Have you suffered because of a medical accident? You are almost certainly going to be emotionally affected. You may feel anger, loss, despair, resentment, blame. These are understandable and blame is usually directed at the doctor or medical professional who caused the blunder.
However, these emotions are not going to get you any compensation. Your Medical Negligence Solicitor won't be able to help you with your feelings. The intricacies of serious litigation, court proceedings and detailed cross examination are areas for a lawyer's involvement.
So, with your emotions running high, you now have to stand back and first ask yourself how serious your complaint really is. Making a claim for medical negligence (or clinical negligence as it is sometimes known) may be stressful and take months or years to fully investigate. Someone's, possibly unblemished, career is at stake, there could be financial loss; you will need to be examined by an independent doctor and your medical records will be read and studied by people you do not know.
Be honest with yourself: was your operation one in which there is frequent risk? Have you forgotten the serious and worrying state you were in before you had your operation? Was that worse than how you are now?
There may be an alternative outcome to an investigation, other than financial compensation. This may be a better route to follow and will still require a Medical Negligence Solicitor. For example, would you be content to receive an apology? Would your official complaint help prevent others from suffering something similar? Would an investigation offer an explanation that may stop certain emotions on principle, such as resentment or loss of future trust? Or have you been injured to such an extent that you will need expensive remedial treatment, specially adapted equipment or long term care? Or perhaps you need financial compensation to help fund lost income for living expenses?
This is why is recommended that you consult an experienced Medical Negligence Solicitor for some good advice.
You see, the majority of medical accident claims do not get much beyond this stage. Your highly experienced clinical negligence lawyer will make a thorough assessment of your case first and ascertain whether or not it is really worth proceeding. He is likely to do this only on the basis that your claim has at least a 60 per cent chance of success.
Your lawyer will discuss his terms and fees and, if viable, begin the first steps to assessment of possible compensation, tactics and the correct strategy.