Last Updated 14th June 2024. This guide discusses when you could be eligible to make a paramedic negligence claim. We start by outlining the eligibility criteria you must satisfy to claim paramedic negligence compensation, including the duty of care owed by healthcare professionals. This guide explores a healthcare professional’s duty of care to their patients and looks at how if this duty is breached avoidable harm can be suffered.
We look at the evidence that could be submitted that provides proof of paramedic negligence as well as the harm this caused. This entails outlining the usefulness of evidence and what you could use. Also, we look at how a legal professional could work out how much your case could be worth and what might be included in your settlement if successful.
To conclude, this guide addresses the benefits of appointing a No Win No Fee solicitor and how you can access their services without paying anything upfront. To uncover the eligibility of your case and see if you can work with one of our specialist negligence solicitors, contact our advisors today.
You can get in touch with one of the advisors from our team now by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Filling in our Claim Online form to begin your enquiry
- Speaking with us using live chat on our website
Select A Section
- Can I Make A Paramedic Negligence Claim?
- How Could Paramedics Be Negligent?
- How Can I Prove Paramedic Negligence?
- How Much Compensation Could I Claim For Paramedic Negligence?
- Could I Bring A No Win No Fee Paramedic Negligence Claim?
- Related Ambulance And Paramedic Negligence Claims
Can I Make A Paramedic Negligence Claim?
Paramedics are trained medical professionals who provide emergency care, typically outside of hospitals. Most commonly, this means members of ambulance crews. As medical professionals, a paramedic has a duty of care to every casualty to provide care at the correct standard.
Failing to meet this standard can lead to individuals experiencing avoidable harm. We have summarised the paramedic negligence claim eligibility criteria below:
- You were owed a duty of care by a paramedic.
- That paramedic breached this duty in some way.
- Their breach resulted in you experiencing avoidable harm.
Is There A Time Limit For Medical Negligence Claims?
As per the Limitation Act 1980, most medical negligence claims need to be made within 3 years. This is counted either from the date of the incident, or from the date you would have been first expected to connect the harm you sustained with the paramedic’s actions. This is known as the date of knowledge.
However, this is not always the case as exceptions can be made to the general 3 year rule, including:
- Children: those under 18 when the incident occurs will have until their 21st birthday to claim.
- Individuals without sufficient mental capacity: persons lacking the mental capacity to claim on their own behalf will have the time limit halted altogether.
In these scenarios, a suitable adult may apply to be the patient’s litigation friend and begin the claim sooner. To get a free assessment of your eligibility to claim paramedic negligence compensation or to inquire further about the time limits, contact our advisors today.
How Could Paramedics Be Negligent?
As part of the eligibility criteria, you must have suffered avoidable harm to make a paramedic negligence claim. Below, we discuss the types of errors paramedics could make that may cause you harm.
- A paramedic may provide you with the wrong medication, making you sick and worsening your condition
- You could experience a delay in treatment when a paramedic fails to spot your stroke symptoms due to a medical misdiagnosis, leading to brain damage
- Whilst receiving medical attention, a paramedic could mishandle you, leading to you suffering an injury
The above list is not exhaustive, so contact our advisors now to discover if the treatment you received from a negligent paramedic qualifies you to make a paramedic negligence claim. They will provide a free case assessment to uncover the validity of your case.
How Can I Prove Paramedic Negligence?
A key part of your paramedic negligence claim will be collecting supporting evidence. In addition to showing how the paramedic’s breach of duty resulted in you experiencing avoidable harm, this evidence will also demonstrate the impact this harm had on you.
We have provided some examples of evidence you could use to demonstrate paramedic negligence here:
- It is always advisable to seek proper medical treatment after experiencing medical negligence. As well as prioritising your health, the medical records generated by this treatment will be very useful in showing what avoidable harm was caused by the paramedic.
- Photographs of your injuries and the harm caused by the paramedic’s substandard care can also be useful.
- Details of any medication given to you by the paramedic.
- Someone who was with you at the scene or in the ambulance could provide a witness statement. Be sure to take down their contact information so they can give their statement during the claims process.
Working with one of our highly experienced medical negligence solicitors could prove very useful when collecting evidence. As well as helping you to gather a thorough body of supporting evidence, a trained legal professional can also ensure your paramedic negligence case is made within the relevant time limit.
