GP Negligence Claim: No Win, No Fee

Medical practitioners are responsible for providing their patients with competent and professional care, and when they fail to meet this standard, patients may suffer harm or injury. When such harm or injury is caused by the negligence of a General Practitioner (GP), patients may have grounds to bring a claim for compensation. GP negligence claims can be complex and require an understanding of both medical and legal principles.

We believe that the victims of GP negligence deserve support and compensation for the long term pain and suffering they have experienced. Compensation will assist in covering the costs of future treatment or medical care and can relieve the financial pressure which you may find yourself in due to the pain caused.

If you have suffered an injury or illness due to GP negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. If you would like more information on the process of making a compensation claim with one of our expert personal injury solicitors, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.

What is GP negligence?

GP negligence refers to a situation where a General Practitioner (GP) breaches their duty of care towards a patient, resulting in harm or injury. In the context of clinical negligence, a GP is expected to provide a standard of care that is in line with the reasonable expectations of a competent practitioner in their field. If a GP fails to meet this standard, and as a result, a patient suffers harm or injury, then they may be held liable for their actions.

Examples of GP negligence can include a failure to diagnose a condition, a misdiagnosis, prescribing the wrong medication or dose, failure to refer a patient to a specialist when necessary, or providing incorrect medical advice.

Clinical negligence claims can be complex and require a thorough understanding of both medical and legal principles. Patients who believe they have been harmed by GP negligence should seek legal advice from an experienced medical negligence solicitor.

The medical negligence claims process

The case will begin when you make an initial enquiry to Beacon Law, where a member of the team will ask you questions about the GP negligence. If your case is assessed as having merits, then Beacon Law will accept your case and will become your official legal representative. Beacon Law will require access to your medical records to identify the negligence and any past related medical issues. 

The expert solicitors at Beacon Law will liaise with experts in the field of medical negligence in obtaining an expert report to comment on the level of negligence and breach of the duty of care. Furthermore, as your legal representatives, we will assist in gathering all evidence required to make your case stronger. We will assist with obtaining witness evidence and obtaining as much medical evidence as possible to support your claim. 

Beacon Law will assist in negotiating with the medical professional or their agent/solicitor in order to obtain the best possible compensation for you in order to attempt to get you back to a similar situation to before the negligent treatment happened.

While it can be hard for money to actually compensate you for the pain and negligence you have suffered, it can assist in trying to lead a normal life again. You can be awarded the money lost if you have not been able to go back to work and any costs arising from further medical treatment to correct the problem. 

We will be dealing with the medical professional or body directly on your behalf. At Beacon Law, we will liaise with the other side to establish liability or fault. While there is a long and timely Court process to go through before the matter gets to Trial, depending on its complexity, it may be that the case does not settle until Trial, where a Judge will be able to make an order.

Time limits for making a GP negligence claim

In the UK, there is a time limit for bringing a GP negligence claim, which is generally three years from the date of the alleged negligence or from the date when the patient became aware of the harm suffered as a result of the negligence. This is known as the limitation period.

If a claim is not brought within the limitation period, it may be time barred, and the patient may lose their right to claim compensation.

There are some exceptions to this general rule, such as if the patient is under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged negligence, in which case the limitation period starts from their 18th birthday. Similarly, if the patient lacks the mental capacity to make a claim, there is no time limit for bringing a claim.

What amount of compensation could I receive?

The amount of compensation you receive will be split into two sections: general damages and special damages. General damage refers to the compensation payment you will receive for the pain and suffering you sustained as a result of your injury.

The GP negligence compensation amount for general damages you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries. The amount of time it will take for you to recover from your injuries will also be taken into consideration.

Special damages refer to any additional financial losses incurred. This can include care and assistance, travel expenses, loss of earnings and treatment costs.

We will negotiate a settlement with the Defendant based on our valuation of your injuries using judicial college guidelines. Compensation calculators can be used online, although it should be noted that they are not always accurate.

Why choose Beacon Law?

Beacon Law are specialist solicitors in personal injury claims and have a medical negligence team who are experts in dealing with GP negligence. The solicitors at Beacon Law hold vast experience in GP negligence claims and will deal with the claim in a professional manner. 

Beacon Law can assist in bringing the claim on your behalf and running the medical negligence case from beginning to end. Your GP negligence case at Beacon Law will be under on a no win no fee basis, which vastly minimises the risk of incurring legal costs. Under this agreement, as long as you corporate through the process of the claim, you will not incur any costs, even if your case is unsuccessful.

There will be no upfront payment needed, and you will not need to worry about the risk of being in a worse financial situation should your claim not succeed. To find out about our no win, no fee claim funding and the success fee, have a look at the funding section on our website. 

To make a GP negligence compensation claim for negligent treatment with Beacon Law, or if you have further queries, please contact a GP negligence solicitor at Beacon Law on 0330 1332 857 or by using our online enquiry form.