Darren Deery

Over the past two decades, I’ve developed particular experience and expertise in birth injury cases. This includes many claims settling for seven and eight figures, but each case is different and rewarding in its own way.

In a recent case, the family were able to buy and adapt a new home with room for carers and specialist equipment. In another case, the family are purchasing a plot of land and seeking planning for a bespoke new build property with a hydrotherapy pool.

I recently took part in a conjoined fatal accident inquiry relating to the death of three babies and in which the Sheriff made a lengthy list of recommendations to improve maternity care throughout Scotland.

My starting point is to listen and to ensure I understand what each client wishes to achieve. I’m then very upfront about whether that outcome is realistic before setting out the necessary steps and timescales.

Medical negligence cases in Scotland are usually defended, so my clients are often clients for years rather than months. At the point of first contact, many people have already been searching for answers for months or years and feel exhausted by the complaints process.

I can relieve that burden by offering to recover the medical records and obtain independent medical reports from trusted experts. As a result, my clients get the answers they need at no cost (as we act No Win, No Fee and fund the cost of reports).

My experience allows me to identify the key legal and medical questions that must be addressed to secure answers and increase the chances of success.

Most of my first meetings with clients take place over the telephone, just to go over the facts and provide initial (free of charge or commitment) advice. It’s important you’re given the chance to tell your story, so I’ll encourage you to set out what you feel went wrong and why.

We’ll then explore the possible failures together and what could have been done differently to improve the outcome. By the end of the call, we usually have a clear, agreed plan of action. This may involve submitting a formal complaint, escalating a complaint that hasn’t been upheld to the Ombudsman, seeking further medical input, or for me to investigate and formally start a claim.

Our funding model is very simple, if we feel there are reasonable chances of success then you won’t need to pay anything to instruct us or to investigate.