A myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, can be an extremely traumatic event. Getting the right treatment is essential to ensuring your survival and recovery, so the impact of cardiac medical negligence can be profound for those impacted by it. This is why heart attack negligence compensation claims hold special importance, as those affected can recover their financial losses and find closure during such a difficult time in their lives.
To make a heart attack compensation claim, you will need evidence that medical negligence has occurred, such as your patient records, and connect with a solicitor to provide expert support on gathering this proof and navigating the process. Fortunately, our solicitors have the necessary experience to build a strong claim, and one of them could help you if you have a valid case.
Key Takeaways
- Heart attack negligence often arises from a failure to take symptoms seriously or misinterpretation of electrocardiograms and other tests
- Common heart attack symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and feeling lightheaded
- Inadequate treatment can increase the risk of further complications, such as heart failure and cardiogenic shock
- In some cases, negligent heart attack care from a medical professional can lead to patients dying avoidably
- The NHS recorded 198 medical negligence claims and incidents related to cardiology for the financial year 2023/24
Although you may find this guide helpful, direct advice often offers great insight into the medical negligence process and allows you to discuss your specific experience in further detail. You can get in touch with our friendly advisors to confirm whether you can claim, estimate your compensation value and potentially hire one of our No Win No Fee solicitors. It is important to note that our advice is offered without any pressure to start claiming, so you do not need to make any decisions until you feel ready to do so.
4.8 (466 reviews) Can I Claim Compensation For Negligent Heart Attack Treatment?
Yes, you can claim compensation for negligent heart attack treatment if you suffered harm unnecessarily due to the failure of a medical professional to provide the correct standard of care. The General Medical Council (GMC) provides resources to doctors with the aim of ensuring that they maintain the knowledge and skills required to administer adequate patient care.
It is important to note here that heart attack negligence compensation claims relate to pain that was avoidable. Some forms of pain are an unfortunate but necessary part of medical treatment. For example, if you require surgery after a heart attack, this can be painful, but it is required to improve your condition. We will provide examples of negligent treatment causing avoidable harm in a later section.
Can I Claim For Heart Attack Negligence On Behalf Of A Loved One?
Yes, you can claim for heart attack negligence on behalf of a loved one if they are unable to make decisions for a claim themselves. This applies to those who are either mentally incapacitated or below the age of 18, as neither can pursue compensation independently.
To represent a loved one, you would need to become a litigation friend. This requires you to make decisions in the best interests of the affected party and communicate regularly with the solicitor who is working on the case.
Fatal Heart Attack Negligence Compensation Claims
It is also possible to make a fatal heart attack negligence claim on behalf of someone who has died due to substandard care. During the first 6 months after death, only the estate of the deceased can make such a claim (including on behalf of relatives).
If this period passes without the estate making a claim for a relative, then eligible dependants can seek compensation for how their loved one’s death affected them. You can read our dedicated fatal incident claim guide for more information on this.
Our advisors are also available 24/7 to assess your eligibility, so don’t worry about figuring this out on your own. They understand that this may be your first time navigating medical negligence and can help you with any questions.
Examples Of Heart Attack Negligence Compensation Claims
Examples of heart attack negligence claims include the mixing up of patient records, misdiagnosis resulting from test results being misinterpreted, and delayed treatment caused by a failure to recognise clear symptoms. You can read our list of more detailed examples below:
- You go to A&E and tell the medical staff that you are experiencing the typical symptoms of a heart attack. Triage staff ignore these symptoms and wrongly categorise you as non-urgent. The delay means that you suffer a heart rupture and require open heart surgery, which could have been avoided.
- While being treated in hospital, a doctor mistakenly mixes up a patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) results with another patient’s. This leads them to discharge the patient experiencing a heart attack, who subsequently dies due to this failure.
- Your doctor fails to ask you if your family has a history of heart attacks, which they do. The failure to identify this risk factor causes them to misdiagnose you with angina. You subsequently suffer a heart attack that leads to lasting coronary damage and causes you severe depression.
