Smethwick Medical Negligence Solicitors No Win No Fee
By Meg Matthews. Last updated 5th January 2022. In this guide, you will find the information you need to choose the best medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick to help you seek compensation.
If you have experienced substandard care that led to an additional injury or illness or made a pre-existing condition worse, our guide could help.
No matter whether the harm you sustained happened at a GP surgery, dental practice or hospital, choosing the right clinical and medical negligence solicitors is important.
Before choosing either a solicitor or a legal firm to represent your claim for medical negligence, it’s important that you consider several factors. In doing so, you could make a more informed decision about choosing the right solicitor to represent you.
In this guide, you will find information on choosing the best legal team, how the claims process works, and the compensation you could receive.
However, if you have any further questions whilst or after reading, use the details below to get in touch:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Speak to an advisor instantly using the live chat function below
- Contact us by filling out the online form with your query.
Explore The Sections Below To Find The Best Medical Negligence Solicitors For Smethwick
- What Defines Clinical Or Medical Negligence?
- How Could I Make A Successful Clinical Negligence Claim?
- How To Find Medical Negligence Solicitors For Smethwick To Represent Your Claim
- Claims Our Medical Negligence Solicitors For Smethwick Could Conduct
- Medical Negligence Compensation Calculator
- Statistics For Medical Negligence Claims Against Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
- How No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Solicitors For Smethwick Work
- Taking The Next Steps To Seek Compensation In A Clinical Negligence Claim
- Helpful Links And Further Guides
What Defines Clinical Or Medical Negligence?
Clinical or medical negligence happens when a medically trained healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse or dentist, provides the incorrect level of care. As a result of the care falling below the required standard, a patient may experience further or avoidable harm.
A person could experience both physical and psychological harm, including the worsening of a pre-existing condition or an additional injury.
Examples of clinical negligence might include the following;
- Administering treatment incorrectly: A nurse may have incorrectly administered an intravenous medication causing unreasonable bruising in a patients arm.
- Surgical error: A cosmetic surgeon may have failed to check a patient’s allergy history before using a certain material during a breast reduction surgery. As a result, the patient may have experienced an allergic reaction and severe scarring.
- Medical misdiagnosis leading to the correct treatment not being provided: A doctor may have failed to correctly diagnose you with a fracture despite you exhibiting clear symptoms. As a result, you may have experienced difficulty with movement in the affected area because you weren’t treated within a reasonable time.
- Wrong prescription: A doctor may have failed to prescribe you the correct dosage of medication. As a result, you may have experienced ongoing complications of your condition due to an underdose.
The circumstances listed above are just a few ways medical negligence can happen.
If you have experienced a different situation that caused you harm, please contact our team. An advisor could assess your claim to determine whether you’re eligible to seek compensation.
Additionally, they could appoint one of our medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick to help.
How Could I Make A Successful Clinical Negligence Claim?
The process of a compensation claim for medical negligence may involve several factors being considered to determine whether negligence occurred. For instance:
- Whether a medically trained professional failed to uphold the duty of care they owed you to ensure you were given the correct level of care.
- If the medical professional’s failure to meet the expected standard of care caused you harm that could have otherwise been avoided.
For that reason, it’s important that you obtain medical evidence to support your claim, such as:
- Doctor or hospital records
- Prescriptions
- Details of any treatment or diagnosis you received
- Referral letters
Additionally, you may be asked to attend an independent medical assessment which can provide an up to date report on your condition. In particular, the report could highlight the long term impact your injuries or illness have had on your quality of life.
The evidence you provide may be used to determine whether the correct steps were taken to prevent you from experiencing further or avoidable harm. However, it isn’t the only thing that will be taken into account.
Alongside evidence, the Bolam test may be used to determine whether the care you received fell below the standard, which could be reasonably expected. The test is often conducted by a panel of medical professionals trained in a relevant field.
How Could A Medical Negligence Solicitor Help Build A Strong Claim?
An experienced solicitor with knowledge of handling clinical negligence claims could help with the process of building a strong claim.
For instance, they could help you obtain the correct and relevant medical evidence to support your case.
Additionally, they could arrange for you to attend the independent medical exam in your local area to avoid you having to travel further than necessary.
Most importantly, they could use their experience to help you through the different stages of your claim.
Our solicitors have a wide array of experience helping people claim compensation for the effects of medical negligence.
If you’d like to learn more about this, call the number above to speak with one of our advisors. They could connect you with one of our medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick to represent your claim.
How To Find Medical Negligence Solicitors For Smethwick To Represent Your Claim
If you’re looking to make a medical negligence claim in the UK, it’s important that you choose the best solicitors who have experience dealing with these types of cases.
