Delayed Diagnosis Claims

It is never easy being told you have a serious medical condition, but if you have had to wait weeks or months for a diagnosis, it can be very distressing and traumatic.

You may have had worrying symptoms for a while, and instinctively knew something was wrong but struggled to have your fears taken seriously by healthcare professionals.

Perhaps your GP failed to refer you for tests or scans, or your medical records got lost in the system. Maybe you did not receive an important follow up appointment or your consultant failed to interpret your X-ray correctly.

Whatever the cause, a delayed medical diagnosis can have devastating consequences. It can result in your illness getting worse and perhaps spreading to other areas of your body. It can also increase the chance of serious complications, affect your quality of life and tragically, in some cases, a delay in diagnosis can prove fatal.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm because a healthcare professional you relied upon has diagnosed your illness late, you may be able to make a delayed diagnosis compensation claim.

Our specialist team of medical negligence solicitors have the expertise and experience to help people claim maximum compensation for a delayed diagnosis.

Any delayed diagnosis compensation you receive can help cover your financial costs including:

• Private medical treatment
• Rehabilitation
• Care and support
• Travel expenses to medical appointments
• House or car adaptations

Your damages can also make up for the loss of any earnings, including future loss of earnings, as well as any treatment and care costs in the future.

We know the thought of approaching a medical negligence solicitor and considering making a delayed diagnosis compensation claim can seem daunting. Your physical and mental health may be suffering, and you might be worried because you are still receiving treatment at the hospital or clinic that diagnosed you late.

 

Delayed Diagnosis Solicitors

You are in safe hands with our team of dedicated and approachable delayed diagnosis solicitors. We will be with you at every stage of the compensation process, guiding you and providing expert legal advice on your delayed diagnosis. We have a strong track record of securing maximum compensation for people with cases just like yours.

Novum Law specialises in medical negligence and delayed diagnosis compensation claims. Unlike many high street law firms that are ‘jacks of all trades’ our key focus is serious, life-changing illnesses and injuries. We can also help if you have suffered serious harm because your illness or injury was misdiagnosed.

Our medical negligence lawyers and solicitors pride themselves on offering the highest levels of legal expertise and with our extensive medical knowledge we can deliver the best possible outcome for you and your family.

If you have experienced a delayed diagnosis, our team is on standby to provide you with a free, no obligation consultation to help you decide if making a medical negligence claim is the right thing for you.

If you do decide to make a claim, your medical negligence solicitor will explain everything you need to know about the legal process, and fully support you from start to finish.

We offer our clients No Win No Fee funding. This means there is no financial risk or hidden costs if you want to make a medical negligence claim with Novum Law. In the highly unlikely event we do not secure your compensation, you will have nothing to pay. Click here to find out more information about No Win No Fee.

Book a free initial consultation with our expert delayed diagnosis solicitors

If you or a family member has suffered due to a late diagnosis of your illness, our specialist medical negligence solicitors can help.

Our network of regional offices includes Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon.

To book a free, no obligation chat with us call 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form.

 

Our expertise with delayed diagnosis claims

The late diagnosis of some medical conditions can be extremely serious and potentially life-threatening.

Our expert medical negligence solicitors have extensive experience helping people who have suffered avoidable harm due to delayed diagnosis. Some common examples include:

• Cancer
• Fractures and other orthopaedic injuries
• Appendicitis
• Meningitis
• Sepsis
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Brain tumour
• Encephalitis
• Bowel obstruction
• Strangulated hernia
• Thrombosis and blood clots

 

How making a delayed diagnosis compensation claim works

 

Free initial consultation to see if you may be owed delayed diagnosis compensation

To start your delayed diagnosis compensation claim, all you need to do is get in touch with our specialist medical negligence team on Freephone 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form to arrange a free consultation.

Your specialist solicitor will guide you through the claims process, explain how we can help on a No Win No Fee basis and talk you through the next steps.

No Win No Fee delayed diagnosis claims

Making a delayed diagnosis claim with Novum Law is easy and completely risk-free thanks to our No Win No Fee funding. This means there are no upfront or hidden costs and in the highly unlikely event your claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay a penny. Click here to find out more about No Win No Fee.

