Clinical Negligence INJURY & NEGLIGENCE SPECIALISTS
Injury & Negligence Stephen Jones is down to earth, straight talking and fights every inch for his clients. Quote from Chambers (Independent Legal Guide) Stephen Jones, Principal Lawyer, Clinical Negligence
WELCOME TO PANNONE PART OF SLATER & GORDON When choosing a law firm, what do you look for? Quality service? Great reputation? Specialist solicitors at the top of their profession? Or simply friendly and approachable people? We offer all of these things. We focus on providing the highest standard of service with a personal touch that makes the difference. Our clients describe us as honest, professional and committed and in the words of the Legal 500 independent legal guide, we are excellent in every way, and never falter in support and availability. Our lawyers are easy to talk to and will keep you fully updated with no legal jargon. Whether you are entitled to legal aid, no win, no fee or legal expenses insurance, we ll find a way to fund your claim and fight for you. This booklet explains how to make a clinical negligence claim. Call us on 0800 0382 382 to set up a free consultation. Emma Holt National Manager of Specialist PI 03
Injury & Negligence MAKING A CLAIM Gill Edwards, Principal Lawyer in our Clinical Negligence Team, explains the process in making a claim. We know from years of experience how an injury can change your life and affect your family. We are here to support you. Our specialist solicitors will fight to prove your case and to get you the best possible result. Talk to us Call us for a free no obligation consultation with one of our team (which includes a qualified nurse and a midwife). We can discuss what has happened to you or your loved one and how we can help. Funding a case We understand that the cost of legal advice can be a worry, but if you do have a claim there are a number of options available to fund your case including no win, no fee and in some cases legal aid. For more information on funding options, please ask for our funding booklet.
Gill Edwards is understanding and very compassionate. Quote from Chambers (Independent Legal Guide) Gill Edwards, Principal Lawyer, Clinical Negligence Investigation For your case to succeed, we have to prove that your injury or condition was the fault of another person. In a case of medical negligence, we have to prove the care provided was so bad that no reasonable doctor would have treated you in that way. We will work with you to gather the evidence to support your claim. This will include taking witness statements, obtaining relevant documents including medical records and instructing independent experts to report. Support during your case We are specialist solicitors who are classed as leaders in our field of law and we are here to provide you with support and guidance throughout your case. We can also provide advice on disability rights, education and financial affairs if required. Interim Payments In some cases, where we have proved the defendant was at fault, we can obtain financial assistance for you in the form of an interim payment of compensation. Interim payments can help with the cost of private medical treatment such as surgery or counselling and in some cases the money can pay for rehabilitation, adapted accommodation, equipment and professional care. 05 Continued over
Injury & Negligence Medical cases In addition to helping people who have suffered injury due to poor medical care, we also have expertise in advising families on other health issues, such as obtaining access to medical treatment to your illness or condition; the withdrawal of life support; care in the community and claims under the Human Rights Act. We have taken cases to the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords, the Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice. We strive to help our clients achieve justice and we are not afraid to push legal boundaries. Time limits You must make your claim within 3 years of the date of the negligence or your date of knowledge that you have suffered a significant injury due to the negligence. If you leave it longer than this, you may lose the right to make a claim. Different time limits may apply if the negligence happened abroad. The time limit for bringing a claim under the Human Rights Act is 1 year. The 3 year time limit for children does not run until they reach 18 years of age. In cases where a person may lack mental capacity, there is no time limit to bringing a claim. I am pleased to have closure and I have found the whole experience to be a positive one in which everyone has been very supportive. Quote about Pannone part of Slater & Gordon, from Mrs J.H
EXPERIENCE We have expertise in the full range of clinical and medical negligence claims and no claim is too unusual. Some examples of the types of cases we are involved in are set out below: Birth injury Pregnancy and maternal injury Adult and child brain injury Brain tumours Meningitis cases Spinal injury Cancer diagnosis and treatment Surgical injury Cosmetic surgery GP misdiagnosis or failure to refer Accident and emergency Eye treatment Dental treatment Complimentary medicine eg osteopathy Sports injury Inquests and claims following death Medical Law/best interests Access to Treatment Cases under the Human Rights Act Inquiries 07
Injury & Negligence Case Study Harry is a young boy with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. This is because his labour was not managed correctly. During birth he developed difficulties which were not recognised, meaning his delivery was delayed. As a result, his brain suffered a lack of oxygen and was irreparably damaged. With the help of our expert team, Harry received a large sum of money which means he now has the security for an optimistic future. Pannone part of Slater & Gordon
Our solicitors have given our son a quality of life we never thought possible. He now has the security for a brighter and happier future. Quote about Pannone part of Slater & Gordon, from Mr Booth 09
Injury & Negligence Throughout the court case my solicitors were professional and made me feel at ease. I would certainly recommend them to anybody. Quote about Pannone part of Slater & Gordon, from Mrs. M. Ross, Tyldesley
CONTACT US Highest quality advice (ranked in top tier by leading independent legal guides Chambers and Legal 500) Free no obligation consultation Experienced specialist solicitors and principal lawyers who are Leaders in their field Range of funding options including no win, no fee and in certain cases Legal Aid National UK coverage and home visits For more information, or to discuss your claim, please contact Jane Whitaker on 0800 0382 382 @ jane.whitaker@pannone.co.uk Pannone part of Slater & Gordon have offices nationwide. To find your local office visit www.pannone.com For further information, please go to: www.pannone.com 11
For more information, please contact Jane Whitaker on 0800 0382 382 or email jane.whitaker@pannone.co.uk www.pannone.com Slater & Gordon (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. www.slatergordon.co.uk