceptable medical standards. We have to show that another medical professional would not have made the same mistakes under the same circumstances.

By demonstrating causation, we have to show a causal link between the negligent treatment received and the harm you suffered. This simply means that we need to prove that the negligent action of the medical professional is the direct cause of your suffering, harm, complication, psychological trauma or other damages which you may have experienced. 

If we only establish liability without demonstrating causation or vice versa, then we have not successfully proven your case. Both parts therefore have to be proven to win your case.

The following documents will be required

• Full statements of what transpired
• Medical records, scans and test results
• Witness reports
• Evidence of financial losses incurred
• Medical report from independent medical experts after proper medical examination on you

Sometimes, you may not be sure if the treatment you received at the hospital was negligent. In such cases, we are happy to discuss with you and provide you with a free claim assessment. Our consultation sessions do not cost you a dime, therefore take that step to reach out to us soonest.

Sepsis Negligence Claims Process

The process of making your sepsis negligence claims involves the following steps

• Contact your lawyer for discussions,  claims assessment and legal advice
• Funding your claims through any of the medical negligence funding methods you are eligible for
• Gathering evidence needed to prove your claim
• Contacting the hospital or NHS Trust and submitting a letter of claim
• Establishing liability
• Registering your claim before a court of where both parties fail to agree
• Negotiations on a settlement fee after a successful case
• Payment of settlement fee

During the claims process, we can also secure interim payments for you before the final compensation award value is agreed. Interim payments will help ensure that you can have some financial aid to access quality health care as well as take care of pressing needs.

Time Limit For Sepsis Negligence Claims

You only have a three-year time limit for making your sepsis negligence claim. This is according to the stipulations of the Limitation Act of 1980. This time frame begins to count from the date of negligence or date of knowledge.

There are exceptions to this rule especially when it applies to a child or an incapacitated adult. In such cases, we can tell you how to go about making claims on their behalf. We recommend that claims be started early enough instead of waiting until the victims can do it by themselves. This is because your chances of winning your negligence claim are far greater when you start early enough. You are not only able to access relevant documents much easily, but your solicitors also have ample time to build a strong case for you.

How Our Sepsis Negligence Claims Solicitors Can Help You

We will undertake your sepsis negligence claims under our No Win No Fee Policy which makes it possible for you to make your claims without fear of legal costs or any financial commitments.

We will not require you to pay us throughout the claims process and even if your claims were not successful, we will not charge you. After a successful claim, we will deduct a success fee of 25% of your compensation fee. This is to cover the legal costs incurred during the claims process. The rest of your settlement fee belongs to you.

No matter how complex your claims may be, we will do our very best to ensure that you are solidly represented. We will also make sure that you get a deserving compensation amount.

We have represented many clients without having to go to court. We employ our best advocacy and negotiation skills to see that the defendant accepts liability and settles out of court.
We encourage you to reach out to us as soon as possible to begin your claims. You can call us on 0800 644 4240 to get your claims started.