Myths About Making a Medical Negligence Claim

On very rare occasions, medical procedures go wrong. And when they do, it leads to far much more than further injury to the patient. Stress, loss of earnings and emotional issues can all result from an act of medical negligence, and sometimes the only option is to make a legal claim for compensation.

But some people choose not to make a claim because of myths that surround the medical and legal professions.

They think that they're limited to hiring a local firm who may not be the best people for the job. They think that the process of claiming is complicated and incredibly expensive. And they think that they will be forced to wait for years to reach a resolution.

If you believe these myths, you're cheating yourself out of the compensation that you’re due. So read on and find out why claiming for clinical negligence is easier than you think.

1: You Need to Choose a Local Company
Many claimants think that when it comes to hiring a solicitor, you need to choose a firm that's close to where you live - regardless of what they specialise in, or whether they're employing the best solicitors for the job.
This isn't the case. Choosing the most qualified solicitor is far more important than choosing the closest firm. Top firms will be happy to work with clients further afield - even if they're based in the south of England, they'll take on cases all over the country, and the world.

2: Making a Claim is Complicated
Some people also think that if they want to claim for negligence, they'll be forced to fill out thousands of complex forms, answer ridiculously complicated questions and learn obscure facts about the legal process.

This myth is completely false and ignores the key part of making a claim. Your solicitor will handle the complicated parts for you. After all, that's why lawyers spend years learning how to specialise in their preferred field.

3: Suing a Medical Professional is Always Expensive
The third myth is that once a case of medical negligence has left you out of pocket, you'll be unable to afford the expert legal advice needed to pursue a successful claim against the negligent party.

Again, this doesn't ring true. The most successful solicitors firms know that different people have to work to different budgets - and they tailor their prices and packages to suit. So no matter whether youâ've got money to spend, or negligence has left you scraping by, if you have a legitimate claim then top negligence solicitors will be able to help you.

4: It Takes Years to Reach a Resolution
The final myth is the timescale. Television shows have shown defendants stringing cases out for years, in order to cheat the claimants out of their rightful compensation.

And as with many things, television doesn't tell the full story. While some complex, high profile cases can last for years, the average case is settled quickly and with a minimum of stress and fuss, meaning that you'll have access to your compensation sooner than you might think.