What Will Happen When I Make A Claim?
After you’ve got in touch, we’ll set up a free initial consultation where we’ll talk about your situation. We’ll then explain everything that will happen if you need to take part in an investigation.
We’ll always try to make things as clear and easy as possible for you. Most claims are funded with a No Win No Fee* agreement, but we’ll talk you through a variety of options and advise which is best for you.
Our lawyers will then collect evidence to support your claim, including medical records, documents and the opinions of independent medical experts. Using this, we’ll come to a compensation amount that best supports your needs.
The majority of fatal medical negligence cases we handle are settled out of court. If we can’t reach a settlement which we feel is fair and reasonable, or the medical professional or organisation involved denies responsibility, we’ll start court proceedings.
Even if your claim does go to court, your case might not reach trial as we’re often able to agree a settlement before it reaches the court room. If your case does go to court, we’ll be there for you every step of the way ensuring that you have the best possible chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
What Can Compensation Pay For?
Stillbirths are highly traumatic events that affect entire families.
Your stillbirth compensation claim will take into account the lasting psychological effects you and your family have experienced and help you access the specialist services you need.
Your settlement can cover:
Therapy or counselling costs
Travel costs for getting to and from appointments
Lost wages from time off work
Childcare costs
Funeral costs.
We can also help you get answers about why the stillbirth happened and an apology from those responsible. We may even be able help bring about changes that prevent the same mistakes happening to another family.
To find out more about how a stillbirth claim could help you and your family, contact our experts free on 0370 1500 100.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Claim?
Many of our cases are funded with a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that there’s no financial risk* to you when making a compensation claim.
At the start of your case we’ll discuss funding options with you, advising you which we think is most suitable. If you have legal expenses insurance (LEI) or are covered by a trade union policy, these may be best for you. Legal expenses insurance is included in many household insurance policies, so it’s always worth checking whether you’re already covered.
If we think you’re best supported by a No Win No Fee agreement, we’ll explain the process clearly. This involves setting up an insurance policy that will protect you, at no cost to you. You’ll only have to pay anything when your claim is successful – your opponent will pay most of our fees.
Please visit our No Win No Fee page for more information on how it works.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Claim?
You’ll normally have three years to make a claim. This is counted from either the date of your negligent care or when you discovered that negligent treatment was responsible for the stillbirth.
We urge you to contact us as soon as possible so that we can start looking at the evidence and building your case without delay. If you have any concerns about the time limits for claiming compensation, we’ll be able to talk through your options in a free initial consultation .
Will I Have To Attend An Inquest?
Coroners in England and Wales don’t normally have the power to investigate stillbirths so inquests don’t always happen.
The NHS Trust responsible for your care will usually start a review into how the stillbirth happened. If they don’t hold a review or if we think the review is inadequate, we can request for a formal inquest to take place as well.
You may be asked to attend the inquest and answer questions. If not, we can represent you at the inquest and you won’t have to attend yourself.
We understand how difficult it can be to relive such a heartbreaking experience. We will do everything we can to make the inquest as easy as possible so you can get the answers you deserve.
Read more about Fatal Medical Negligence Claims and Inquests
