Clinical professionals owe a duty of care to their patients. When that duty of care is breached due to serious medical errors it can have devastating consequences for patients, including the potential for long term damage to their health and even death in the most serious cases.
An injury caused by negligent medical errors can impact a patient’s health and wellbeing, ability to work and finances. These types of errors are referred to as medical negligence (or sometimes ‘clinical negligence’).
The good news for patients is that, in cases of medical negligence, compensation may be available to fund the support you need to get your life back on track.
For decades the medical negligence solicitors at Ashtons Legal have helped victims of medical negligence to secure compensation for their injuries. We are independently recognised industry leaders, able to get maximum compensation for our clients while keeping the claims process as straightforward and free of hassle as possible.
As well as handling the claims process, we can assist with managing compensation and accessing care, supporting our clients to achieve the best long-term outcome for them and their loved ones.
To ensure everyone can access our legal expertise we offer no win, no fee funding options. This means there is usually no upfront cost to start a claim and no financial risk to you.
Do you want to find out if you are owed medical negligence compensation? Book a free initial consultation with our team.
Why choose Ashtons Legal for your medical negligence compensation claim in Bury St Edmunds?
Ashtons Legal has been awarded Tier 1 ranking in clinical negligence and personal injuries by the Legal 500 for East Anglia and the top Band 1 ranking for both areas from Chambers & Partners. This provides independent recognition of our status as one of the UK’s top law firms for clinical negligence and personal injury claims.
We have particular expertise in complex and high-value claims and a strong track record of securing compensation without the need for contentious and stressful court proceedings.
Our Head of Clinical Negligence Sharon Allison has been individually recognised by the Legal 500 as a leading individual in the field of Clinical Negligence law. Partner Ben Ward is a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer.
Our team is accredited by the Law Society for both Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury law, providing further independent verification of our leading expertise.
Book a free, no-obligation discussion about starting a medical negligence claim in Bury St Edmunds
Are you unsure if you are owed medical negligence compensation or simply want to know more about how the claims process works? You can take advantage of a free first consultation with our medical negligence solicitors in Bury St Edmunds.
During this first conversation, we will get to know you and the circumstances surrounding your injury, while answering your questions in plain English. You will be able to find out whether you are likely to have grounds for a claim, how much you might be entitled to and what the next steps are if you decide to pursue a medical negligence claim.
Please be assured, at no point will you be under any pressure to pursue a claim unless you are sure this is the right decision for you.
To arrange a free initial consultation in complete confidence with our medical negligence claims lawyers in Suffolk please contact our Bury St Edmunds office now.
Our medical negligence claims expertise
Our Bury St Edmunds medical negligence lawyers can assist with all types of medical negligence claims, including:
- Brain Injury Claims
- Fatal Medical Negligence Claims
- Spinal Injury Negligence Claims
- Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims
- Birth Injury Claims
- Cerebral Palsy Claims
- Cardiac Negligence Claims
- Amputation Negligence Claims
- Infection & Sepsis Claims
- Surgery Negligence Claims
How we can help you claim medical negligence compensation
Proving that you are owed medical negligence compensation
Our first job will be to prove that you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. We must establish that you were owed a duty of care by a clinical professional, that they breached that duty of care and that this directly caused or contributed to your injuries.
To build your claim we will rely on your evidence and the opinions of independent medical experts, as well as medical records, witness testimony and any other relevant sources of information.
By collecting all of the necessary evidence to support your claim we can construct the strongest possible case and give you the best chance of a successful medical negligence claim.
Working out what damages you are entitled to for medical negligence
To make sure you get the maximum possible compensation for medical negligence, we will look at every way your injuries have impacted your life.
This includes:
- The financial impact – such as paying for specialist care and equipment, and lost income
- The non-financial impact – such as pain and suffering, and ‘loss of amenity’ i.e. no longer being able to carry out activities you previously could
Out-of-court settlements for medical negligence claims
Most people would prefer to avoid going to court and we recognise this. Fortunately, most medical negligence claims we handle are settled without the need for court proceedings, allowing us to secure maximum compensation for our clients without the time, expense, stress and uncertainty of court.
Taking your medical negligence compensation claim to court
In those rare cases where court proceedings are needed to get fair compensation, we are by our clients’ sides every step of the way. Our medical negligence solicitors in Bury St Edmunds can ensure your case is prepared effectively and that you have the best possible representation. We will also be there to provide close personal support at all times.
Securing interim payments for medical negligence
Where there is an immediate need for funds (e.g. to pay for urgent rehabilitation care or specialist equipment), our team can often secure interim payments to cover these costs while a claim is still ongoing. This helps to ensure you get the support you need and that you do not suffer a worse outcome because of having to wait for a claim to be resolved.
Managing your medical negligence compensation
Medical negligence compensation is often substantial so it is important to make sure the funds are managed effectively allowing the claimant to receive the maximum benefit.
Our Client Funds Management Team can advise on setting up a Personal Injury Trust to hold medical negligence compensation. This protects your access to means-tested benefits by making sure your compensation is not counted for means-testing purposes.
We can also advise on managing medical negligence compensation for those without the mental capacity to do so themselves.
Accessing rehabilitation and care support
People often experience difficulty accessing the right care and support following an injury and this is an area where our team excels. Our Client Rehabilitation Managers can help to connect you with all of the various services you or your loved one require, making it easier to get the best possible care.
Funding for medical negligence claims
No win, no fee medical negligence claims
We fund the majority of medical negligence claims we handle through Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs). This is often called ‘no win, no fee’ medical negligence funding.
With a no win, no fee medical negligence claim there is no cost to pay to start a claim and our fees will only be applied if and when we win compensation for you. Should your claim be unsuccessful you will not need to pay us anything, removing any financial risk from making a claim.
Read more about no win, no fee funding deals.
Legal aid for medical negligence claims
Legal aid is severely restricted for medical negligence claims and is only available for qualifying birth injury claims. Our medical negligence solicitors will be happy to discuss this with you and advise you on the process for applying for legal aid where appropriate.
Funding a medical negligence claim with legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance can be an option for covering the cost of making a medical negligence claim. If you have the appropriate cover, this may be worth considering, depending on your situation.
Book your free initial consultation with our medical negligence solicitors in Bury St Edmunds
To arrange a free initial consultation in complete confidence with our medical negligence lawyers in Suffolk, please contact our Bury St Edmunds office now.