Fatal Negligence Claims

What is fatal negligence?

Fatal negligence is where a patient passes away as a direct result of substandard medical care. If you have lost a loved one due to medical negligence then it can be difficult to know what to do next.

Here at First4Lawyers we appreciate that preparing funeral arrangements, going through an inquest and rebuilding your own life and the lives of those around you takes time. Whatever your situation, help is at hand.

Examples of how fatal negligence could happen include:

• Failure to diagnose
  Not spotting terminal illness can be hugely distressing both for the family and the patient. In cases like this, we should be able to help.
• Pharmacy errors
  Being given the wrong prescription or even the incorrect dosage could be fatal.
• Surgical errors
  If something were to go wrong while undergoing an operation, either down to negligence from the surgeon or faulty medical equipment, fatal negligence could be a possible outcome.
• Poor medical care
  This is where death results from doctors, surgeons and GPs failing in their duty to look after their patients.

Who could be at fault?

It depends on the cause of death. If it happens in a hospital, then the NHS Trust or private healthcare company running it are at fault. However, in some circumstances, the individual surgeon, GP or pharmacist might be culpable if they made the error themselves.

How much can I claim?

Claiming for the loss of a loved one is about more than just obtaining compensation. It is about finding answers to why they died, seeking justice for their memory and making sure no one else suffers like they did. Fatal negligence cases can be awarded upwards of £100,000, depending on how preventable the death was while in the care of medical professionals.

More about making a claim

How long do I have to claim?

Even though we understand that the pain and suffering associated with losing a loved one isn't something that can easily be overcome, if possible it is best to enquire about claims as soon as you can. It can be difficult discussing the circumstances that lead to the loss of a loved one, but our specially trained advisors will treat you with patience and sensitivity.

I’ve lost a loved one due to fatal negligence. What should I do?

If you’ve lost a loved one due to medical negligence, then consider contacting First4Lawyers. Our team of medical negligence specialists will work for you to obtain the answers you are looking for, the compensation you need to rebuild your life, and the support you need to move on.

We will handle the process of making a claim for you and will be able to seek answers around the cause of death. You may have already had an inquest into the cause of death, but if this has only led to further confusion for you, let us help on your behalf.