GP Negligence claims
Consulting your GP (General Practitioner – typically your local doctor) is often the first step in treatment for many illnesses. If your condition is more serious, you rely on your GP to make the right assessment as early as possible and refer you on to the right professionals – even if it’s only to eliminate the possibility of a more serious illness.
Whilst the GP’s role is a challenging one, they still owe you a duty of care to ensure that the treatment they give you is safe and appropriate. If they fail to do so, you could develop an illness, injury or complications to a current condition. If this should happen, you may be entitled to claim for compensation. We aim to make the process as clear and simple as possible for you.
Our specialist team provides expert legal advice in different languages to clients who have been involved in medical negligence claims, including those against a GP. They operate on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning that you won’t pay any fees unless your case is successful.
How can GP negligence arise?
As with any form of medical negligence, GP negligence typically involves an error (such as giving incorrect treatment or prescriptions) or an omission (such as missing an important sign or symptom during treatment).
The implications for you will vary, depending on the severity of your medical condition. The following are some of the typical ways that a GP might be negligent in their treatment:
- Misdiagnosing your problem
- Failing to refer you for more specialist treatment
- Referring you too late, leading to complications or deterioration in your health
- Carrying out inadequate tests or examinations
- Overlooking a pertinent factor on your previous medical history
These are some of the more common causes of GP negligence. If you’ve suffered injury or illness as a result of these – or any other error or omission that has prevented you from getting the right treatment in a timely manner – you may be entitled to compensation.
How much compensation might I receive for GP negligence?
The amount of compensation you receive very much depends on your specific circumstances. That’s why we recommend that you get in touch with us promptly so that we can discuss the details of your accident with you.
You may be able to claim for the following if they are a direct result of your injuries:
- Compensation for distress and upheaval
- Loss of earnings and financial losses incurred
- Medical costs, prescription fees, care and rehabilitation costs
- Adaptations to your home or vehicle
- Damage to your property
- Travel expenses incurred
We can help you assess your future needs and work with you to agree the level of compensation that you may be entitled to as a result of your GP’s negligence.
Do I have a valid claim for compensation?
If you can answer yes to all three of the following questions, we recommend that you contact us to discuss your circumstances further:
- Was the incident within the last three years?
- Was someone else to blame for the incident?
- Were you injured as a result of the incident?
Answering ‘yes’ to all three doesn’t mean that a successful claim is certain. However, these questions are key to the claims process. Answering yes to all three does indicate that you have a greater chance of being entitled to claim. Getting prompt, specialist legal advice could be beneficial.
Because of the three-year time limit, it’s important that you contact us promptly so that we can start the process for you.
How do I begin a compensation claim for GP negligence?
Call us on 0208 1111 911 or contact us through the website and we’ll discuss your circumstances with you. The first call typically takes about 15 minutes and in that time we can usually determine whether or not it’s realistic to pursue a claim for compensation.
