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Freeths - Law firm

Nottingham Clinical Negligence Solicitors

Experienced specialists helping you claim compensation

Our Expertise

Our experienced Nottingham clinical negligence solicitors have been acting for claimants for over 40 years. We help people who have suffered negligent medical treatment at the hands of doctors and health professionals to claim compensation. The team deal with wide range of claims, including inquests, misdiagnosis of cancer, surgical claims, cardiac claims, cauda equina syndrome, dental claims, vision loss, and mismanagement of mental health.

Freeths’ clinical negligence lawyers are specialists in birth injury claims. We regularly help clients with claims relating to cerebral palsy and gynaecological claims. You can rely on our team to be sensitive and proactive at all times. We are renowned for bringing many successful claims for compensation.

If you’re based in Nottinghamshire, give our friendly clinical negligence team a call today.

FAQs

Why should I instruct Freeths?

Freeth’s clinical negligence lawyers are friendly, sympathetic and approachable. Our team have vast knowledge and experience in dealing with the full breadth of clinical negligence claims against GPs, hospitals and private practitioners such as surgeons, therapists and dentists. Our lawyers have specialist expertise in key fields including child and adult brain injury, spinal injuries, birth injuries, cerebral palsy, catastrophic injuries and fatal cases. We can handle your claim in a sensitive manner, providing tailored legal advice to suit your individual needs and we have a proven track record in bringing successful claims.

We are highly recommended in both the Chambers and Legal 500 directories across our offices nationwide. Our solicitors are accredited by specialist panels including those of AvMA (Association against Medical Accidents), APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) and the Law Society.

We work closely with local and national charities to raise awareness and to support those affected by medical conditions and disabilities. We understand and share the goals if these charities in helping improve early diagnosis and patient care whilst reducing incidents of medical negligence, so that others need not suffer as many of our clients have. We also work and campaign to improve the support, assistance and services for those with often life changing injuries and their families.

What can I claim for?

By bringing a successful medical negligence claim you can secure compensation for both the injuries you or you loved one suffered and the financial expenses and losses you have experienced as a result of the substandard treatment you have received. It may also be possible to obtain an apology and to highlight areas for improvement to prevent the same mistakes being made in future, but these are not remedies that can be ordered by the court if the claim goes to trial.

Our specialist clinical negligence solicitors consistently secure outstanding results for adults, children and their families who have suffered injury due to substandard medical treatment. Whilst no amount of money can ever undo the damage and devastation caused by a serious injury, compensation can make a massive difference to how you manage and seek to overcome the consequences of medical negligence and to improve quality of life.

Compensation is divided into two types of damages:

(i)  General damages made up of compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity reflecting the seriousness and duration of the injury, any limitations restrictions caused by the injury and how it affects you in daily life ; and

(ii) Special damages to cover the financial consequences of your injury including expenses incurred, the costs of any medical treatment, therapies, care, assistance or equipment you require, loss of earnings and any other financial losses flowing from the injury caused by the substandard treatment. The amount of compensation you will receive if the claim is successful depends on the nature and severity of your injuries and the extent of the financial losses that have and will be incurred as a result .The principle behind compensation is to try so far as possible to put you in the position you would have been in had you not received substandard treatment.

How long does it take?

The length of a claim depends on a number of factors, including whether admissions are made by the defendant, whether liability or causation is admitted, and the complexity and severity of the injury. In cases where admissions are made and liability is admitted it is often possible to resolve the claim in a shorter time frame. However, it is necessary to have a clear and firm prognosis and to be able to understand the impact of your injury in order to value the claim. In some cases, particularly those involving children, it may be necessary to wait until they are old enough for the implications to be accurately assessed. In cases which are likely to take longer to value, we look wherever possible to secure interim payments of compensation for our clients to help meet shorter term needs.

Will the claim affect my treatment?

No, your claim should not affect you treatment. Gps, hospitals and other medical professionals do not have the right to refuse treating you simply because you are bringing a claim against them. In practice, however you may feel more comfortable in seeking an alternative healthcare provider or even requesting different doctor or specialist rather than placing your trust in a person or hospital that has already let you down.

