Birth Injury Claims

If you or your baby has suffered injury following a difficult birth and you believe that this was a result of negligence on the part of a doctor, midwife or other healthcare practitioner, you are advised to speak to a solicitor as soon as possible.

If you ask us to represent you, we will start by taking details of the event and assessing what has happened and who is responsible. We will assemble evidence supporting your claim and contact the relevant health trust to advise them of the claim.

We will ask our medical experts to carry out examinations and write a report about the injuries you or your baby have suffered. This will form the basis of your case.

If the other side admits liability, we will negotiate with them to agree on the amount of compensation to be paid to you. Where they deny liability or the amount of compensation offered is not sufficient, your case will go to court. We will ensure that you have our support throughout and that you are represented by an expert birth injuries advocate.

Compensation can be awarded for a range of issues, including:

• Pain and suffering

• Reduction in quality of life, or being unable to enjoy normal activities

• Psychological damage

• Financial losses, such as loss of earnings

• Long-term care, for example, if your child will need help throughout his or her life

The size of birth injuries compensation payments varies widely depending on the severity of what has happened. In some cases, such as where a child has cerebral palsy, the payout could be millions of pounds.

If you speak to us about your case, we will be able to give you an initial idea of the range of compensation that is generally awarded for the type of injury you or your baby has sustained.

We know that finding a birth injuries compensation claim might be a worry, so we offer a range of options. These include:

• Legal Aid, commonly available for babies and children

• Legal expenses cover

• After the Event insurance (ATE insurance)

• Private payment

• Our first consultation is free and we will be happy to discuss funding with you to find the best option for your circumstances.

For an adult, there is a three-year time limit for bringing a medical negligence claim. This is known as the limitation period. It runs either from the date of the negligent incident or the date that you became aware of the injury you suffered.

In the case of a child, the three-year time limit runs from the date of their 18th birthday.