To help you choose between the different clinical negligence solicitors available, you may wish to consider several factors to ensure you choose the right one for you. For instance:
- Can the solicitor offer you No Win No Fee services such as a Conditional Fee Agreement?
- Has the solicitor previously represented clients with similar claims?
- Can the solicitor offer other services such as organising for you to attend a local medical examination?
All solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA is a good way to check the quality of service a solicitor or firm offers.
However, the different services each solicitor or firm provides may vary. For that reason, you may wish to read reviews to get a more detailed understanding of whether a solicitor is the right fit for you.
We have explored how reviews could help you find legal representation in the section below.
Check Reviews Of Solicitors Who Deal With Medical Negligence Claims
Reading reviews of solicitors in your area by previous clients could help you learn more about how a solicitor works.
For instance, you can understand whether they have experience handling claims similar to your own, how they communicate with clients and the fees they charge.
If you’d like to learn more about our medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick, you can read the reviews left by clients on our page.
Alternatively, contact our team on the number above. An advisor could help you understand more about our solicitors for your medical negligence claim.
Do I Need To Use A Local Smethwick Medical Negligence Solicitor?
In the past, you may have been restricted to using a local solicitor, and the claims process might have involved face-to-face meetings. However, this is no longer the case.
There is no reason to use a local solicitor for your claim anymore, as you and your solicitor will be able to use a variety of different ways to stay in contact, such as the phone or email.
Consequently, you can focus on choosing a solicitor who has experience and knowledge to help you with your compensation claim.
Claims Our Medical Negligence Solicitors For Smethwick Could Conduct
Our medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick could help with both private medical care and NHS medical negligence claims.
We have experience in handling a wide variety of clinical negligence claims. In the sections below, we explored the types of medical negligence claims that we handle in more detail.
If your circumstances are not listed below, don’t worry. We can also help with many other types of cases. Call us for more information.
Cancer Negligence
If a patient with cancer receives the incorrect level of care, it could have severe consequences.
For instance, a doctor may have failed to refer you for further tests despite you exhibiting clear signs of cancer. As a result, you may have received delayed treatment causing cancer to spread to other parts of the body.
If you have suffered avoidable harm due to negligent cancer treatment, we could help. Our solicitors could represent your claim and help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Birth Negligence
The results of birth negligence could lead to both mother and baby sustaining a birth injury. For instance:
- The midwife may have failed to diagnose the mother with prenatal depression despite her exhibiting clear signs of the condition. As a result, the mother may have experienced avoidable psychological harm.
- The midwife may have failed to use forceps correctly during labour, causing the baby to sustain damage to the skull.
The medical negligence team at Legal Expert could help mothers and families who have suffered birth injury negligence get the compensation they are entitled to.
Doctor/ GP Negligence
Your GP is often the first port of call when you are sick, have unexplained symptoms, or suffer a minor injury. For that reason, they are often required to make the initial diagnosis of your condition or refer you for further tests where necessary.
If your GP fails to meet the expected level of care when diagnosing or treating your condition, you could experience harm that could have been avoided.
For instance, you may have displayed clear symptoms of a chest infection, but your doctor failed to prescribe you the necessary medication. As a result, you may have developed pneumonia, which caused further harm.
If you have experienced something similar, our medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick could help you through the different stages of your claim.
Nursing Home Negligence
All residents in a nursing or care home have the right to expect the correct standard of care.
However, there are a lot of different circumstances under which the level of care may fall below the required standard.
For example, the nurse in charge of your care may have failed to administer your blood pressure medication at the correct time. As a result, you may have experienced complications of high blood pressure which could have been avoided with the medication.
If you or a loved one have experienced nursing home negligence, please get in touch with our team on the number above.
An advisor could connect you with our clinical and medical negligence solicitors to help you make a claim against a nursing home.
Dental Negligence
A dental medical negligence claim could be made against various dental professionals if the care you received fell below the expected standard. For example, dentists, dental nurses and dental surgeons who failed to take reasonable steps when providing you care.
In these instances, you may have suffered a physical or psychological impact after sustaining visible cosmetic damage. For instance, a dentist may have used the incorrect equipment to extract a tooth, causing significant scarring.
You could claim for both the physical and psychological harm you experienced when this does happen.
Call our team on the number above for more information on dental negligence claims.
Hospital Negligence
If you are seeking hospital compensation after suffering negligent treatment or an injury in a hospital, we could help.
Our medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick have the experience to assist claimants who have been injured as a result of care received at either an NHS or private hospital.
As hospitals treat a very wide range of different patients and conditions, there are various ways negligence could occur.
For instance, a surgeon may have operated on the incorrect leg after failing to follow the correct pre-surgical protocols. As a result, the patient may have experienced an additional injury and further harm due to delayed treatment of the original condition.
