When you place your trust in a professional and they fall below the duty of care you’d expect, it can be a stressful time. When you’ve been let down it can result in injury or a significant financial loss. However, you do have the opportunity to win compensation by making a claim. Below, we explore what professional negligence is and how to know whether you can make a claim.
What is it?
Professional negligence is a situation where a professional you’ve hired or placed your trust in, falls below expected standards or breaches their duty of care towards you. Often, this is accompanied by a loss of some description. A professional – in this scenario – is considered to be anyone with expertise in their field or in the services they provide.
Common Examples of Professional Negligence
By understanding common examples of professional negligence, you can see if any negligence you’ve suffered might fit into a similar category. For a start, one of the most common claims are hospital negligence claims. This could refer to a misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis, a failure to treat an injury, negligent surgical treatment, and a failure to interpret results appropriately.
But there are other examples of professional negligence too. An accountant giving poor financial advice, leading to extra expenses can be an example of professional negligence. Meanwhile, a conveyancer missing out on a crucial detail during the house buying process would also count. Finally, there are other specific examples out there too: if an architect drew up plans for a residential extension that did not comply with planning permission rules, then they would find themselves liable for professional negligence claims. Ultimately, if you’re a professional and fall below standards through your own negligence, then you leave yourself open to claims.
How to Know Whether You can Make a Claim
The best way to know whether you can make a claim is by speaking to experienced negligence solicitors. By beginning this conversation, you can get a better idea of the process and your chances of success. It’s worth bearing in mind that most negligence cases have a time limit of three years from the moment the incident occurred, though. If you make a claim after this time has elapsed, it might not be valid. Finally, you should also ensure that you have enough evidence to make a claim. This might involve collecting your medical records and getting a doctor’s assessment, for instance.
If you’ve suffered from professional negligence, it can be a difficult time. However, by following the guide above, you can work out whether you’re able to make a claim and attempt to win the compensation you need to recover.
