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Being injured as a result of someone else’s negligence is a serious matter. It can have huge implications for you and your family. Our legal experts have a wealth of experience in handling personal injury cases.
It’s a sad fact that not all medical or dental treatment has a successful outcome. At Browell Smith & Co Solicitors our team of highly-skilled solicitors have the legal and medical expertise to assist you when you need it most.
Browell Smith & Co Solicitors’ experienced and dedicated family law team prides itself on providing outstanding service to our clients. We will listen to you, explain to you your options and we are committed to finding our clients the best possible outcome.
We understand organising your affairs for later life can be a daunting prospect. At Browell Smith & Co Solicitors our experts are here to make this process as straightforward as possible.
Browell Smith & Co Solicitors understand that moving home can be one of the most exciting but also most stressful times of your life. This is why we feel it’s important you have the right legal team to guide you through the process.
Browell Smith & Co Solicitors have been serving the North East for more than 20 years, helping over 160,000 clients through the good times, the sad times, in sickness and in health.
Yes. For NHS treatment a complaint process exists (see the relevant section of this web site). Organisations providing treatment outside the NHS may have their own complaints process. Many healthcare professionals have professional regulatory bodies such as the General Medical Council and General Dental Council to whom concerns about individual practitioners can be directed. In other circumstances, contacting your local Member of Parliament or press may be an alternative to seeking legal advice.
Each case is different. It depends on many factors including the complexity of the case, the disease processes under consideration, the availability of records, the extent of necessary expert evidence, the attitude of the defendant, and court timetables.
The options are limited. Some trade unions will provide financial support to their members, legal expenses cover under existing insurance policies may be available, legal aid is an option for those who satisfy certain criteria, if a case is strong a ‘no win, no fee’ agreement with or without supportive insurance would be a possibility and finally a claimant may use their own money as they would to purchase other goods or services.
Ultimately, it would be a judge relying on expert evidence from medical professionals if the case was one of the small percentage of medical negligence claims that go to trial. The test for clinical negligence was laid down by the court over 50 years ago. Fundamentally, it is the opinion of other healthcare professionals within the relevant speciality, not the opinion of the patient, their family or friends, that determines whether a claimant’s treatment can be described as negligent or not.
No. For compensation to be paid the claimant has to prove each aspect of their case. The claimant has the burden of proving their treatment was negligent, the negligent treatment caused harm, the extent of that harm and ultimately, the financial value of that harm.
Yes. The basic principle for a claim brought in England and Wales is that court proceedings must be commenced within three years of either the date of an allegedly negligent treatment or the claimant’s (the patient’s) date of knowledge. To have knowledge the claimant must be aware they have suffered a significant injury, know who was responsible for it and that it was caused in whole or part by negligence. In cases involving death, the general rule is that the three years runs from the date of death. In cases involving children, the three years does not start to run until they reach the age of 18. For people with brain injury or certain mental illness who are judged incompetent, the three-year rule is disapplied.
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