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  • Meningitis Misdiagnosis Claims

Meningitis Misdiagnosis Claims

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Meningitis can be a devastating illness even when it’s diagnosed and treated correctly. We understand the impact misdiagnosis can have on you and your family, and will help you access the support you need.

Our medical negligence solicitors have helped people of all ages who have suffered from many different kinds of meningitis misdiagnosis, including:

  • Viral meningitis
  • Bacterial meningitis
  • Meningococcal septicaemia (blood infection)
  • Meningitis leading from a middle ear infection (otitis media)

If medical professionals fail to recognise the symptoms of meningitis quickly, then the effects are life-changing and sometimes fatal. Over the years we’ve campaigned for greater awareness of the symptoms of meningitis, as well as for more robust procedures to be put in place to spot its warning signs as early as possible.

The majority of our cases are funded with a No Win No Fee agreement, which means there’s no financial risk to you when you make a compensation claim.*

We don’t just help you claim compensation – we know how important it is to have access to any rehabilitation services you need, as well as legal advice in other areas. Our specialist Court of Protection team – the UK’s largest – can help you manage your compensation and safeguard your finances for the future.

For a free initial consultation about making a meningitis misdiagnosis claim, call us today on 0800 121 6567 or contact us online and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.


Help with rehabilitation
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We support national charity Meningitis Now

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Anita Jewitt
Anita Jewitt Partner Meet the team

Meningitis Claims - More Information

After you’ve contacted us, we’ll set up a free initial consultation to discuss your case and whether you have a legal claim. We’ll discuss what funding options are available to you to pay for your claim, including No Win No Fee agreements*.

We’ll then get in touch with those responsible for your negligent treatment at an early stage to see if they accept the blame for your illness. If they accept responsibility, we’ll try to secure interim compensation payments which can fund private medical care and ongoing expenses, before your claim fully settles. Any interim payments will be taken out of your final compensation award.

Our experts will look into your case in detail, gathering evidence from independent medical professionals. These experts evaluate what care you should have received and can determine any future implications to your health. They’ll also advise us on the care you’ll need in the future.

We’ll always try and negotiate claims out of court, keeping the claim process as short as we can. However, if your opponent doesn’t accept responsibility or doesn’t agree with the amount of compensation we feel you need, we’ll start court proceedings.

Even when trial dates have been set, claims are still often settled before reaching court. If your claim does need to go to court, we’ll be there to help you every step of the way, talking you through what will happen so you feel as comfortable as possible.

If a loved one has died because of meningitis misdiagnosis, our lawyers can help you with:

  • Recovering compensation for their pain and suffering, to account for financial losses caused by their death and to cover funeral expenses
  • Representing you at inquest
  • Getting you the answers and apology you deserve from those responsible

Our lawyers could help you access a statutory bereavement award, which is separate to a claim for compensation and recognises your grief in the event of a wrongful death. This is available if you’re the spouse, civil partner or parent (if they’re under 18) of the person who died.

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.

In most medical negligence cases, you have three years to make a compensation claim, starting from the date your injury happens (or the date you first became aware that your injury was a result of negligence). For children, this three year period begins on their 18th birthday, so they have until they’re 21 to make a claim.

However, it’s important to contact us as soon as possible so that we can begin to investigate your claim. If you have questions or concerns about the time limits, please call us for free initial advice on 0800 121 6567.

Because we’re a full-service law firm, we also have a number of other in-house teams with specialist knowledge in areas such as rehabilitation, Wills and asset management.

Rehabilitation

We see rehabilitation as key and will make sure that you can access the care and support services you need to lead the best life possible. Our support and rehabilitation coordinators can provide support and information to you and your family, helping you with many of the other problems you may face, such as employment and benefit issues.

Wills

We have specialist Wills solicitors who can help with any issues surrounding Wills and who can also assist if you’re claiming on behalf of a loved one who has unfortunately passed away.

Asset Management

Our Asset Management team can provide advice on how your compensation could be best invested. We also have Court of Protection lawyers who can set up personal injury trusts and make sure you have access to the benefits you’re entitled to.

Our clinical negligence solicitors have many years of experience in meningitis misdiagnosis claims, and are rated as the very best in the country by the independent legal guides Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. We’ve been involved in many complex cases, representing both children and adults.

They were always there to answer my questions and queries when I was at my most vulnerable and they persevered to obtain the best possible result."

Lisa, client

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Meningitis Misdiagnosis Involve?

Meningitis is the inflammation and infection of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord. It’s incredibly important that a suspected case of meningitis is treated as a medical emergency. If there are unnecessary delays in its diagnosis, there could be...

... profound and life-changing consequences for the person affected.

Some of the medical mistakes we commonly come across include a failure to:

  • Carry out a thorough investigation of the patient
  • Complete adequate notes
  • Keep in and monitor hourly any child with a temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius
  • Review and act upon a blood test
  • Take a full history of the patient’s symptoms

Doctors must also recognise the symptoms of meningitis, especially when more than one of them is present in a patient. These symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Vomiting
  • Dramatic weight loss
  • Fainting regularly
  • Dislike of light
  • Fever

We’ll look for answers from the people responsible as to why meningitis was misdiagnosed or left untreated. Our medical negligence lawyers are nationally renowned for holding NHS Trusts to account for poor decisions, so you know your case is in safe hands with us.

What Complications Can Meningitis Result In?

If doctors don’t perform the right tests for early detection, or there’s a delayed diagnosis of meningitis, the outcome could be severe, with serious long term effects like brain damage and loss of sight. We’ve also helped the families of people who passed away after contracting the infection.

Other consequences include:

  • Memory loss
  • Epilepsy
  • Hearing damage
  • Lack of coordination
  • Headaches
  • Speech problems

Septicaemia is another form of meningitis involving blood poisoning, which can also have life-changing consequences. These include:

  • Arthritis
  • Scarring
  • Amputation
  • Kidney and lung damage

Any compensation you receive will have to take into account long term effects like those above. Our solicitors will make sure that your needs are recognised with rehabilitation and care packages where appropriate.

What Kind Of Support Do You Offer After A Meningitis Claim?

We’re there to help you cope with the after-effects of meningitis, and will look to secure interim funds that will pay for care until a final settlement is approved. Our team has experience in helping clients access support including:

  • Rehabilitation
  • Physiotherapy
  • Specialist equipment such as prosthetic limbs
  • Home adaptations

Our support and rehabilitation coordinators will work with you to see what kind of care and rehabilitation you require, offering expert guidance to make sure that you achieve the best possible quality of life. We can help you overcome challenges and live independently. We also have relationships with charities, care providers and support groups across the UK.

With a dedicated Court of Protection department, we can also help you carefully manage your settlement funds when your claim has finished.


Read More FAQs

Related Information - Meningitis Claims

Public Law & Human Rights - our Public Law & Human Rights team can help you defend your rights
Court Of Protection - we have the largest Court of Protection team in the UK, helping you protect your finances
Asset Management - our dedicated asset management team can advise you on how to take care of your compensation
Misdiagnosis - we have a great deal of experience in misdiagnosis claims

Scottish Flag All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.

*To make a No Win No Fee claim, you need to enter into an agreement that's linked to a suitable insurance policy. We'll explain this in more detail before we start your claim.

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