Clinical negligence solicitors are lawyers who specialize in handling claims where the patient suffered injury as a result of the negligence of a hospital, its staff or a medical doctor.
It is important to note, however, that not all medical accidents constitute negligence. You will have to convince the court that what went wrong was the result of ‘negligence’ and not simply an accident that could not have been prevented by either the doctor, the nursing staff or the hospital. The arguments in a case like this can become extremely technical and only someone who is an expert in this type of claim will be able to give you a valid opinion on the viability of your claim.
The following are examples of what could, but will not necessarily be, clinical negligence.
Someone (the doctor, his assistants) made a mistake during a medical procedure or operation.
The doctor or medical staff misdiagnosed your condition or failed to diagnose it.
You were given incorrect medicine.
You were not warned about the dangers of a specific treatment or operation.
Your permission for the particular treatment/operation was never obtained.
You should not take the decision to proceed with legal action lightly. The court case might drag on for years and you will have tell your story over and over again. This can be a very traumatic and upsetting experience. If the nature of your case is of such a nature that you are certain you have a good case, do not try to do this on your own. The support that a good lawyer can give you is priceless.
Before you even consult a solicitor to get an evaluation of your case, make sure that you have all the relevant facts and documents ready. Make detailed notes about your treatment and the injury that followed. Make sure you have copies of all documents and correspondence relating to the case. You will also need proof of all expenses that you occurred as a result of the treatment/operation as well as of loss of income that you will claim.
Once he has all the facts at his disposal, the solicitor will be in a position to give you sound advice about your chances of a successful claim. A good solicitor will also give you a reasonably accurate estimate of the amount you should be able to claim and give you advice on how to fund the claim. Clinical negligence solicitors are there to help you to be successful with a valid claim, not to lure you into a case with no chance of success and where the lawyer is the only one to make money. If your lawyer therefore says ‘don’t go ahead’. Then don’t go ahead…
Jo Wilson is an expert in clinical negligence claims. If you want more information about clinical negligence solicitors or are searching for a trusted clinical neglgience law firm please visit http://personalinjury.ffw.com
Mail this post