Investigating your delayed diagnosis claim

If you think your medical condition could have been diagnosed more quickly than it was, it is worthwhile speaking to our specialist medical negligence lawyers. They will be able to advise you free of charge whether you have the grounds to claim compensation.

When we take on your case, our delayed diagnosis experts will start investigating what happened. We will gather all the evidence, which includes your medical records, to prove the healthcare professional treating you was negligent.

We will also consult leading independent medical experts to build your case and work out the level of compensation you need for any pain and suffering caused, as well as any treatment, rehabilitation and care costs that are required now and in the future.

When all the information and evidence has been gathered, our medical negligence team will help you make your compensation claim and secure any early interim payments you are entitled to as quickly as possible.

Calculating your delayed diagnosis compensation

Every penny of compensation you receive in a successful claim is calculated on several factors. General damages include the seriousness of your illness or injury, how much pain and suffering you are experiencing and your loss of amenity (the impact on your quality of life).

Special damages include the financial impact of your delayed diagnosis, such as:

• Loss of earnings
• Medication and treatment costs
• Rehabilitation and care costs
• Travel expenses
• House and vehicle adaptations
• Cost of any specialist equipment you need

Click here to find out more about how compensation is calculated.

Time limits for delayed diagnosis claims

You have three years from the date you realised your diagnosis was delayed to make a delayed diagnosis compensation claim.

However, certain exceptions apply. For example, if you are making a delayed diagnosis claim on behalf of a child, you have until they are 18 years old to make a claim.

Medical negligence claims can be complex, so it is vital to speak to a specialist solicitor because there may be other situations in which the time limit is different.

To find out more about time limits (sometimes referred to as the ‘limitation period’), you can read our blog article.

Settling a delayed diagnosis claim out of court

Most delayed diagnosis claims do not go to court, and a settlement can be reached without the need for formal court proceedings.

This is hugely beneficial because settling out of court is a much faster process and generally far less daunting for you.

Taking your delayed diagnosis claim to court

If an agreement cannot be reached with the defendant and their legal team, we may need to issue formal court proceedings. This happens occasionally but it does not necessarily mean you will have to go to court. In fact, most medical negligence claims settle before the official hearing date.

However, if your delayed diagnosis claim does go to court, your specialist medical negligence solicitor will guide you throughout the process, making sure you know what is happening at every stage and working to ensure your needs are met and you get the best possible outcome.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about delayed diagnosis claims

 

What is a delayed diagnosis claim?

A delayed or late diagnosis is when a patient’s medical condition or injury is initially missed by a healthcare professional and is only diagnosed at a more advanced stage. Getting a late diagnosis can prolong your recovery time, lead to complications and tragically, in serious cases, can lead to a reduced life expectancy. If there has been an unnecessary delay in your diagnosis and your condition has deteriorated as a result, you may be able to make a delayed diagnosis claim.

Am I owed compensation for a delayed diagnosis?

If you have been unnecessarily harmed due to a delayed diagnosis, you may be able to make a compensation claim. A specialist medical negligence solicitor will have the experience and expertise to investigate your claim and gather the required evidence to build a strong case.

How much compensation will I receive for my delayed diagnosis?

There is no set amount of compensation for a delayed diagnosis claim. Every case is different (neurological diagnosis delay or delayed cancer diagnosis), and the level of compensation will depend on the severity of your illness or injury and its impact on your daily life. You may also be able to claim for any loss of earnings, medical treatment, rehabilitation and any house or vehicle adaptations that need to be made.

How much time do I have to make a delayed diagnosis claim?

If you think you have been negligently harmed due to a delayed diagnosis, you need to act quickly. In most situations, you have three years from the date the negligence happened or the date you were first aware that you had suffered avoidable harm, to make a claim.

Do you have a question we have not answered?

If you have more questions about delayed diagnosis claims that we have not covered here, please visit our FAQs page. If you would like to get in touch with us directly, you can contact our expert medical negligence team on 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online form.

 

Book your free initial consultation with our medical negligence solicitors

If you or a loved one has been affected by a late diagnosis, our specialist medical negligence solicitors in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon are happy to help.

To begin your delayed diagnosis claim, contact us on 0345 357 9645 or online for a free, no obligation chat.