When you need medical attention, you are trusting the experts who treat you to provide you with the very best level of care. Most of the time, your trust is well placed.
However, there may be times where you feel like you or a loved one haven’t been shown the appropriate level of care that you should have been. In these instances, you may be entitled to put in a medical negligence claim. Here, you’ll discover more about these types of claims and the considerations to take into account before making one.
What is a medical negligence claim?
A medical negligence claim is the legal process of complaining about the medical care you’ve received. If you feel the level of service was below what it should have been and you or a loved one has suffered because of it, you can make a claim against the professionals who treated you.
You will need to be able to prove the negligence in court. While most negligence claims can be settled without having to go through the courts, there is a chance that you will need to attend a hearing.
How does it work?
In order to make a medical negligence claim, firstly you’ll need to ensure you’re claiming within three years of the incident. Generally speaking, the earlier you make the claim, the better it will be for you. If you were to wait a year or two to make a claim, questions could be raised over why you waited.
In order to make the claim, you’re going to need a good lawyer. You can find a professional through companies such as National Accident Helpline. It’s really important to ensure they are properly trained and experienced within the medical negligence field. They will be able to explain the process, as well as walk you through it step by step.
In terms of the costs, most solicitors tend to offer a no win, no fee arrangement. However, you may be expected to fund the claim upfront, in which case you may need private funding.
What could I claim for?
There are a lot of things you can claim for in terms of medical negligence. It doesn’t have to be treatment you’ve received through an hospital. You could also claim for dental work, a problem that occurred at an eye clinic, or for cosmetic surgery work you’ve had done. If the medical care damaged your health and could have been avoided, you can make a claim for medical negligence.
It’s important to remember that if you are planning on siling a medical negligence claim, you are going to need proof. This means you’ll need physical records of your care and treatment. Without it, your claim is unlikely to be accepted.