For a free assessment of your eligibility to claim, talk to our advisors today using the contact information given below.
How Much Compensation Could I Claim For Paramedic Negligence?
You may wonder how much compensation you could receive if your case is successful. Settlements awarded in successful paramedic negligence claims can include up to two heads of claim.
The first compensates you for the mental suffering and physical injury you’ve experienced due to the breach of duty and is known as general damages. Several factors are considered in the determination of the level of compensation you’re awarded, including:
- How your quality of life has been affected by the avoidable harm you’ve suffered
- The severity of the unnecessary harm you’ve endured
- Your recovery time
Additionally, a legal professional could utilise a document called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help assign your case a value. This document supplies guideline valuation brackets for different harm after analysing figures previously awarded in cases that have gone to court. Also, a medical report can be obtained as part of the process to help more definitively value your case.
Due to the unique nature of each case, we cannot guarantee the compensation you could receive. However, below is a table of guidance figures taken from the JCG for different types of harm.
Compensation Table
Please take note that the figures given in this table are for guidance only. The top entry was not taken from the JCG.
| Harm | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Instances of Very Serious Harm as well as Serious Financial Losses | Very Serious | Up to 500,000+ |
| Brain Damage | Moderately Severe (b) | £267,340 to £344,150 |
| Moderate (c) (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 | |
| Digestive System | Non-traumatic Injury (b)(i) | £46,900 to £64,070 |
| Non-traumatic injury (b)(ii) | £11,640 to £23,430 | |
| Wrist | Significant Permanent Disability | £24,500 to £39,170 |
| Less Severe | £12,590 to £24,500 | |
| Back | Moderate (b)(ii) | £15,260 to £33,880 |
| Minor (c)(i) | £9,630 to £15,260 | |
| Ankle | Moderate (c) | £16,770 to £32,450 |
Can I Claim Back The Money I Lost Because Of My Injuries?
Your settlement could also include compensation that seeks to address financial losses you’ve incurred due to paramedic negligence. This head of claim is known as special damages. You should consider gathering evidence of these losses to ensure you’re compensated fully for them.
Potential evidence you could supply to prove these losses includes:
- Payslips that outline the earnings you’ve lost due to being unable to work
- Medical invoices that show the expenses you’ve incurred to recover
- Travel receipts that highlight the costs you’ve incurred due to being unable to drive
You will only be compensated for the harm you suffered that was avoidable. You will not receive compensation for the original ailment. As part of their service, a solicitor could help you gather evidence if your paramedic negligence claim is eligible. For a free consultation, contact our team of advisors today.
Could I Bring A No Win No Fee Paramedic Negligence Claim?
If you have an eligible paramedic negligence claim, consider instructing a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis to provide expert advice. On such a basis, you could appoint a solicitor under a Conditional Fee Agreement to ensure:
- When you appoint a solicitor, you don’t have to pay any upfront fees for their service
- As the case progresses, you won’t have to pay any fees
- If your case doesn’t win, you won’t have to pay your solicitor for their service
- If your case succeeds, your solicitor will take a legally capped percentage of your compensation, which is only small and known as a success fee
A Conditional Fee Agreement is offered by our medical negligence solicitors who have a wealth of experience and only agree to work with cases that have a good chance of success. This should give you confidence, knowing that your time will be used effectively if they agree to your instruction. Contact our team of advisors now to find out if you can appoint a solicitor.
Speak To Our Experts Today
You can arrange a call with our team of advisors or get in touch online today by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Filling in our Claim Online form to begin your enquiry
- Speaking with us using live chat on our website
Related Ambulance And Medical Negligence Claims
We hope this guide has informed you about paramedic negligence claims. If you would like to read more of our helpful guides, please look below:
- Should you use a medical negligence claims calculator for your case?
- Can I make a complaint about medical negligence and obtain compensation?
- How to claim compensation if you’ve received negligent first aid and suffered harm as a result
For some external resources, please look here:
- A guide about statutory sick pay from Gov.UK
- Information about the standards of proficiency for paramedics from the Health and Care Professions Council
- Information about the NHS constitution from Gov.UK