Don’t worry if these examples do not apply to your experience of negligent care, as this is not an exhaustive list. You can speak with our helpful advisors to discuss your specific circumstances and confirm whether you could make a medical negligence claim.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim For Heart Attack Negligence?
How much compensation could be owed to you for heart attack negligence depends on the physical, psychological and financial effects you have experienced. The first part of the compensation to consider is general damages. This refers to compensation for the unnecessary pain and suffering you have endured. If you experience long-term or permanent cardiac issues, the compensation will be calculated accordingly.
When valuing general damages, a legal professional may use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This text is useful for calculations, as it features compensation guideline brackets for various types and severities of harm.
We have included some JCG brackets in the following table. Although you may find these useful, it is important that you are aware that they do not guarantee compensation. This is because each compensation payout must be carefully calculated to reflect the unique experience of the claimant. Even when 2 cases appear similar, there may be different factors at play.
Please note that the initial figure does not come from the JCG.
| Type and Severity of Harm | Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple forms of very severe harm and financial losses | Up to £1,000,000+ | Costs such as payments for further medical treatment, travel to health care centres, and adjustments to your home |
| Brain/head- very severe | £344,150 to £493,000 | The affected person will require full-time nursing care, experience double incontinence, have little to no language function or awareness of their surroundings |
| Brain/head- moderately severe | £267,340 to £344,150 | There will be a serious disability with the need for constant care, potential physical disabilities and reduced life expectancy |
| Brain/head- moderate (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 | Harm cause a personality change, effect on sight, intellectual deficit and no employment prospects |
| Kidney- permanent and serious damage or loss | £206,730 to £256,780 | This will affect both kidneys |
| Kidney- risk of total loss of natural function and future urinary tract infection | Up to £78,080 | There are often substantial future medical costs |
| Chest- the worst type of such harm | £122,850 to £183,190 | Serious heart damage and/or total removal of a lung, resulting in prolonged pain and suffering |
| Chest- traumatic harm to lung(s), chest and/or heart | £80,240 to £122,850 | There will be physical disability, impaired function and reduced life expectancy |
| Chest- damage to chest and lung(s) | £38,210 to £66,920 | This will result in continuing disability |
Special Damages In Heart Attack Negligence Compensation Claims
You could also receive special damages as part of your heart attack negligence compensation, which can cover the financial losses accumulated due to your avoidable suffering. Examples of what you might be able to recover include:
- Medical bills, if seeking out a private cardiologist or paying for a prescription
- Travel expenses required for medical visits
- Lost income, if you are unable to work for some period of time
- Professional care costs or support from loved ones. Cardiac arrest can be extremely hard on the body, so you may need help to complete various tasks
- Payments for home adjustments, which might apply to the installation of a wet room or stairlift
No matter the financial loss incurred, you’ll need evidence of it if you wish to claim for special damages. That proof typically consists of payslips, bank statements, invoices, and receipts.
Don’t forget that our advisors are available to explain in more detail how heart attack negligence compensation claims are evaluated. You don’t need to make any commitment to claiming in order to access their helpful advice, get answers to any questions you may have, or benefit from their free consultation service.
4.8 (466 reviews) The Process For Claiming Heart Attack Compensation
The medical negligence claim process involves various steps, such as collecting evidence, keeping your own records and checking the relevant time limit for your case. In this section, we will explain this process in further detail.
Prioritise Your Recovery
A heart attack can be life-threatening. If you have been given negligent treatment, you will likely need further medical care to address your health condition. You should get the medical help you need as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of recovery, whether this means attending an urgent care clinic or seeing your GP.
While looking after your health, you may later use your patient records to support a medical negligence claim. These will show the further medical treatment that you required and the impact it had on your health.
Start Gathering Evidence
If you want to seek compensation, it is important that you can prove medical negligence occurred. As stated, your medical records can help you to do this, but you can also provide the contact information of those who witnessed your negligent cardiac treatment. It may strengthen your case if you start gathering evidence as soon as you can.
Report The Negligent Medical Care Provider
Depending on the healthcare centre you have visited, you may want to consider asking about their complaints procedure in person or online. You also have the option to report a doctor to the GMC. The findings of an investigation into a medical professional could later help you to bolster your cardiac compensation claim.