If you have experienced something similar, our solicitors could help you get the hospital compensation you deserve.
Medical Negligence Compensation Calculator
As part of the claims process, you’re entitled to seek compensation for any physical and psychological injuries sustained under general damages.
Furthermore, you could seek reimbursement for any past and future financial losses directly incurred from your injuries under special damages.
We have explored these in more detail throughout the sections below.
General Damages
As mentioned, general damages compensate you for any physical or psychological injuries.
However, in order to accurately calculate the value of your injuries, the following factors may be taken into account:
- Severity
- Impact on your quality of life
Medical evidence may be used to help determine the full extent of your injuries or illness. Alongside any evidence, the Judicial College Guidelines may be used to help value your claim.
As you can see, the value of your claim will depend on several factors unique to your case. For that reason, it’s difficult to give an accurate figure of what your claim may be worth.
However, if you choose to hire a solicitor, one of the services they could offer is accurately calculating the value of your claim.
Special Damages
We understand that your injuries may have directly impacted your financial stability. For instance, if you were left unable to work temporarily whilst recovering, you may have experienced a loss of earnings. If so, you could claim these back under special damages.
Additionally, you may be able to seek reimbursement for the following:
- Cost of care
- Travel expenses, e.g. getting to and from doctors appointments
- Medical expenses. e.g. prescriptions
Please be aware that you will need to provide evidence to support your claim if you’re seeking compensation for monetary losses. The evidence could include receipts, payslips or invoices which detail the losses you’ve incurred.
Statistics For Medical Negligence Claims Against Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
The table below includes data on the number of medical negligence claims made against the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust during 2020/2021.
In addition, the table includes figures for the total paid out in damages, NHS and claimant legal costs during the same period.
The figures are provided by NHS Resolution’s Trust and Authority Claims Data 2020/2021.
| Healthcare Provider | Claims Received 2020/2021 | Payments Made 2020/2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | 69 | £17,051,998 |
How No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Solicitors For Smethwick Work
Our medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick could help by offering No Win No Fee services. For instance, they could take on your claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), allowing you to avoid paying an upfront fee often required for solicitors to begin working on your claim.
A CFA also allows you to avoid ongoing costs that could incur during the course of your claim. For instance, there is often no initial cost when you claim without legal representation, but other costs may incur while the claim is ongoing, such as fees for medical evidence. However, these costs are covered by the CFA.
If your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t be required to pay solicitor fees. However, if your claim is successful, a success fee will be taken from the compensation settlement you’re awarded. The fee will be deducted as a legally capped percentage as a way to pay your solicitor for their work on your claim.
Please note, your solicitor will make you aware of the fee and what it covers before they begin working on your case.
For more information on working with one of our solicitors on this basis, please get in touch on the number above.
Taking The Next Steps To Seek Compensation In A Clinical Negligence Claim
If you are ready to start your claim for medical negligence compensation, our team could help. An advisor could assess your claim, and if they feel it has a chance of success, they could connect you with one of our solicitors to start working on your case.
Alternatively, if you require further information first, they can advise on the next steps you may wish to take.
Either way, please get in touch with us using the following details to receive free legal advice:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Speak to an advisor instantly using the live chat function below
- Contact us by filling out the online form with your query.
Helpful Links And Further Guides
Please visit our guide if you’d like to learn more about the steps involved in MRSA Claims.
If you have experienced private hospital medical negligence, our guide could help you understand the rights you have to seek compensation.
Our guide on stroke misdiagnosis claims could help if you’ve experienced avoidable harm in a similar situation.
If you’d like to learn how Care Quality Commission regulates health and social care services in England, please visit their website.
Please visit the NHS Constitution For England to learn more about the rights you have as a patient.
Further Medical Negligence Guides
- Runcorn Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Scarborough Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Scunthorpe Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Shoreham By Sea Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Shrewsbury Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Slough Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Solihull Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Southall Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Southampton Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Dental Negligence Claims Guide
- Botox Injury Negligence Claims
Medical Facilities In The Smethwick Area
NHS Hospital
Midland Metropolitan Hospital
Cranford Street,
Smethwick,
B66 2RT
Tel: 0121 507 5303
GP
Sarephed Medical Centre,
Smethwick,
Birmingham,
B67 6AJ
Tel: 0121 558 0263
Dentist
West Park Dental Care
59 West Park Road
Smethwick
B67 7JH
Tel: 0121 558 0041
Thank you for reading our guide on choosing the best medical negligence solicitors for Smethwick to represent your claim. We hope you have a better understanding of how the right solicitor could benefit you. However, if you have any further questions, contact our team on the number above.
