Medical negligence claims are becoming more and more common, with thousands of people suffering from the consequences of mistakes made by doctors and other healthcare professionals. However, not all cases of medical negligence lead to legal action. It’s important to understand what constitutes medical negligence, when you should consider making a claim for it and how best to proceed if you do want to seek compensation for your injuries.
Medical negligence claims are a lot more common than you may think.
Medical negligence claims are a lot more common than you may think. Medical professionals have an obligation to provide the standard of care expected by their profession, and if they fail to do so, patients can suffer serious consequences as a result.
In recent years it has become clear that there is a significant increase in the number of medical negligence claims being made every year. This means that there is also an increase in costs for those who choose to pursue these claims through solicitors or law firms such as ours.
However, despite these rising costs it is still important for anyone who thinks they might have been affected by poor treatment at the hands of doctors or other healthcare providers should speak with one of our expert solicitors as soon as possible so we can help them make sense of what happened and advise on whether or not they have grounds for legal action against whoever may be responsible (usually their GP surgery).
It’s important to know what constitutes medical negligence.
Medical negligence is a breach of duty by a medical professional. The duty of care is to provide the patient with treatment and care that is in their best interests. This does not extend to family members or property, so if you’re unhappy with your doctor’s treatment of your loved ones, it isn’t considered medical negligence.
When should you consider making a claim for medical negligence?
If you have suffered an injury or illness as a result of medical negligence, it can be helpful to speak to a solicitor. This is because they will be able to:
- Advise you on whether your claim is worth pursuing and how much compensation you could receive
- Help with gathering evidence for your case
- Protect your rights by taking action against negligent healthcare providers if necessary
Making a claim for medical negligence can be stressful and time-consuming, but there are ways to make it easier.
If you have been injured by a healthcare professional, it is important to act quickly. You may be able to claim compensation for your injuries and any other losses through making a claim for medical negligence.
- What should I do if I have been injured?
If you have suffered an injury due to the negligent actions of another person, it’s important that you contact them immediately. They will want to know about their legal obligations so that they can provide fair compensation if necessary. Many people don’t think about this until after something has happened but getting in touch straight away will help avoid problems later on when trying make sure everyone gets what they deserve!
When can my claim be time-barred?
When you have a medical negligence claim, your solicitor will advise you of the time limit for bringing your claim. The common law rules on time bars are:
- The three-year rule – this applies to all personal injury claims (with the exception of claims based on criminal injuries) where an accident has caused injury or death and the cause was not obvious at the time it happened;
- The two-year rule – this applies to most clinical negligence cases; and
- The one year rule – this applies to most surgical accidents cases (including those where there has been no prior diagnosis).
In addition to these general rules there are also specific provisions dealing with minors under 16 years old which mean that they must start their legal action within six months after turning 16 years old rather than relying upon any other limitation period.
What is the recovery limit for personal injury claims in the UK?
The amount of compensation you can claim for your injuries is set by the government, and has been for many years. It’s called the “recovery limit” and it’s been increased in recent years to reflect inflation.
The best way to get compensation for your injuries is to talk to an experienced medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible, ideally within three years of the occurrence of your accident or treatment procedure.
The best way to get compensation for your injuries is to talk to an experienced medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible, ideally within three years of the occurrence of your accident or treatment procedure.
Your solicitor will help you understand your rights under the law and ensure that your treatment is given the attention it deserves by hospitals, doctors and other members of staff involved in your care.
A good solicitor will help you understand your rights under the law and ensure that your treatment is given the attention it deserves by hospitals, doctors and other members of staff involved in your care.
A good solicitor will help you understand your rights under the law and ensure that your treatment is given the attention it deserves by hospitals, doctors and other members of staff involved in your care.
A good solicitor will help you get the best possible outcome if you have suffered from medical negligence.
Speak to an experienced solicitor if you believe that you have been treated negligently by a healthcare professional at any point during your life.
If you believe that you have been treated negligently by a healthcare professional at any point during your life, it’s important to speak to an experienced solicitor as soon as possible. A good solicitor will help you understand your rights under the law and ensure that your treatment is given the attention it deserves by hospitals, doctors and other members of staff involved in your care.
They can also help avoid being time-barred from making a claim – which would mean that although they might be able to win compensation for injuries caused by medical negligence, they will not be able to do so because they missed out on their legal right to do so within three years of becoming aware of them (or within six years if there was no reasonable chance for them to become aware).
Finally, if there is any doubt about whether or not someone should pursue legal action against their doctor or hospital then calling an expert lawyer who knows how best protect themselves while pursuing compensation may well save further pain down the line
Conclusion
If you have been affected by medical negligence, it’s important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. The best way to get compensation for your injuries is to talk to an experienced solicitor who can help guide you through the process of making a claim for compensation.