subject: Claiming For Medical Negligence [print this page] If you have suffered injury as a direct result of medical error, you may have been the victim of a substandard level of care. If so, you will be able to pursue legal action in the form of a medical negligence compensation claim. But how do you know if you are entitled to compensation? How do you make a medical negligence claim? And what steps should you take first?
How to Claim for Medical Negligence.
Medical negligence (or clinical negligence) is when the level of medical care falls below an acceptable standard, causing a patient to sustain an injury (either physically or psychologically).
Anyone found to be the victim of medical negligence will be able to pursue legal action for the pain, suffering and acute financial loss he/she has incurred. A claim may be taken out by the victim or, in the case of fatal negligence, by a representative of the deceased's estate. If the negligence was suffered by a minor, he/she may either wait until their eighteenth birthday to make a claim, or a parent may handle it on their behalf.
To make a claim for medical negligence, your first port of call should be a specialist solicitor. Medical negligence claims are a very complicated form of personal injury, so it is important to speak to an expert in this area of the law. A solicitor will then ask questions about the medical treatment you believe to be negligent before suggesting whether or not you can make a claim.
If you are indeed eligible to make a claim, your solicitor will provide in depth information regarding the process, answering any questions you may have. If you are happy to continue, your solicitor will begin the claims process for you, handling the claim until its conclusion. Amongst other things, this will involve obtaining your medical records, liaising with the other side, preparing witness statements, arranging an expert medical report and negotiating a compensation settlement.
If your claim is successful, you will be awarded a sum of compensation. This is intended to recompense for your pain, suffering and loss of amenity, and to recover the finances you have lost because of your injuries.
Begin Your Claim Today.
If you would like to discuss the possibility of making a medical negligence claim, your first step should be to contact a specialist lawyer. A medical negligence solicitor will be able to give you all the information you need, advising you upon your legal position, explaining the claims process and helping you obtain the compensation you so rightfully deserve.