Keep Your Own Records
It may be useful to keep a diary of your:
- Symptoms, pain and discomfort
- Time taken off work
- Psychological state
- Medical treatment and prescriptions
- Costs relating to travel for medical appointments, rehabilitation and home adjustments
This can help to establish a timeline of events and how you were personally affected by medical negligence. The time it takes to settle each case can vary, so this can also help to remind you of how your condition developed.
Confirm What Legal Rights You Have
By contacting one of our advisors, you can establish whether you have valid grounds to claim medical negligence compensation. They can connect you with one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors for excellent legal representation. We explain what legal services they offer in the next section.
We understand that the process for cardiac negligence claims may seem overwhelming, especially if you are still dealing with the aftermath of a heart attack. You are welcome to enquire with our team today to learn more about the topics we have discussed.
No Win No Fee Heart Attack Negligence Claims
Our solicitors handle heart attack negligence compensation claims on the basis of No Win No Fee, which you may have heard of before, since it is a common way for claimants to get legal representation. A Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a contract that works along these lines, means that your solicitor will not charge you for their work:
- Before the process begins
- While the case is being negotiated
- In the event that you do not receive compensation
However, should you be given cardiac negligence compensation, it will be necessary to pay a success fee. Simply put, this is the percentage of the compensation that you owe to your solicitor. It is subject to a legally-enforced cap, which ensures that your interests are protected. You will take home the largest portion for yourself.
Our solicitors have already secured over £80 million in compensation for claimants. They understand that clients have likely already been through a lot, so they take the time to deliver expert service that offers meaningful, personalised support, with their well-being and individual needs foremost in mind. These include:
- Confirming what evidence will support your case and how to get it
- Organising an independent medical assessment, which can help to prove the degree of harm you suffered
- Offering straightforward legal definitions and explanations throughout the entire process
- Handling the negotiation of your compensation total and making strong arguments in your favour
Contact Legal Expert’s Solicitors
Get in touch with our friendly team of advisors today if you have an interest in starting the heart attack negligence compensation claims process. Successful claimants often find that their compensation allows them to prioritise their own health and recovery, as their financial stresses are alleviated. Our advice is offered with no strings attached, so whether or not you decide to proceed is entirely your choice.
- Call our phone line on 0800 073 8804
- Submit an enquiry using our online contact form
- Use the pop-up window in the corner to speak live with an advisor
Frequently Asked Questions
Read this section for answers to frequently asked questions that we receive about heart attack negligence compensation claims.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack?
The symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, feeling dizzy, sweating, nausea, coughing, overwhelming anxiety, and pain spreading to other body parts (such as your arms).
What Might Cause A Heart Attack?
Heart attacks are caused by an interruption of the heart’s blood supply, leading to the death or damage of the heart muscle. Coronary heart disease (CHD) and a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) often lead to this.
How Are Heart Attacks Diagnosed?
Heart attacks may be diagnosed through an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood test, chest X-ray, echocardiogram, or coronary angiography.
What Are The Treatments Available For Heart Attacks?
Available treatments for heart attacks depend on the type of myocardial infarction experienced and when symptoms first appear. You may need a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI), medicine to break down blood clots, or bypass surgery.
What Is The Heart Attack Recovery Process?
The heart attack recovery process involves cardiac rehabilitation, focused on psychological support, appropriate exercise, relaxation techniques, and education about the condition.
How Can Heart Attacks Be Prevented?
Heart attacks can be prevented through lifestyle changes centred on a healthy diet, managing weight, exercise, reducing alcohol consumption, lowering high blood pressure, and quitting smoking.
Learn More
Read our other guides on clinical negligence claims:
- Visit our guide on brain cancer misdiagnosis claims
- Find out whether you could make a paramedic negligence claim
External resources:
- Visit the NHS guidance on recovering from a heart attack
- Check whether you are eligible to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- Read the guidance for doctors on administering CPR, as provided by the GMC
Thank you for taking the time to read our guide on heart attack negligence compensation claims.
