STEPS TO TAKE WHEN MAKING A MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CLAIM

When you are making a medical negligence claim, it is important to recognise that you are at
the start of a long process. What will no doubt have felt like a lifetime to you already is going to go on for a while longer yet, but the big difference is that you will be in a position where things are finally moving forward. If you have reached that point where you are going to be seeking support with a claim, here are some steps that you need to take.

GATHER AS MUCH EVIDENCE AS YOU CAN
If you are filing a claim like this, there is going to be a lot of the burden on you to prove that the doctor or hospital was at fault. What’s more, there are currently discussions underway to reform the negligence compensation system. The important thing to remember is that you need to find as much evidence as you can. Even if you do not think it is relevant. it cannot hurt to be over-prepared. So, in addition to any records you can access, make sure that you keep copies of any
correspondence as this may help.

FIND A GOOD SOLICITOR
One of the most important steps when you are making a medical negligence claim is finding a good solicitor. What you need to remember is that there are so many different areas of the law out there, and you should look for a legal team that has experience in dealing with these kinds of cases. Brain injury claims, are going to be very different from filing a complaint against a landlord, for example. A good solicitor will be able to break down what your next steps are going to be, and to take a lot of the burden off your hands. Lanvon Bowdler Solicitors are an award-winning team, and they take great pride in being there for their clients at every step of the way.

KNOW WHAT RESULT YOU WANT
Before you start, your solicitor will talk to you about what you may be entitled to by way of compensation if all goes well with your case. But you need to talk to them about what it is that you are looking for, and what a good result means to you. Are you going to be happy with a financial settlement out of court? Or do you want to take the person responsible to face a judge? There is no right answer to this question, but it is important that you ask yourself.

THINK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL COST
When you are looking for a solicitor, remember that any good law firm will be completely transparent about how much you could be facing in terms of fees. However, it is important to remember that there may be additional expenses that you need to factor in, whether it is court
fees or taking time off work. With the current cost of living crisis, you need to budget carefully before you embark on this process. Remember that you may be entitled to financial assistance, or covered by insurance, and that your legal team may offer a no win, no claim agreement.