Compare Clinical Negligence Solicitors
When you put your trust in medical professionals, you never expect to suffer physical injury or illness or mental ill health as a result. However, unfortunately, this can and does happen sometimes. Whether your condition is misdiagnosed or missed, you’re prescribed the wrong medications or you undergo inappropriate surgical treatments, the effects of clinical negligence can be very serious. If you believe you’ve experienced substandard medical care, it’s important to take action. At Compare Compensation Claims, we can help you to find reputable clinical negligence solicitors that will fight for your best interests. The compensation you receive could help to relieve you of financial burdens caused by negligence, such as medical bills, the cost of adapting your home and more.
What is clinical negligence?
The terms ‘clinical negligence’ and ‘medical negligence’ are often used interchangeably. However, strictly speaking, medical negligence can encompass research activities and non-surgical treatments, whereas clinical negligence focuses on diagnosis and treatment alone. If a medical professional or health team has caused you to experience physical or mental harm because they haven’t followed professional diagnosis and treatment standards, you may have a clinical negligence claim. Often when people think of clinical negligence claims, they think of doctors. However, doctors are not the only professionals that can commit clinical negligence. You might have received poor care from another healthcare provider, such as a nurse, dentist or pharmacist. You may also have a claim against an entire healthcare team or service. It doesn’t matter whether the professional or team who provided substandard care were working in an NHS or private setting, if they breached standards and you suffered as a result, you are entitled to make a claim against them. Here are some examples of clinical negligence:
- Unsuitable medication was prescribed to you and this had a negative impact on your health
- You were discharged from hospital too early and this caused you harm
- A mistake was made during surgery which made you unwell
- Your doctor failed to diagnose cancer, resulting in treatment delays
- Inadequate monitoring during childbirth led you to suffer birth injuries
- An error was made during dental treatment which caused you to lose teeth or suffer nerve damage
- Doctors failed to recognise the symptoms of mental illness, resulting in treatment delays and psychiatric suffering
Do I have the right to make a clinical negligence claim?
If you think you have been harmed because a healthcare professional failed in their duty of care towards you, you may be entitled to make a claim against them. However, you must be able to prove that they were negligent and that you experienced physical, psychological or financial harm as a result. Clinical negligence claims can be complex and take a long time to resolve so it’s wise to take specialist legal advice to ensure you have the best chance of winning your case. The claim must be started within three years of the date of the incident or within three years of the date you realised it happened so it’s important not to delay legal action. If you believe a loved one died as a result of clinical negligence, you may be able to make a clinical negligence on their behalf.
How much compensation will I get?
As is the case with any personal injury claim, the amount of money you receive in compensation will be dictated by a range of different factors. You can expect the amount of physical and psychological suffering you’ve experienced to be taken into account, as well as any loss of earnings you’ve suffered. When consulting a solicitor, think about the impact the negligence has had on your life. Have you had to pay for medical treatment to correct mistakes or improve your condition? Have you had to adapt your home or buy any specialist medical equipment? Have you had to give up any hobbies or activities? Be ready to provide as much detail as possible about the negative effect the care you received has had on you. This will help you solicitor to build a strong case against the health professional or service in question and get you the maximum payout you’re entitled to. If you haven’t already done so, it’s a good idea to start gathering as much evidence as you can relating to your case. Note down medical appointments dates and times, gather any letters you’ve received about your care, keep receipts for prescriptions, medical treatments, medical equipment and home adaptations. It’s also a good idea to look into requesting a copy of your medical records. To get an idea of how much you might be entitled to in damages, check out our claims calculator.
Compare clinical negligence lawyers today
If you’ve been a victim of clinical negligence, you might not feel up to taking legal action and that’s perfectly understandable. Taking legal action can feel daunting at the best of times. However, with the right solicitor by your side, there’s no need to feel intimidated. Your solicitor will do all the heavy lifting and guide you through the process so it’s as stress-free for you as possible. Start your claim today by using our comparison service to find the right clinical negligence lawyer for you.