If you have suffered an injury whilst receiving treatment under the care of a medical practitioner, such as a doctor, surgeon, dentist etc., you may be the victim of medical negligence and may be entitled to receive compensation. Our team of expert medical negligence solicitors stand ready to provide you and your family with proper access to justice should the need ever arise.
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Medical negligence is extremely complex – in part because medicine itself is complex, but also because of the legal standard required to prove that medical negligence has indeed occurred. Thankfully our team of expert medical negligence solicitors are on hand to listen carefully to your story and, if necessary, to assemble a team of suitably qualified experts to assist you with your case.

Medical Negligence cases arise in a number of ways. Some of the most common medical negligence claims are:

• Accident and emergency injuries
• Acquired brain injuries
• Birth defects
• Cerebral Palsy
• Clinical negligence
• Cosmetic/plastic surgery errors
• Defective medical products
• Dental negligence
• GP malpractice
• Hospital acquired infections
• Medication/prescription errors
• Missed/delayed diagnosis
• Oncology & cancer misdiagnosis
• Surgical errors

It is important to bear in mind that medical negligence claims should be initiated as soon as possible as there are strict time periods for doing so. Generally speaking, a claim must be made within two years from the date that you became aware of your injury – whether that’s the day you received the negligent treatment or many years later.

How to make a claim – our four-step guide

Due to its complexity, medical negligence is primarily dealt with by way of legal action in the courts. Our team of expert medical negligence solicitors know that this prospect can be daunting – that’s why we will always work at a pace you are comfortable with.

1. Seek legal advice

‍Due to its complexity, the first step in any medical negligence claim should always be to seek legal advice by calling our experienced team of medical negligence solicitors.

2. Accessing medical records and obtaining expert reports

‍Once we have received your instructions, we will begin by compiling your medical records. We will then have them reviewed by independent experts in the relevant medical field. It will be for these experts to advise whether the standard of care you received fell below the accepted standard. This is what will form the foundation of your legal case.
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3. Assessing the claim

‍Medical negligence can have serious and often life-changing consequences – leading to permanent physical injury, psychological trauma, or even death. Compensation is often necessary to help us adapt to these changes – from the provision of specialist care to the reconfiguration of homes and cars. To calculate the costs you have incurred and the future costs that may arise, we will usually engage the help of experts, such as an occupational therapist or quantity surveyor, to provide reports that allow us to assess the overall value of your claim.

4. Issuing court proceedings

‍If you decide to proceed, we will prepare and file the relevant court papers, setting out details of your claim. Although it’s possible that the other side may be anxious to settle the case there and then, it can take longer if they refuse to admit liability. It is worth mentioning that the majority of our medical negligence cases are settled without ever going to trial.
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Get in touch

Medical negligence is a complex area of Irish law and although it’s important that you act quickly, it’s equally important that you choose a firm that has a proven record in taking medical negligence cases.
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We are that firm. At Crimmins Howard, we know that a medical negligence injury can have significant emotional and financial consequences for you and your family. That’s why we’ll do everything in our power to obtain the compensation that you deserve.

But we won’t just stop there. Because you deserve nothing less, our team of experienced medical negligence team is willing to work hard to make sure that the people or organisations responsible for your injury are held accountable for their actions.

If you would like to discuss how we can help you or if you would like to avail of a free, no obligation consultation, contact our medical negligence team on 061 361088 or by email to info@crimminshoward.ie.