Medical Malpractice

An injury can be caused by a physician in cases where a substandard medical treatment has been administered by them. It is essential to show that the spinal cord injury was caused by medical malpractice.

Negligence

The injury can be caused by the negligence of another individual. For example, if a person sustained a spinal cord injury* because of the careless driving of another individual. It will need to be proved the offending driver was negligent in act or omission.

Many spinal cord injuries arise from road traffic accidents. Nerve roots can get damaged and it can be medically complicated.

Defective products

This kind of personal injury can be caused because of any defective product. For example, faulty products might consist of defective medical products, defective pharmaceutical products, as well as products that do not function as demonstrated, like airbags.

Injury Claims* Process

1. Seek medical attention

This is of the utmost seriousness of injury and nothing should be left to chance and not tested.

2. Report the accident

The incident must be reported to the pertinent authority. This is going to vary depending on what actually caused the injury. It is imperative to maintain a record of the report as an integral part of the claims process.

3. Witnesses

In case there was any witnesses to the accident, try to ensure someone has their contact particulars.

4. Document the incident

It is essential that you have all the information available for providing them to your solicitor while starting the personal injury claims* process. In case you are not able to access any information, your solicitor can source it on your behalf. 

The information that can be recorded happens to be the particulars of the accident, a photograph of the accident scene, a photograph of the injuries, medical bills, witness details, CCTV footage of the accident, along with any other essential information regarding the mishap.

5. Speak with a solicitor as soon as is possible

The solicitor can assist you in gathering documentation, submitting the claim for evaluation to the Injuries Board, and working with you for bringing the case to a conclusion. Medical requirements for a person with this injury need to be assessed on an ongoing basis.

Obtaining and retaining evidence quickly is very important in cases like this.

Case Stages

•  Your claim will be submitted by your solicitor for evaluation to the Injuries Board.

•  Your case will be assessed by the Injuries Board who can suggest an amount of compensation to resolve matters. If both parties agree to the Injuries Board assessing the matter, an order to pay is directed.

•  In situations where the assessment of the Injuries Board is not agreed to, legal proceedings will be issued and your case will move forward to a court hearing.

General Damages

Pain, suffering, and other types of non-financial damages and/or emotional and physical injuries after the incident, plus how the injury has impacted your life.

Special Damages

These are very important in this type of claim as medical requirements are likely lengthy and medical costs present and future should be comprehensively calculated for you in your case with during the court process.

These can be expenses incurred because of the accident, for instance, earning losses (in case you become jobless), medical bills, loss of earnings in the future by remaining jobless for an extended period of time, future medical bills, plus any other additional travel expenses due to the injury, for example, traveling to and from the medical centre.

Legal time limits

The standard rule for personal injury cases is that the individual has 2 years for making a claim from the date of the accident. A claim must be registered within 2 years less one day from the incident date.

There is an exemption to the statute of limitations rule when a child has been injured.

In the case of a child, the date begins on their 18th birthday, which means that they have 2 years less one day for filing a claim from this day.

Legal assistance

You can either call us or email us to arrange an appointment to discuss the facts and we will have an initial meeting with you. After the facts have been explore, we will furnish our opinion then to you, and you can consider your options thereafter.

What is a Personal Injury Claim* ?

If you have been injured as a result of the actions of someone else, you will have suffered what is termed a Tort, which is a civil wrong, and as an injured party you will have a right to initiate a personal injury* claim. In the law of negligence, what is termed the ‘neighbour principle’ was laid down in a case back in 1932 but the Judge in that case outlined the parameters of the duty of care in the following quote “You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbour’’.

How are personal injury claims* calculated ?

Personal Injury Claims* are assessed by the Injuries Board with the guidance of the Book of Quantum and the Board will also consider the applicants out of pocket expense losses such as medical bills and earnings losses.

Damages in legal cases of this nature are divided into two groups, namely general damages and special damages.

Special damages can be loss of income, medical consultations, treatment fees, damage ie loss of car, car hire, medication, vehicle towing, travel, physiotherapy, damage to property, or other expenses incurred relevant to the accident.

General damages are calculated with respect to consideration of the pain and suffering sustained. The nature and duration of the injuries will be examined together with the effect on ones life.  

Each personal injury claim* is dealt with on an individual basis, however, the Book of Quantum does provide guidelines regarding a potential range for compensation for a particular injury.

It is necessary to first identify the part of the body that has suffered the injury. There are six categories provided for in the book.

Next the severity of the injury will be assessed, from the minor range to the severe and then permanent.

It is necessary to assess then if there is one injury or multiple injuries.

Here is more information about the personal injury claims* process.

Please be advised that the above-mentioned material is intended as an overview and as a broad out-line of the topic discussed. It should not be considered as complete and comprehensive legal advice, nor act as an appropriate substitute.
Due care has been taken in the publication of this article and we do not accept legal liability as a result of reliance on any material covered in the above article.

Personal Injuries * In contentious business, a Solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.