Is there a time limit for bringing a claim?

Yes, strict time limits apply when bringing a claim. Failure to issue court proceedings within these limits could result in your claim being time-barred and you may lose the right to claim compensation.

To bring a clinical negligence claim in England or Wales you must issue proceedings in the high court or the county court against the defendant(s) within 3 years of your “date of knowledge”. This is the date when a reasonable person in your situation would first have had knowledge that:

  • That your injury was significant
  • That your injury was either totally or partly caused by an act (or a failure to act) which you believe was negligent
  • Of the identity of the person (or organisation) who you believe was negligent

In the case of a child, the time limit does not begin to run until they reach maturity. Proceedings must therefore be issued within three years of 18th birthday (i.e. before they turn 21 years old).

The three year period will not start to run if the person does not have mental capacity to bring a legal claim. Therefore in cases where the claimant lacks mental capacity at the time of the alleged negligence the time limit will not apply unless they regain capacity.

Our Process

We always take into account the impact a medical mistake, injury or misdiagnosis has on a client. Our clinical negligence lawyers work exclusively with these types of claims, so you can trust their experience. Freeths will work tirelessly to provide you with support; bringing you the compensation you need.

Compensation could mean additional care or treatment, or replacing your lost earnings. Using our knowledge to give advice tailored to you, we can help you to get your life back on track quickly.

Why Choose our Nottingham Clinical Negligence Solicitors

  • Our specialist team have advised on clinical negligence claims for over 25 years
  • You can rely on our clinical negligence solicitors to be approachable and sympathetic
  • Fund your claim through insurance or conditional fee (no win no fee) arrangements
  • We will listen to your needs and explain complex processes in plain English
  • Our lawyers are rated by legal guides and are members of AvMA and APIL

 

Paul Balen and Jane Williams – Clinical Negligence Solicitors based in Nottingham

Jane is head of the Clinical Negligence department at Freeths and has more than 24 years experience of bringing clinical negligence claims. She has an active practice dealing with cases of maximum severity including spinal, neurological and birth injury clinical negligence claims. She also has a strong track record in misdiagnoses of cancer and epilepsy, having co-ordinated two high profile group actions.

Esteemed Consultant Paul Balen is also based in Nottingham – he has handled the full spectrum of cases in his lengthy career and is known nationally for his clinical negligence work.

The Clinical Negligence team can handle all aspects of medical negligence, including fatal claims and inquests.

Examples of Clinical Negligence cases in Nottingham

  • Organ Retention Group Litigation; Freeths represented several bereaved parents in the group litigation arising from the retention of deceased children’s’ organs without consent. This practice was subsequently abolished as a result of these cases.
  • Freeths achieved a £300,000 payment for a lady who suffered significant permanent disability as a result of negligent treatment after a total knee replacement. The money was to go towards future care and adaptations to the home.
  • Devised the Leicester epilepsy and cervical smear claims handling agreements and has been involved in numerous claims involving cosmetic surgery and medical products.

Jane WilliamsFor further information about our Nottingham clinical negligence solicitors, please contact Jane Williams, Partner, on 0345 272 5724 or submit a secure enquiry form.

Nottingham Clinical Negligence Solicitors

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“Esteemed expert Paul Balen remains at the forefront of clinical negligence law, having handled the full spectrum of cases in his lengthy career. He is “very tactically minded,” and “very much a respected opinion” on clinical negligence matters, sources say.”

“Thank you very much for all your help with my mother’s claim, you made it less daunting than we imagined it would be.”

“I would like to take the time to praise the client care I received from Adrian Denton. Adrian has made what I thought would be quite a daunting process very easy to understand.”

“A warm heartfelt thank you for your support, dedication and hard graft over the last 5 years. Your professionalism has assured our daughter got what she deserved, a secure future with superb living standards and care team. You are a credit to your profession.”

Client service

‘Doing the right thing’ is at the heart of Freeths. Find out more about our excellent client service and the strong set of values that guide the way we work.

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Talk to us

Freeths are a leading national law firm with 13 offices across the UK. If you have a query about our services or just want to find out more, why not give us a call?

Contact: 03301 001 014

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