There is no excuse for medical negligence, yet every year scores of patients face greater harm due to incompetent medical practice. Fortunately, survivors of medical negligence and their loved ones may be able to find hope in knowing they may qualify for compensation by filing a claim. Read on to learn more about medical negligence claims and how to file them.

What is medical negligence?

Any error that resulted in greater harm to a patient seeking medical care is categorized as medical negligence. Because you are placing your life in the care of another, you have the right to expect that it be treated with the utmost professional courtesy. While some events are unforeseeable and doctors cannot control everything, cases of egregious medical error or when the standard of care is lower than the accepted industry standards are on the rise.

For example, in one notable case from 2009, a woman was admitted to the hospital due to complaints of numbness and discoloration in her hand and arm. She had seen a rheumatologist earlier in the year for osteoarthritis and was advised to begin a course of steroid injections in her hands. However, after her first injection when the needle was inserted into her thumb, she began to experience the pain and tingling. After a two-week stay in the hospital, the patient’s thumb continued to turn black and she was told it would have to be amputated. In addition to the loss of her thumb on her dominant hand, she still experiences pain and tingling in her arm. With the help of a solicitor, she was able to secure £85, 000 in compensation for these drastic injuries.

If you are the victim of medical negligence, you should consider filing a medical negligence claim for compensation. Injuries incurred as a result of poor-quality health care should not bankrupt you or prevent your ability to live your life. Keep reading to learn more about how to file a medical negligence claim.

How to file a medical negligence claim

If you feel that you have been impacted by medical negligence, your first step is to meet with a solicitor who specializes in medical law and negligence cases. In many cases, attorneys will offer the first meeting free of charge to determine whether you have a case. If you do, your lawyer will set up meetings with the hospital personnel to determine what happened. Your lawyer will also help you determine an appropriate amount for compensation. Some cases can be settled out of court while others may need to be settled before a judge.

Either way, nobody should have to suffer due to medical negligence. Even if you win your case, money may not be able to correct the wrong that was done to you, particularly if the mistake led to major health problems. But pursuing compensation is also a way to see that health care practitioners pay for their mistakes. In a way, these claims force the entire industry to be more careful about avoiding medical negligence. So if you have a complaint, make sure you meet with a lawyer and learn about the different options for pursuing your case.