Medical negligence solicitors in Manchester
"The firm's client service is really excellent." Chambers and partners 2022
Medical or clinical negligence refers to any instance where a patient receives a level of care below the expected standard from a medical professional that causes an injury or existing condition to worsen. Our medical negligence solicitors in Manchester can assist you with any claim you may have.
Most people enjoy excellent health care from our National Health Service and in the private sector. However, sometimes mistakes in medical treatment are made and the outcome for a patient can be devastating.
When this happens, it’s important patients receive full explanations about what went wrong and why, lessons are learned and compensation is paid where appropriate.
Examples of medical negligence can range from a surgical error during an operation that causes a physical injury, to receiving a misdiagnosis for a condition, which means it grows worse. Find out more about the different types of medical negligence.
In any case of medical negligence, it must be proved that the health issues you experience – or a loved one you are claiming for – were down to the negligent actions of a health professional.
If you or a loved one believe you have suffered medical negligence we may be able to help you bring a claim. Call us today on 01613933530.
What the directories say
Leigh Day are the best legal firm I have dealt with by far in any capacity. I trust them implicitly and would recommend them to those with a clinical negligence claim without hesitation because they conduct themselves with kindness as well as having the expertise required. This is a rare combination in my experience.
Legal 500 2024
What our clients say
Get in touch today
Contact our Manchester office
Our Manchester medical negligence team
Our specialist medical negligence team can help you progress a compensation claim. We have access to the very best independent medical experts to assess and support your case.
In the past, we’ve been able to improve things for other patients by getting Trusts to change their procedures and put better systems in place.
We recognise it’s important you have complete faith in your solicitor, with an experienced specialist who understands the medical and legal issues and will fight your corner.
Our team of medical negligence lawyers in Manchester has experience in all types of clinical negligence claims. This includes particular expertise in cases where patients have suffered severe, catastrophic and life-changing injuries.
The Manchester office
At Leigh Day, we have been working on many varied medical negligence cases for more than 35 years.
We opened our Manchester office in 2014. This makes it more convenient for some of our clients to visit our solicitors at the office when necessary, or for us to visit you. Members of our team are able to visit you at home or in hospital to discuss and support your claim.
Find out more about the Leigh Day Manchester office.
The medical negligence team in Manchester
Our team is comprised of six expert lawyers and led by Leigh Day partner Stephen Jones. He has specialised in clinical negligence since qualifying as a lawyer in 1986, and joined the Leigh Day team in 2015.
“His understanding of the medical facts is unwavering and his attention to detail is second to none.” – Chambers and partners 2019.
For more than 30 years, he has secured millions of pounds in compensation for a wide variety of claims. These include acting for children who suffered cerebral palsy as a result of obstetric errors, other birth injury cases and children where a delayed diagnosis of meningitis has resulted in severe brain damage.
Stephen is an accredited member of the Law Society and AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) specialist clinical negligence panels.
He is supported by fellow partner Brendan Hope, who joined our Manchester clinical negligence team in 2016. Brendan has more than 15 years’ experience working across various clinical negligence claims, such as brain injury, including cerebral palsy, spinal and fatal injuries.
“Brendan Hope is ‘very astute and tenacious’ according to one interviewee, while another highlights him as ‘very thorough, on top of every detail, readily available and proactive.’” – Chambers and partners 2019.
He is ranked as a Band 2 solicitor in Chambers Directory and has worked on cases including errors that have led to amputation and organ failure resulting in the need for transplants.
Making a medical negligence claim
If you or a loved one have suffered or passed away and you believe it was due to medical negligence, start by contacting our clinical negligence team.
A specialist solicitor will listen to your case and ask you questions related to your experience in confidence, to gain a better understanding of your circumstances.
This free initial consultation can be done over the phone. Whatever the circumstances, we will deal with your case in a sensitive and professional way.
The solicitor you talk to will assess your case, advise on whether you have a claim and the best course of action to take next.
If you decide to seek legal advice with Leigh Day, we will discuss different funding options with you. You may have existing insurance cover or we can go ahead on a no win, no fee basis.
Meet the Manchester medical negligence team
Stephen Clarkson
Associate solicitor
Stephen Clarkson is a associate solicitor in the medical negligence department.
Rebecca Ridgeon
Associate solicitor
Rebecca Ridgeon is an associate solicitor in the medical negligence department.
Julie Struthers
Senior associate solicitor
Julie Struthers is a senior associate solicitor in the medical negligence department.
Get in touch today
Contact our Manchester office
What our clients say
I received excellent care, they are very supportive, helpful, empathetic and accessible.
Client of Leigh Day
Manchester medical negligence FAQs
You can start a claim for medical negligence when you believe you were injured or your condition worsened due to the care you received. You can also bring a compensation claim on behalf of:
•A loved one who died due to clinical negligence
•Someone who lacks the mental capacity to do so themselves
•Your child (until they reach 18 years old)
Normally, you will be the next of kin for the person you are making a claim for, and will be appointed their litigation friend.
Anyone can start a claim by contacting both our offices in London or Manchester. We help client around the country, from Cornwall to Northumbria.
Normally, you have three years to make a medical negligence claim. This time period starts from the moment you realise your injuries or worsening condition may be caused by clinical negligence.
When bringing a claim on behalf of protected parties – children and those lacking the mental capacity to do so – the time limits vary. For children, the three-year limit only applies once they turn 18.
Our team in Manchester can advise you on the time limits for making a clinical negligence claim. Therefore, it is advisable you contact us as soon as possible to avoid time running out.
Medical negligence claims can take anywhere from a few months to several years to settle. The amount of time it takes usually depends on the severity of your injuries, the process of gathering evidence, how long the defendant takes to respond and whether it goes to trial.
Our Manchester medical negligence team can advise on how long they think your claim will take to settle, while supporting you along the way.
If you start the claims process with Leigh Day, it’s possible one of our team will ask you to gather some supporting evidence for your case.
This could assist in in proving the injuries, pain and suffering experienced were down to medical negligence, where the responsibility lies and that the compensation claim is fair. We will advise you on what supporting evidence you may require for the case and assist you in obtaining most of this. Occasionally you may need to obtain some things yourself, for example, you may hold photographs or some records setting out the losses suffered that may be relevant.
It is usually possible for the team to obtain most of the required evidence on your behalf.
Our team can advise you on any specific evidence, how to obtain it and further steps for helping you bring a successful claim.
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