The time limit for making a claim.

Your claim must be filed with the court within three years of you first becoming aware of your injury. There are three exceptions

• children have until they are 21;
• there is no time limit for anyone who is mentally incapacitated and
• when someone dies within the initial three year period another three year period starts again from the date of death.

The court may allow claims outside these time limits in special circumstances. If you have any doubt about whether you are outside of these periods please contact us as soon as possible.

How long will it take?

Clinical and medical negligence litigation is not a speedy process. The length of time it will take to conclude your claim will depend on the complexity of the claim and the extent of the investigations needed to get the necessary expert evidence.

Our experience has shown that it will probably take 18 to 24 months to complete our investigations and obtain all of the evidence that we need before we can issue court proceedings.

Once we have issued court proceedings the claim can settle by negotiation at anytime but a hearing date usually takes place within two years of the issue of court proceedings.

This may seem like a long period of time, but it is realistic and is the time it will take any competent, specialist solicitor to investigate and pursue your claim for you. 

We will push your claim forward as quickly as possible but we will not prejudice your chances of success by cutting corners. Your claim will be dealt with by a specialist medical and clinical negligence lawyer and concluded in the appropriate time.

Please complete our online enquiry form or call us free on 0800 321 3112 for a no cost, no obligation discussion with one of our nurse advisers.