Harmed by care that fell short? Find out whether you can claim, what evidence you’ll need, how long you have — and how No Win No Fee means you can claim with nothing to pay upfront.
To succeed, a claim usually has to show three things. Our specialists will assess them for you, free of charge.
1
A duty of care was owed
Any doctor, nurse, midwife, surgeon, dentist or care provider treating you owes you a duty of care. This part is rarely in dispute.
2
The care fell below a reasonable standard
Known as breach of duty. The question is whether a responsible body of professionals in that field would have acted the same way. An independent expert answers this.
3
That failure caused you harm
Known as causation. It must be more likely than not that the substandard care caused an injury, or made your condition worse than it would otherwise have been.
Who can claim
You, as the patient
A parent or guardian, on behalf of a child
Someone acting for an adult who lacks mental capacity
Family members, where a loved one has died
Who the claim is against
NHS hospitals, GPs and dentists in England — handled by NHS Resolution
NHS bodies in Wales — handled by NHS Wales Legal & Risk Services
Private hospitals, clinics, surgeons and dentists — through their indemnity insurers
You don’t have to gather it all yourself — we request your records and arrange expert reports for you. But the more you can tell us, the stronger the start.
Your medical records
We request your GP and hospital records on your behalf. You’re entitled to copies under data protection law.
Independent expert reports
A specialist in the relevant field reviews whether your care fell short, and what harm it caused.
Your own account
A timeline of appointments, symptoms and what you were told. Write it down while it’s fresh.
Complaint & investigation letters
Any complaint response, incident investigation or Duty of Candour letter from the hospital or provider.
Photos & witnesses
Photographs of visible injuries, and details of anyone who was with you at appointments.
Proof of financial losses
Payslips, receipts, travel and care costs, so we can claim back what the negligence has cost you.
Time limits
How long do I have to claim?
Medical negligence claims have strict time limits under the Limitation Act 1980. Miss them and you can lose the right to claim — so it’s worth starting early.
Adults
3 years
From the date of the negligence, or from the date you first knew — or should reasonably have known — it had harmed you.
Children
Until age 21
The three years doesn’t start until their 18th birthday. A parent can claim for them at any time before then.
Lacking mental capacity
No time limit
The clock doesn’t run while someone lacks capacity to manage a claim. A family member or deputy can claim for them.
After a death
3 years
Usually from the date of death, or from when the family learned it was caused by negligence.
Courts have a limited power to allow late claims, but it’s rarely worth relying on. If you think time might be running out, call us on 0333 057 0069.
No Win No Fee
How No Win No Fee funding works
We fund medical negligence claims through a Conditional Fee Agreement — known as No Win No Fee. Here’s what that means for you.
01
Nothing to pay upfront
There’s nothing to pay to start your claim. Your medical records and expert reports are arranged at no upfront cost.
02
Nothing to pay if you lose
If your claim doesn’t succeed, you don’t pay our fees. Where needed, insurance protects you against costs such as expert fees — we’ll explain it before you sign.
03
Protected from the other side’s costs
Under Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting, people bringing injury and medical negligence claims are generally protected from paying the other side’s legal costs if they lose.
04
If you win
Most of our costs are paid by the other side. Our success fee is an agreed percentage of your compensation, capped and set out in writing before you sign.
Takes about 60 seconds. An specialist will confirm your eligibility and talk you through next steps — no obligation.
✅No win, no fee — nothing to pay if your case doesn’t succeed
✅Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
✅Your details are confidential — we don’t contact your hospital or GP without your say-so
FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO MAKE A MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CLAIM
Complete the form below or contact us directly. Our solicitors will review your situation and confirm your eligibility in a free consultation.
✅ Fast Claims Process
Fast Claims Process
SRA regulated
Authorised solicitors, held to professional conduct rules
No upfront cost
Genuine no win, no fee — nothing to pay if you don’t win
NHS & private claims
NHS claims are dealt with by NHS Resolution in England and NHS Wales Legal & Risk Services in Wales; private providers carry indemnity cover
Nationwide
Acting for patients and families across England & Wales
Common questions
Will it cost me anything if my claim doesn’t succeed?
No. We act under a genuine no win, no fee agreement, which means you don’t pay our fees if your claim is unsuccessful.
How much compensation could I get?
It depends on the injury and how it has affected your life. Compensation covers the harm itself — pain, suffering and loss of amenity — plus financial losses like lost earnings, care, travel and future treatment. We’ll give you a realistic idea once we’ve seen the expert evidence.
Will making a claim affect my NHS care?
No. Claims against the NHS are handled by NHS Resolution in England, or NHS Wales Legal & Risk Services in Wales — not by the doctors treating you — and making a claim shouldn’t affect your future care.
Do I have to make a complaint first?
No. A complaint can get you answers and an apology, but you don’t need to make one before claiming — and it doesn’t pause the three-year time limit. We can advise you on both.
How long does a claim take?
It depends on how complex your case is. Expert evidence takes time, and the hospital or provider has four months to respond to a formal letter of claim. Many claims settle without going to court, and we’ll give you a realistic timescale once we’ve reviewed your records.
