Stillbirth Claims Solicitors in Oxford
Losing a baby is one of the most devastating experiences a family can go through. If you believe that your baby’s death may have been caused or contributed to by failures in medical care, we understand how painful it can be to consider taking legal action at such an unbearable time. Our stillbirth claims solicitors in Oxford are here to support you with the greatest sensitivity and respect, guiding you through every step of the process so that you don’t have to face it alone.
At Ashtons Legal, we’re recognised as a leading team in clinical negligence by both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Our stillbirth claims solicitors bring genuine expertise to these extraordinarily difficult cases, drawing on specialist accreditations from the Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA) Specialist Clinical Negligence Panel, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), and the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel. Families from Oxford travel to meet us because they know the quality of this advice makes a real difference to their claim.
While no amount of compensation can undo the loss you’ve suffered, it can help to provide financial security, fund counselling and therapy, and bring a measure of accountability. We offer a free initial consultation and most claims are handled on a no win, no fee basis.
Contact our stillbirth claims solicitors in Oxford
If you’d like to speak with our team, call us on 0330 191 4864 or complete the enquiry form on our website. Our nearest office to Oxford is in Cambridge, and we’re happy to welcome you there for an in-person appointment. If you’d prefer to speak with us from home, we can arrange a virtual consultation instead.
How to make a stillbirth claim
To bring a successful stillbirth negligence claim, it must be established that the medical care you and your baby received fell below the standard expected of a competent healthcare professional, and that this failure directly caused or contributed to your baby’s death.
Common examples of negligence in stillbirth cases include:
- Failure to identify or act on signs of foetal distress
- Delayed or inadequate monitoring during pregnancy or labour
- Failure to identify or treat infections, including group B Streptococcus (GBS)
- Errors in interpreting cardiotocography (CTG) traces
- Inadequate management of gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia
- Delayed decision to perform an emergency caesarean section
If any of these circumstances apply to your situation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’ll assess your case honestly and clearly, and let you know whether we believe there are reasonable grounds to proceed.
Our stillbirth compensation claims service
Our stillbirth claims solicitors in Oxford will manage every aspect of your claim from start to finish, keeping you informed throughout and ensuring you understand each step before it’s taken. Here’s what you can expect.
Assessing your stillbirth claim
We begin with a thorough review of your case during a free, confidential consultation. We’ll listen to your account of what happened, explain how the claims process works, and discuss your funding options. If we consider your claim has reasonable prospects of success, we’ll agree a funding arrangement and begin gathering the evidence we need.
Our team will obtain your full medical records and any investigation reports from the hospital or Trust. We handle this process carefully and promptly, so nothing is lost and nothing is overlooked.
Building your stillbirth medical negligence case
Once we have the relevant records, we’ll instruct independent medical experts to assess whether the care provided met the required standard. These are respected specialists in their fields, and their opinions form a central part of your case.
Where expert evidence supports your clinical negligence claim, we’ll build a detailed picture of the harm caused, including the psychological impact, any lost earnings, therapy costs, and funeral and bereavement expenses. We aim pursue every head of loss that can be attributed to the circumstances.
Submitting the letter of claim
If the expert evidence supports your claim, we’ll draft and submit a formal Letter of Claim to the defendant. This sets out how the care provided fell below an acceptable standard and how that failure caused your baby’s death. We will also provide initial details of the compensation we’re seeking on your behalf.
The defendant will be given a period of time to respond. We’ll keep you updated throughout and advise you on the next steps once we receive their reply.
Mediation processes
Where the defendant acknowledges responsibility, or where there’s scope for negotiation, we’ll pursue a settlement through dialogue or formal mediation. This approach allows many stillbirth compensation claims to be resolved without the need for court proceedings, which can spare you the additional stress and uncertainty of litigation.
We will not advise you to accept a settlement we don’t consider reasonable. Any offer will be explained to you in full, including the risks, and the decision will ultimately be yours.
Court processes
If the defendant contests liability or makes an unsuitable offer, if the merits in your case remain strong, we’ll issue court proceedings and represent you throughout. While this path can take longer, our team has the experience and determination to pursue your claim to the outcome it deserves.
Most cases are resolved before reaching trial, but if yours does proceed to court, you won’t face it alone.
Ashtons Legal medical negligence team
Our medical negligence team is led by Ben Ward, a recognised authority in this area. Ben and his team hold accreditations from the AvMA Specialist Clinical Negligence Panel, are Senior Litigators and Fellows of APIL, and are members of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel. These aren’t simply credentials on a wall; they reflect the depth of knowledge and peer recognition our solicitors have earned through years of working on complex, high-value clinical negligence cases.
Families in Oxford choose to make the journey to our Cambridge office because they know this level of expertise isn’t widely available. We’ve built a reputation for taking on difficult cases and seeing them through with care, clarity, and commitment. If you’re considering a stillbirth negligence claim, you deserve representation from a team with a proven track record, and that’s exactly what we offer.
Stillbirth claim fees
‘No win, no fee’ stillbirth claims
We understand that cost is a real concern when you’re already dealing with so much. That’s why we offer stillbirth compensation claims on a no win, no fee basis. Under this arrangement, you typically won’t pay us anything if your claim is unsuccessful. We can write off these those costs entirely.
If your claim succeeds, the defendant will usually meet most of your legal costs. We’ll explain exactly how this works at the outset, so there are no surprises at any point.
Stillbirth compensation amounts vary depending on the specific circumstances of each case, including the psychological impact and any associated financial losses.
Contact our stillbirth claims solicitors in Oxford
If you’re ready to speak with our team, call us on 0330 191 4864 or complete our online enquiry form to arrange your free initial consultation. Our nearest office to Oxford is in Cambridge, and we welcome clients there for face-to-face appointments. If travelling isn’t convenient, we’re equally happy to meet you virtually. Whatever works best for you, we’re here.